On Wed night, the Westlake Village City Council will vote on funding for LVUSD’s Technology Funding. This is part of the “4 Cities” agreement where the four local cities (Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Agoura Hills, and Westlake Village) join together to fund technology needs that cannot be paid for by Measure G (the bond can only pay for capitalized items).
In past years, this funding has paid for teachers on special assignment to do technology training, field techs to support hardware and networks, help desk, a Director of Educational Technology, fiber Internet connectivity, web site development, and media specialists (which have now replaced the teachers on special assignment and librarians).
Each city bases their contribution on the number of students estimated to reside in each city. Unlike Agoura Hills (which uses redevelopment funds), and Calabasas (which uses funds from a trust), Hidden Hills and Westlake Village make their contributions from the general fund of those cities. (Hidden Hills contribution is approximately $17,000. Westlake Village’s is approximately $72,000. The total 4 cities funding is approximately $580,000).
The funding voted on for Wed is for the 2009-2010 school year. The dollar amounts are the same as they have been for the 2007-08 and 2008-09 school years.
The dollars in question were budgeted already as part of the City’s normal 2009-10 budget process. But because Westlake Village doesn’t have a special setup (like Agoura and Calabasas) and the dollar amount is higher, the City Council needs to approve this funding now with a vote.
In making this decision, it’s expected that the City Council will discuss the effectiveness of the funds to date, as well as the future of such funds from Westlake Village.
Those interested should attend the City Council meeting at 6:30pm on Wed, or watch on Channel 10 within the city.
