Superintendent Letter November, 2010

I am writing to update you on our ongoing efforts to engage the Alameda community to work together to overcome the fiscal crisis facing our schools. The discussions we have been having with the community this fall about very significant budget cuts, potential school closures, and a possible new parcel tax are all progressing and soon will be coming to a head.

AUSD must have a balanced budget. Accordingly, in November the school board must adopt a three year budget with millions of dollars in cuts in order to show the County and State that AUSD will remain solvent and can achieve a balanced budget, even without any new parcel tax. At the same time, the community has indicated overwhelmingly that the cuts and closures that would be necessary to balance the budget without additional revenue from a new parcel tax are inconsistent with Alameda’s core values. Accordingly, this fall the Board will also have an opportunity to approve a new replacement parcel tax to put before the voters next spring. A new parcel tax would reverse or reduce the cuts and closures we have been discussing this fall.

In addition to the regular meetings of the Board of Education and many meetings with individuals and community groups, this fall we have held two public hearings/community meetings examining scenarios for possible school closure and consolidations that are part of the cuts we would have to implement if no new replacement parcel tax is enacted. In addition, we have held two additional public hearing/community meetings on the structure of a possible new parcel tax as well. Most recently, at its regular meeting on October 26, the Board reviewed millions of dollars in additional program cuts that will be necessary without a parcel tax and also began to prioritize the most important values and programs that would be protected with new parcel tax funds.

As we review the difficult and unpleasant choices of what more would have to be cut from our schools in order to achieve a balanced budget, it is important to keep in mind that AUSD is already more efficient than surrounding school districts. For example, even before AUSD implemented pay reductions for every employee due to furloughs, AUSD teachers were paid 5.1% less than the County average and AUSD administrators were paid 10% less than the County average. In addition to lower compensation for employees, AUSD also has a very lean administration, with fewer administrators than most comparable districts, as indicated by the fact that we have one of the highest ratios of students to administrators at 384:1 as compared to other districts with an average ratio of 249:1.

There are no easy budget cuts left for us to make. This fall, some have asked whether we might save money through pension reform. The answer is no: Unlike many public agencies, pension contributions by public school districts are statutory and set at the state level, so it is not legally permissible for the District to negotiate or impose pension reforms on its employees at the local level.

The reality is that AUSD employees are paid less than other employees in our area and we also have fewer administrators than others, with the result that we are spending a higher percentage of our funds in the classroom than most other school districts. Indeed, AUSD’s efficiency was cited by Bill Koski, Professor of Law at Stanford University, as one reason AUSD is a plaintiff in the landmark lawsuit Robles-Wong v. California, challenging the constitutionality of the way California finances public education in the state. Professor Koski noted: “Alameda – with its small administrative office, diverse student population and test scores that exceed state standards – offered attorneys a prime example of a school district run as well as the state’s dysfunctional funding system allows.” We are optimistic that in the long run the Robles-Wong case, an eventual state economic recovery and budget reform in Sacramento will lead to more and better support of Alameda’s schools by the State of California. But that day is not yet in sight. So for now, we must solve this budget crisis here on our own here in Alameda.

In coming weeks as the school board moves towards important decisions that will affect our schools and our community for many years to come, we look forward to continuing to hear from you. Thank you, as always, for your support of our schools.

Sincerely,
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Kirsten Vital
Superintendent