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Budget Updates
Superintendent's Budget Reduction Recommendation
Press Release - April 4, 2008
February 2008
Projected Timeline for Certificated Staff
Budget News Update - 08/24/07
| | CUSD must identify $7 million in budget reductions for 2008-09 in order to balance its budget. Over 250 budget reduction ideas were submitted by the public, our teachers, classified staff and administration. These ideas, and more, have been under review by Budget Subcommittees consisting of staff, parents and community members. The Superintendent's Budget Reduction Recommendation totals $2.8 million.
This recommendation was presented to the Board on April 9, 2008, at Chico High School, Williams Theatre, 5:15pm for discussion and public input. The Board approved this recommendation at the Regular Board Meeting on April 16, 2008, at the Chico City Council Chambers, at 7:00 p.m.
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| | CUSD Superintendent Kelly Staley released the Superintendent's Budget Reduction Recommendation today. This recommendation includes closing schools, eliminating positions, cutting athletic programs, and streamlining district services.
"Nothing about this recommendation is easy," said Staley. "I am painfully aware that these recommendations represent, among other things, the elimination of some outstanding programs for our students, the closing of small community schools, and the release of dedicated employees."
CUSD had a negatively certified budget and was planning to reduce expenditures for the 2008-2009 school year. However, due to the financial uncertainty of the state budget, the district has been forced to consider a much broader scope of reductions. "The state budget will not be adopted until later in the year. Therefore, we need to hope for the best, but plan for the worst," reiterated Staley.
A projected budget gap for next year of $3 million grew to $8.5 in January when the Governor announced his proposals for schools, making across the board cuts and reducing district funding by about 7%. By March, the district had issued potential layoff notices needed to align staffing with the number of students projected for next year, and was able to reduce the size of the budget gap to $7 million.
Should the governor's proposal not be adopted and the CUSD budget recovers, Staley indicated that staff will develop a plan to re-establish programs and reinstate staff.
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| | Dear CUSD Community,
Chico Unified School District is facing the largest budget deficit in our history. Depending on the final state budget that is adopted, we will need to cut between $3 million and $8.5 million dollars.
As 91% of our unrestricted general fund dollars are allocated to salaries and benefits, we must reduce personnel. All employee groups: administration, certificated, and classified staff, will be affected by this action. Our Board must make some very difficult decisions. In order to create maximum flexibility in making these decisions, many more people will be notified than will likely lose their jobs.
Timelines regarding layoff notification for Certificated Personnel are listed below. Click on the following for a list of Board Meeting Dates and Locations. If you have specific questions about this process, please contact Bob Feaster, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources at 891-3000, ext. 142.
We are facing an unprecedented crisis in our district. During these very stressful times, it is important that we continue to offer quality educational programs for our students. Keeping the lines of communication open is critical as we all weather this storm together. As always, please feel free to contact me with questions, concerns, or suggestions.
Sincerely,
Kelly Staley, Superintendent
(530) 891-3000, ext. 149 | |
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| | | January-February | Distribute Certificated Seniority lists to school sites; teachers review for accuracy. | | February 8 | A list of the "Reduction/Elimination of Particular Kinds of Certificated Services" that could result in layoffs is agendized for the February 13, 2008, CUSD Board Meeting. The list is shared at school sites and is released to media. | | February 13 | Board Meeting: Board is informed about the "Reduction/Elimination of Particular Kinds of Certificated Services" list. Action will not be taken at this meeting. | | February 20 | Board Meeting: Board takes action regarding the release of all temporary teachers effective the end of the 2007/08 school year. | | | Board takes action on the Resolution regarding "Reduction/Elimination of Particular Kinds of Certificated Services." | | February/March | A list of those who will receive layoff notices is developed based on seniority lists and credentialing. | | March 3 | Per the Collective Bargaining Agreement with CUTA, CUSD will notify CUTA of the names of teachers who will receive layoff notices. | | | Notices of release at the end of the year are given to temporary teachers. | | March 10 | Notices are given to Certificated employees who may be reassigned or laid off. | | March 26 | Approximate date for second notice of layoff per Government Code. | | April | Layoff Hearings with Administrative Law Judge. | | May 15 | Final Layoff Notices Delivered. |
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| | August 24, 2007
JOINT PRESS RELEASE
BUTTE COUNTY OFFICE OF EDUCATION
AND CHICO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
On July 30 the District received a letter from Randy Meeker, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services for Butte County Office of Education. The letter provided the district with a "conditional approval" of the district's 2007-08 Adopted Budget. Today the administrative team of the Chico Unified School District met with representatives from the Butte County Office of Education.
The county expressed concern that the district had been spending beyond its means for several years and was subsequently $1.1 million dollars below the required reserve level. In addition multi-year budget projections showed a worsening situation with reserves fully depleted by the end of 2008-09 if reductions were not made.
All California school districts are required to maintain an adequate reserve level to ensure long term fiscal solvency. With an enrollment of just under 13,000, the CUSD is considered a medium size school district and is required to maintain a 3% reserve. The annual operating budget is $105.6 million requiring reserves of $3.2 million. The adopted budget was only able to identify $2.1 million in reserves.
Several positive changes have been identified while the district has been in the process of closing the books for the 2006-07 fiscal year. About $700,000 of improvements to the budget have been found, $517,000 of which is attributable to the food services department. While the food services department had been budgeted to deficit spend in 2006-07, income was up and expenses were down. Credit for these changes must go to the nutrition services department employees who implemented systemic changes in food service production and processes over the last two years.
However, the projected ending balance for the current school year remains about $400,000 short while the 2008-09 school year continues to project a $2 million dollar deficit. As part of the approval process the county is requiring the district to identify the needed adjustments to bring the budget in balance by December 2007.
Chico Unified School District is scheduling a board workshop to discuss the 2007-08 budget changes in October. In the meantime a team of district leaders from all educational and operational departments are meeting weekly to identify needed adjustments. They are also seeking input from employee groups and community leaders. The team's recommendations for changes to the budget will be proposed at the CUSD board workshop in October.
The district encourages anyone with questions about the Chico Unified School District budget to contact Jan Combes, Assistant Superintendent at jcombes@mail.chicousd.org.
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