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Federal jobs bill could aid schoolsOn Aug. 10, President Obama signed into law an emergency bill from Congress designed to preserve jobs, including those of approximately 160,000 teachers who have been laid off or who might have been laid off this year. School districts including Irvine are closely monitoring this legislation and hoping the bill will provide some much-needed relief. However, it has not yet been determined how or when these dollars will be allocated. It’s also worth noting that California is still without a budget for 2010-11, and lawmakers in Sacramento are struggling to close a gap of approximately $20 billion. Whether these factors play a role in the distribution of the federal funds remains to be seen. Board approves a budget for 2010-11The Board of Education voted unanimously on June 29 to adopt IUSD’s budget for 2010-11 and, in the same motion, directed staff to forward all appropriate documents to the Orange County Department of Education. The final spending plan, which can be accessed here, outlines approximately $200.6 million worth of expenditures – both restricted and unrestricted – against $196.8 million worth of total revenue. The difference will be offset by onetime carryover funds, said Lisa Howell, assistant superintendent of Business Services. As a result of the state budget crisis, IUSD was forced to make a number of reductions and adjustments in March to bridge a fiscal gap of approximately $20 million – this following a year in which Irvine had to cut spending by more than $16 million. While the district was able to submit a balanced budget for 2010-11, IUSD continues to project significant shortfalls for the two subsequent years and will therefore be required to explore additional reductions and revenue enhancements. Irvine is annually required to submit its budget on or before June 30. Other districts share this deadline, as does the state. But the Legislature rarely meets it, forcing educators to make important financial decisions based on the governor’s proposals from January and May. (For more on the governor's plan, see the entry below.) Once the state officially adopts its spending plan – and some believe this might not happen until after the November election – IUSD will have 45 days to make any necessary adjustments. To view the slide presentation that was shown prior to Tuesday's vote, click here. To access a detailed list of frequently asked budget questions, click here.
Governor issues his 'May Revise' spending planIn May, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released his latest budget proposal for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, and while more state reductions will be needed to bridge a $19.1billion shortfall, it’s not all bad news. Experts are now predicting that the longest and deepest recession in the post-Depression era is likely coming to an end, and the revised deficit for 2010-11 is approximately $800 million less than projections from January.
The Governor has proposed closing the gap with a plan that includes $12.4 billion in cuts, including deep reductions to health and social programs. Education is again part of the equation, yet the reductions outlined were more or less the same as those included in Schwarzenegger’s January proposal – and they were built into IUSD’s budget plans for 2010-11. (See below.) Moreover, the state cuts to education are currently slated to impact districts funded under the “Revenue Limit” funding model, though that could change as legislative discussions heat up. Last year IUSD transitioned into the Basic Aid funding model, which automatically kicks in when local property taxes surpass the amount of unrestricted state aid a district is eligible to receive. Almost immediately, however, Basic Aid districts in 2009 were pressured into in a “Fair Share” agreement, which required them to turn over additional property taxes. IUSD ultimately received the same amount of money for 2009-10 as it would have collected as a Revenue Limit district. While the 2010-11 budget proposal for California does not specifically include “Fair Share” language, most anticipate it will by the time the plan comes to a vote. Once again, not much will be certain until a final budget is adopted by the Legislature and signed by the Governor. (It’s due in July, but legislators probably won’t reach agreement until late summer or fall.) Expect election-year politics to play a major role. To access a slide presentation that was recently viewed by IUSD’s Finance Committee, click here. To access a list of detailed questions and answers about IUSD's budget, click here.
Closing the 2010-11 shortfallOn March 16, the IUSD Board of Education reluctantly voted to make a number of budget reductions and adjustments to resolve the projected deficit for the 2010-11 school year. As a result, the Board was able to certify the district’s Second Interim Report as “positive,” meaning IUSD is on target to meet its financial obligations, though another shortfall is expected in 2011-12 if state revenues don’t improve. IUSD was facing a deficit of approximately $20 million for 2010-11 as a result of the state’s budget crisis, which has already stripped California’s schools of $17 billion over the last two years. The governor’s latest proposal calls for another $2.5 billion worth of cuts for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1. To bridge the district’s gap between revenue and expenditures, school board members voted to approve a number of measures, including four district-wide furlough days for 2009-10 and eight for 2010-11; increased class-sizes in grades one through three and nine; reductions at the District Office level; the reallocation of categorical dollars from programs that are now flexible as a result of recent legislation; as well as the use of onetime dollars. To view the complete list of reductions and adjustments, click here. Though IUSD’s budget not due until June, a number of statutory deadlines – including the submission of the Second Interim Report – require that some decisions be made no later than March.
Furlough dates for 2010-11In early April, a committee representing teachers, principals, classified staff, administrators and PTA reviewed a district-wide calendar of school events and reached consensus on the following furlough days for 2010-11. Sept. 1. This will no longer be a workday for teachers at sites on traditional calendars. Instead, teachers will report for the first day of school on Thursday, Sept. 2, along with students. Nov. 22, 23 and 24. All IUSD schools will be closed the entire week of Thanksgiving, rather than just Nov. 25 and Nov. 26. Dec. 20 and 21. All IUSD schools will shut down two days earlier at the winter recess, which begins Dec. 20 and ends on Jan. 4. Students and staff are scheduled to return from the break on Wednesday, Jan. 5, 2011. June 16 and June 17. Furlough days will also be observed on these dates, effectively ending the school year two days earlier. To read a letter to the community from Superintendent Gwen Gross, click here. How we got hereThough Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger had publicly vowed to protect education from further reductions, his budget proposal for 2010-11 poses significant challenges for school districts across the state, including Irvine Unified. Specifically, the spending plan released in January increases IUSD’s operational shortfall for 2010-11 to more than $20 million, representing a dramatic increase from the $14.7 million gap identified in the district’s First Interim Report. It is important to remember that the Governor’s proposal represents the starting point for negotiations that will ultimately result in a state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. That means IUSD’s bottom line could worsen or improve before the deliberations are over; however, due to a number of statutory deadlines, school districts must take critical steps to balance their budgets by mid-March. IUSD's Board of Education voted on reductions for 2010-11 at its March 16 meeting. To view the list of budget adjustments, click here. To access a detailed list of frequently asked questions, click here.
Additional resourcesBasic Aid. Click on this link to access some questions and answers about IUSD's move into the "Basic Aid" funding model. Categorical Flexibility. "Categorical funding" refers to state dollars that are tied to specific programs. The state recently granted a limited amount of categorical flexibility, meaning some of these dollars can be spent on other high-priority needs. For more information, click on the link above. Questions and answers. Have a specific budget question? Click on this link to access some frequently asked questions and answers about the state crisis and its impact on our district. More budget information. Click on this link to access IUSD's Business Services page, which includes financial documents, the most recent adopted budget, information on facilities and more.
How to advocate for schoolsWrite a letter to the Governor, or contact your local Assembly member or Senator, urging the protection of education funding. For a list of Irvine's state and federal legislative representatives, click here. Write a letter to the editor of your favorite newspaper opposing cuts to education.
Support the Irvine Public Schools Foundation, which raises money for IUSD and supports many of our most innovative programs. Get involved through the Irvine Unified Council PTA, which advocates on behalf of our schools. |
