CUCPTSA LEGISLATION BRIEFS – JUNE 2008
The California State Budget
On May 14, the governor issued his May Revise. The revised budget includes:
· No suspension of Proposition 98 – minimum guarantee met under Test 3
· Proposition 98 funding increases from $55.6 billion (‘07/08) to $56.8 billion (‘08/09)
· Restores Special Education cuts of $238 million from January budget
· $10.3 million still in the budget for the student longitudinal data system (CalPADS) and the integrated teacher data system (CalTIDES)
· Cuts to Categorical Programs of 6.5%
· No Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA)
· Governor recommends “flexibility” options
What does the May Revision mean to Capistrano Unified School District?
The governor’s January budget proposal required $28 million in cuts to CUSD’s 2008/09 budget. The May Revision restores about $8 million but still necessitates cuts of $20 million for next year. Mr. Carter, CUSD superintendent, at the June 2nd meeting of the board of trustees presented the following budget “assumptions” based on the Governor’s May Revise:
· Increase to Revenue Limit funding from the January budget $ 6.88 million
· Special Education funding “flat” from 2007/08, but no COLA $ 1.50 million
· Categorical Flexibility (using funds from one category to another) $ 0.40 million
· Sale of surplus property $ 1.13 million
· CUSD Foundation fundraising campaign $ 1.00 million
· Total funding restored to CUSD $10.91 million
As of 6/2/08, the CUSD Foundation had raised $887,600. The campaign has been extended until June13th. The board of trustees approved rescinding the lay-off notices to 269 teachers with permanent or probationary status. There are still 131 temporary teachers whose one-year contracts have not been renewed for next year.
However, with a budget of $19-20 million, lay-offs are still being planned in the following categories:
· Bus routes reduced by 70% -- 57 positions
· 22 groundskeepers
· 7 positions in Maintenance and Operation Services
· 27 administrators
· 12 district level classified positions
· 36 positions in Instructional Support Services
· Total Reductions of Positions = 161
What happens next in Sacramento?
The legislature will now review the governor’s May Revision and look at other alternatives. The Assembly Budget Subcommittee #2 for Education Finance approved the following plan on 5/30/08:
· Put another $2.4 billion over the Governor’s May Revise into the K-14 Education Budget.
· Fully restored the 6.5% cuts to categorical programs
· Provided $900 million to partially fund COLA at 1.6%
· Restored the Governor’s cut to childcare
· Rejected categorical flexibility proposal as not needed.
After the Assembly and Senate budget committees vote on the budget, the “Big 5” will meet to negotiate the budget. It will then go to both houses of the legislature for adoption with a 2/3 vote. The approved budget then goes to the governor for signature.
Summer Plans for the CUCPTSA Legislation Team
The CUCPTSA Legislation Team will continue to keep our message in front of legislators. PTA legislation reps will make at least two trips to Sacramento during the summer. The team will also be working through the summer meeting with local legislators staying up to date on budget negotiations and sharing that information with parents.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: California Adventure – May 27 & 28, 2008
35 schools were represented:
· 5 High Schools
· 8 Middle Schools
· 22 Elementary Schools
37 Attendees:
· Kim Anderson – CUCPTSA Legislative Chair
· Lori Abbott; Kara Ahmann; Peggy Anderson; Rocky Blumen; Monica Burick; Carla Crehin; Sue Dennis; Sarah Efthymiou; Sabrina Medrano Erb; Kathy Fischer; Gail Grigaux; Deb Hagman; Richard Klevit; Erin Kutnick; Maureen Lynds; Alli Maier; Kathy Masters; Christina Molina; Jennifer Moore; Christine Nowland; Judith Nowland; Corri Roe; Maryanne Rose; Stephanie Samia; Lisa Scharmann; Fran Sdao; Melanie Shimano; Maureen Sidaris; Kathy Spencer; Cheryl Stein; Jen Stenlake; Kathi Thomas; Jody Vaughn; Julia Walsh; Cindy Wright and Karen Yoder.
Held a total of 13 meetings:
· Karen Bass – Speaker of the House
· Ron Bennett – President, School Services of California
· Peter Birdsall – School Innovations & Advocacy
· Pam Brady – State PTA President
· Pat Dingsdale – State PTA Director of Legislation
· Rachel Ehlers – LAO, Policy & Fiscal Analyst for K – 12 Education
· Toby Ewing – Research Director, California Forward
· David Long – California Secretary of Education
· Brett McFadden – ACSA
· Dana Mitchell – A/M Betty Karnette’s office
· Paul Navarro – Deputy Legislative Secretary, Office of the Governor
· Rick Simpson – Deputy Chief of Staff, Speaker’s office
· Tom Torlakson - Senator
· Dan Weintraub – Columnist, Sacramento Bee
Highlights:
· Group meeting with Speaker, Karen Bass.
· Having Ron Bennett speak to us at dinner with dinner guests Paul Navarro and Rick Simpson.
· Having Paul Navarro and Rick Simpson participate in the song, “Hey There Sacramento” with our singers, Alli Maier & Kathy Fischer at our breakfast meeting.
· Taking a VIP tour of the Capitol, as arranged by A/M Mimi Walters office.
Things we heard consistently:
· Capistrano Unified PTA Legislation Team is well known in the Capitol for our advocacy efforts. Keep the pressure on – especially over the summer!
· The amount proposed for education by the Governor in his May Revise will be at least that.
· The May Revise is still a $4 billion cut to education.
· Revenue has to be part of the solution because cuts alone won’t do it.
· We must invest in the whole child – not just education
· 2009 -10 is also likely to be very tough financially
· The state legislature is very polarized
· We want everything in California – high level of service, but don’t want to pay for it
· Nobody cares for the Governor’s Budget Stabilization Act or his lottery proposal.
· California is at the bottom of the nation in Spending and performance. In 1973 we were in the top 5% of the nation in achievement and spending. Today we are at the bottom for everything - including spending and achievement. That is unacceptable when California has the 8th largest GDP in the world.