From the Superintendent

As a school district and a community we have much to celebrate. Our students continue to excel at high levels, our secondary schools have all been nominated for California Distinguished School honors, and we even have a true community hero (and local parent) in Captain “Sully” Sullenberger!  Most importantly, and what really needs to be celebrated is the dedication of our teachers, administrators and other support staff who I see as I visit schools and classes. This is a good place for students to learn and a good place to work.

It is disappointing that this reality can almost get lost in all the talk of the financial crisis we face as a state and as a school district. While certainly there is a strong nexus between the financial meltdown and what takes place in our schools, I sometimes worry that we may lose track of the real issue, which is making certain that high quality learning for all students is fully supported, as nothing less is acceptable if our students are to be successful in a changing, competitive, global environment.

I appreciated seeing so many in attendance at the recent forums. More than 2,000 parents, community members and staff participated in learning more about the budget crisis and sharing ideas as how best to manage it. I must say that I was hoping that by the start of February we would know more about the state budget. As I write this there are rumors of some sort of a budget deal coming out of Sacramento soon, but nothing yet as of today.  

What we do know is that the Board of Education approved a parcel tax measure, which will be before the voters in April. The measure, if approved by the voters, will generate approximately $7,000,000 annually for the district, which are local dollars that cannot be taken by the state. While certainly this measure, if approved, will be helpful in preserving quality teachers, programs and services, it will not fully offset the projected $16,000,000 loss of funding anticipated once a state budget is finally adopted. (We also lose another $4,000,000 in revenue should the current measure not be renewed.)

We have also been hearing about the possibility of a Federal stimulus bill, which includes money for education. From what we know at this point, it appears that SRVUSD might receive $2.5 million next year and the year after, which is helpful, but because most Federal education dollars are aligned with student poverty levels, the amount we might receive is far less than many other school districts. 

February will be a month for difficult decisions. We have no choice but to plan for the worse case, until and if we hear something better. We will post on our website all the information we know as well as recommendations that are being presented to the Board and the dates of scheduled meetings. As we work through the challenges I’m certain that people will have differing views on how best to proceed. While this likely will be the case, it is important to understand that the fundamental issue continues to be inadequate funding in California for public education. Shame on all of us if during this decision making process we forget this reality.

Thanks for taking the time to read my letter, for staying informed, and most importantly, for caring about our schools and the children we are honored to serve.

Sincerely,

Steven Enoch

 

Ken Mintz appointed to fill empty board seat

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education has five members again after the appointment of Ken Mintz on January 21st, an active parent and community member who previously served four years on the Board of Education. Mintz will assume the spot left open in November when 18-year board member Joan Buchanan was elected to the California State Assembly. Following the decision by the board, Mintz was immediately sworn in by Superintendent Steven Enoch. He will serve the remaining two years of Buchanan’s term. The seat will be up for election in 2010.

“I am honored to have been selected to fill the vacant seat on the school board, said Mintz. “While we have some very significant economic challenges to resolve in the next several months, I’m looking forward to contributing to the success of one of the finest public education systems in the state of California.  I am confident that our staff, parents, and community can and will work together to do what’s best for our children and I appreciate the opportunity to be part of that effort.”

Mintz was appointed by the Board following a five-hour interview process in which the 4-member board interviewed eight candidates selected for an interview from an original field of 15 candidates. The entire interview process was open to the public. Rather than hold an election, the Board decided to provisionally fill the unexpired term of office on the Board of Education by appointment.

Mintz is currently External Affairs Manager for AT&T in San Ramon, and is responsible, within the local community, for AT&T’s public policy initiatives, community/government relations and philanthropic activities. He served on the SRVUSD Board of Education from 1992 to 1996, including one year as President of the Board.

“Ken brings to the school board a broad range of experience, including over 20 years of community, business and civic involvement,” said Bill Clarkson, SRVUSD Board President. “While each of the eight candidates we interviewed was exceptional, I am confident that Ken will be able to hit the ground running. He will serve the students, parents and community members of our district well.”

Mintz is active in several other local community boards and commissions including the City of San Ramon Parks Commission, San Ramon Chamber of Commerce, Tri-Valley Business Council and Museum of The San Ramon Valley.

District Places Measure on April Mail-Only Ballot to Protect Academics and Teachers

The San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees unanimously voted Tuesday to place a measure on a mail-only ballot that will be mailed to voters in April.  The “Excellence in Education Act” would protect teachers and academic programs in local classrooms if it garners the 67% vote needed for passage. The $144 annual parcel tax carries a term of seven years, and would replace the district’s existing parcel tax which expires in June 2009.

“This measure is essential to keep our schools among the best in the state.  Our academic programs and qualified teachers prepare our students to succeed and be competitive in a global economy,” said Superintendent, Steven Enoch. “Most importantly, this funding goes straight to our schools and cannot be taken by the state, particularly during a time in which State cuts to education are having a drastic impact on us.”

Parents and teachers voiced support for the measure. Some in the audience Tuesday night, as well as one Board member, urged the district to seek a higher annual amount, citing the need to combat drastic reductions in education funding by the State of California.

The District received 63% of the vote in its attempt to pass a $166 parcel tax last June (67% needed for passage), and is now asking the community for a lower amount. “We know that this will not come close to bridging the gap we are seeing in State funding, but we want the voters of the community to know that we listened to them and that we fully understand the impact of the slumping economy,” said Enoch. “We really need support from the community to renew our local funding, especially in light of the drastic cuts we face from the State.”

A citizen oversight committee and annual audits will ensure that funds are spent on voter-approved programs.  No funds can be spent on administrators’ salaries and an exemption is available for persons 65 and older, as well as people with disabilities.

“With ongoing budget cuts from the state, we need this measure to protect critical academic programs, such as math, science and literacy,” explained Darren Day, President of the San Ramon Valley Education Association, the local school teachers’ association.

PTA Council President, Denise Jennison also voiced her support for the measure. “Qualified teachers are key to our children’s education, and this measure will help retain qualified and experienced teachers in our classrooms.”

“Good schools are critical to the overall vitality of a community, and we know that our schools are a major reason why people choose to buy a home in the San Ramon Valley,” said Bill Clarkson, President of the San Ramon Valley School District Board of Education.  “This measure will help us maintain this tradition of academic excellence, as well as protect property values during these unstable financial times.”

Voters will have the opportunity to vote on the measure through a mail-only ballot that will be mailed to registered voters in April.  Ballots must be returned by the end of April in order to be counted by the Contra Costa Registrar of Voters.

Ten Secondary Schools to Receive Site Visit as Part of Distinguished Schools Process

All ten SRVUSD secondary schools that applied for the coveted California Distinguished School designation received word that they will get a validation visit during the last week of February. This is the last step in process of being named a Distinguished School by the California Department of Education. 

• California High School
• Monte Vista High School
• San Ramon Valley High School
• Charlotte Wood Middle School
• Diablo Vista Middle School
• Iron Horse Middle School
• Los Cerros Middle School
• Pine Valley Middle School
• Stone Valley Middle School
• Windemere Ranch Middle School

Registration Now Open for 2009 Parent Education Conference

Parent Education Corner

Join us for an insightful and thought-provoking evening at the special advance previewing of the challenging documentary
“Slipping Behind” with Producer/Director Vicki Abeles.

 

“Family Night”

Tuesday, February 3rd, 7PM
San Ramon Valley High School Commons

 

Slipping Behind is a ground-breaking short documentary film that examines the cost to our future resulting from producing a generation of students lacking the education and skills that will be most needed to thrive in the 21st century.  Slipping Behind is a call to families, educators, experts and state leaders, across the country, to examine current assumptions on how to best prepare the youth of America to become the healthy, bright, contributing and leading citizens of the next century. Parents and students are encouraged to attend together to discuss, along with school counselors and SRVUSD personnel, the issues presented in the documentary.  The film will be appropriate for 7th-12th grade students.

Pre-Registration is requested: Please sign in at rsvp4srvhs@sbcglobal.net

Questions?  Contact Alyson Colton, alyson@coltonfamily4.org or Robin Kelley, kelleyview@msn.com