By now you’ve probably heard how Governor Schwarzenegger is claiming he will protect education spending, and balance California’s state budget by reducing other areas of spending.
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Governor Proposes to Protect Education Funding…Not!
Posted in budget, crisis, money, Sacramento
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Middle School Incidents
The following letter was published on the Tierra Lildna email list, and will be going home via hardcopy with all middle school students today, including those attending CLC. I believe the letter will also be published on the Central and CLC email lists.
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An Unassuming Hero
Doug Johnson, the District’s school bus driver, rescued a 67 year old woman with a broken arm who’d fallen onto the Caltrain tracks at Whipple Avenue in Redwood City…with a train bearing down on her!
There will be an article in The Daily Journal tomorrow, but you can catch a video story on ABC/7 news, or watch it online here (thanks, Seth, for the link).
With all the problems we’re facing, it’s nice to know that there are people like Doug working for the District.
My hat’s off to you, Doug! Have a GREAT holiday!
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Community College Goes Basic Aid, District Hit by Higher Costs
Over the last few months the San Mateo Community College determined that they are now a basic aid district. That’s a nice reflection, for them, of how property values have increased over time in San Mateo County. However, it does create a bit of a cashflow timing problem for the County’s revenue limit districts, of which San Carlos is one.
Posted in budget, money, Sacramento
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December 11, 2009 Board Meeting
At last night’s Board meeting Carrie Du Bois was finally released from her sentence of being Board President. Actually, Carrie did a great job as President in the last year, and we all chose to recognize that by giving her and Grant a gift certificate to the Avenir restaurant group (think Town, Milagro’s, etc). But it’s true she had a very challenging year as chair, what with all the challenges the District faced (and is continuing to face).
As is traditional, my colleagues elected me to serve as Board President for the next year. For which I thank them. I think :). Because, you know, those challenges haven’t gone away…
In any event, in the role as chair, I’ve promised myself I’m going to do more regular postings to this blog about the Board and the District. This is the first such. As always, while I’ll try to convey the overall sense of what’s happening, none of this is official, in either a District or a Board sense.
Posted in budget, capacity, crisis, enrollment
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Elementary Music Recitals Cancelled
I’ve been getting a number of emails recently about the last minute cancellation of the elementary school end-of-year music recitals. I’d like to share the response I’ve been giving out in case there are others who have heard about the cancellation.
Certain events which occurred drove the District to decide to cancel the concerts. That decision was not taken lightly, and many alternatives were considered that might have allowed the concerts to be held in some form. Unfortunately, none of the alternatives ended up being viable. I am satisfied that the District did what it reasonably could to have the concerts go on, but was unable to do put a plan together in the time available.
As to the causative events I mentioned, neither the District nor the trustees are able to comment on them because of privacy issues. I know that’s frustrating, but it’s the truth.
I also recognize that this vagueness could cause parents to speculate on all sorts of negative scenarios. Let me assure you that the events were significant enough to justify the actions that were taken, but not serious enough to be a cause for alarm.
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Let the Grass Grow a Bit
At last night’s Board meeting there was an interesting discussion about budget priorities. This has came back front-and-center because the failure of the State ballot propositions means the District’s funding is almost certainly going to be cut, probably significantly. That in turn means we will need, as a community, to think through, carefully, how we prioritize our expenditures.
Where should staff development expenditures fall on the priority list? For the District office staff, the principals, and a number of my colleagues the answer is “pretty near the top”. They view staff development expenditures as an important means of moving the District forward, by improving the skills of our teachers. I agree with that…as far as it goes.
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Steve, We Hardly Knew Ya
Many of you have already heard this, and more will soon, but Steve Mitrovich announced his retirement today.
Posted in kudos
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A Message from Carrie
Carrie Du Bois asked me to post the following:
The aspirations of foster youth are high: 70% plan to attend college. Yet, outcomes are grim: 50% are held back in school, 46% do not complete high school and only 3% go on to college. Foster youth move throughout our county and attend our schools. As a community are we doing enough to help them?
Please attend a community schools conversation about this subject on Monday, June 1st at 7:00 pm. Hillsdale High School Auditorium located at 3115 Del Monte Street, San Mateo. RSVP tina@advocatesfc.org. Speakers include Human Services Agency, Advocates for Children, Help One Child and a panel of youth who will share their stories. This event is endorsed by the California 17th District PTA.
We are hoping that every school district in San Mateo County will be represented at this meeting.
For more information Contact Carrie Du Bois cdubois@cbnorcal.com
Posted in enrollment, Uncategorized
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Victory!
Posted in budget, crisis, kudos
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