Synopsis
A number of Westlake Revelations readers have asked questions surrounding LVUSD’s budget crisis, furlough days and more. The District encourages everyone to contact the District Office directly and they will be happy to answer questions, and provide information.
In an effort to bring out information to more people, Westlake Revelations did a written Q&A with Dr. Donald Zimring, Superintendent of Schools of the Las Virgenes Unified School District.
Questions were taken from Westlake Revelations readers and organized into this interview. Answers are in Dr. Zimring’s direct words.
It’s a considerable amount of effort to answer a written interview like this, and Westlake Revelations thanks Dr. Zimring for his time and willingness to do this written style interview.
Full Interview
The following questions are divided into several groups:
– Furlough and Cut Related
– Comparative Data
– Specific Funding Shortfalls, Challenges, Opportunities
– Other
FURLOUGH AND CUT RELATED
WLR Question:
Up until the 1990’s, the minimum school year defined by the State of California was 175 days, and it was then raised to 180 days. This year, it’s been taken back to 175 minimum. How many school days will LVUSD have for 2009-10? What is the planned number of LVUSD days for 2010-11? Are there furlough days expected next year?
Dr Z’s Answer:
The Students will attend a 175 day instructional year with the certificated staff working a 177 day year. Currently, students attend 180 days with teachers working 185 days which include two pre-service days and 3 staff development days. Calendars are on our website and have been sent to school sites as well.
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WLR Question:
Has the District given teachers specific instructions and guidelines as to how to cover the standards in the shorter time frame?
Dr Z’s Answer:
No, just as the District does not provide specific instructions and guidelines for how to provide the materials in 180 days. Each of our teachers is a trained professional and has the skills to adapt their teaching and pacing to meet the state standards and District adopted curriculum. Obviously, shortening the school year will make this a greater challenge. This will be accomplished through revising how/when the instruction is delivered, relying more on student initiated learning based on homework, study guides and the likely reduction in some activities which enhanced core instruction but is not critical to delivery of the standards.
Follow up ?: Should parents expect increased homework as a
result?
Dr Z’s Answer:
As noted above, that is certainly a potential as teachers re-structure their delivery timelines
Follow up ?: What specifically is the District doing to
“protect the quality of instructional offerings” as stated with
the furlough announcement?
Dr Z’s Answer:
That is the essence of what the agreement does. The Board and Association shared the same belief that elimination of over 70 teachers, increasing class sizes and removing student support services would significantly impair the quality of what is offered to students. Having class sizes routinely exceed 40 at the secondary level and increasing primary grades by 50% is far more detrimental than having a 2.8% reduction in the number of instructional days.
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WLR Question:
With the savings from furlough days in effect, what is the outlook for class sizes and program offerings in the coming year?
Dr Z’s Answer:
Our goal is to maintain the current class sizes and restore counseling services at the secondary level.
Follow up ?: What specific programs or services (if any) are also
in jeopardy?
Dr Z’s Answer:
The Board of Education must still implement reductions for next year and the following year as it still faces a $5 million dollar short fall over the next few years. While a final decision on next year’s cuts/reductions will not be made until next month as part of the annual budget adoption, there is a likelihood that elementary counseling, classified support time, and middle school administration may be reduced or re-structured to reduce costs. There are still some significant variables not the least of which is the Governor’s “May Revise” which will be released shortly [and has been released now], local fund raising efforts coordinated by the Las Virgenes Educational Foundation and continued negotiations.
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WLR Question:
Do the furlough days apply to classified employees as well as credentialed?
Dr Z’s Answer:
The Classified employees (those who do not hold a teaching credential and work in support roles) are represented by a separate association – the Las Virgenes Classified Association (LVCA). We are currently in negotiations with them and have reached a “Tentative Agreement” (TA) for this year (2009/10) which includes a comparable furlough as the one agreed to by the teachers (the number of days is not the same since classified employees work a different number of days during the year depending on their assignments – some are 12 month, 11 month, etc. – their reduction in pay as a result of their furlough days will be approximately the same as the teachers).
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WLR Question:
Recently, administrators took voluntary pay cuts of 5%. Are the furlough days also applying to administrators? In other words, are administrators taking additional cuts beyond that 5% that are applied through the furlough days?
Dr Z’s Answer:
Yes – certificated administrative staff will also be taking 5.4% salary reduction and furlough days commensurate with those provided to the teachers association.
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WLR Question:
For 2010-11, Are you expecting any cuts beyond the current levels
provided in 2009-10 for:
– arts
– music
– sports
– student/teacher ratios (e.g., increasing classroom size)
Dr Z’s Answer:
Please see answer above regarding future cuts/budget adoption
COMPARATIVE DATA
WLR Question:
What is the key difference(s) between LVUSD and CVUSD that LVUSD has to have furlough days/cuts, and CVUSD has been able to make the cuts outside of the classroom?
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WLR Question:
Same question for OPUSD. What is the key difference(s) between LVUSD and OPUSD that LVUSD has to have furlough days/cuts, and OPUSD has been able to make the cuts outside of the classroom?
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WLR Question:
At a high level, how does LVUSD’s budget compare to OPUSD and CVUSD? In other words, what are the key differences between LVUSD and its neighboring districts?
Follow up ?: Ratio of pupils to: Teachers? Administrators? Other
staff? Building sq feet?
Follow up ?: Salary scales? Teacher population by years of
experience?
Follow up ?: Total annual $ per pupil? Percentage of $ spent in
different budget categories?
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WLR Question:
Same benchmark comparisons for LVUSD vs (demographically comparable?) districts Statewide?
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WLR Question:
Same benchmark comparisons for LVUSD vs (demographically comparable?) districts Nationwide?
Dr Z’s Answer:
You will need to gather the data from these Districts for exact comparisons. Several districts (Conejo, Moorpark, and Oxnard) had taken furlough days ahead of us and had already increased class size and implemented layoffs. Each District’s budget situation is different. One of the primary differences is that our District receives less federal funds than other Districts due to our demographics and high achievement and conversely has some of the highest costs for educating Special Education students – as mandated under Federal Law. While the services are mandated most of the costs are not reimbursed by either the Federal government or the State government thereby becoming a responsibility of the local school District from their general fund.
In terms of the comparisons you requested, we receive an annual report called the CADIE (Comparative Analysis of District Income and Expenses) which is compiled by an outside consultant group. It provides some “eye opening” data that I think would assist you in responding to your question. We just got a draft of this years report and I will send you some of the key data sheets once we receive the final copy.
[Ed. Note: We’ve not yet received the CADIE report, but you can see surveys of other districts handling of both teacher and classified negotiations.]
SPECIFIC FUNDING SHORTFALLS, CHALLENGES, OPPORTUNITIES
WLR Question:
It’s often said that Special Education puts significant strain on LVUSD’s budget, to a greater extent than in other districts. Before we go into more detail on Special Education, what are other areas that put an unusual burden on LVUSD compared to other districts?
Follow up ?: In what areas does LVUSD have substantially lower
costs than other districts?
Dr Z’s Answer:
CADIE information will be provided under separate cover.
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WLR Question:
Is GATE part of what is considered to be Special Ed?
Follow up ?: What kind of funds are committed to GATE on a
per student basis?
Dr Z’s Answer:
GATE is a “categorical” program [Ed. Note: Categorical means that it’s restricted to certain uses and can only be used for those uses]. In the past we have received approximately $100,000 annually. Due to the current budget crisis, the State has allowed these funds to be used for any general purpose.
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WLR Question:
Historically, LVUSD has an extraordinarily high percentage of students using Special Education programs (11% vs. a typical 5-6%). Is that percentage still holding true today?
Dr Z’s Answer:
Our Special Education percentages are comparable – it’s the type and severity of programs – especially for autistic students that is significantly above the norm.
Follow up ?: What percentage of the budget is focused on Special
Education in LVUSD?
Dr Z’s Answer:
CADIE information will be provided under separate cover.
Follow up ?: Some of those programs are mandated by the state and
federal governments, and are supposed to have funding from those
sources — do they?
Dr Z’s Answer:
Please see response above relative to Special Education
Follow up ?: If not, to what extent (e.g., in dollars) are they
unfunded as promised by the Federal government?
Follow up ?: Same question for the State of California funding?
[Ed. Note: See Special Ed Finances attachment for additional details.]
Special Ed Finances
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WLR Question:
What opportunities do you see with technology to benefit the district’s financial issues?
Dr Z’s Answer:
The opportunities change and grow on a daily basis. We have expanded participation in “on line” courses and are exploring the potential of initiating some of our own “on line” classes as yet one more way of providing new opportunities for students while potentially generating additional revenue for the District. Based on the vision and foresight of our Board of Education, our District will not have to use general fund dollars to maintain and replace our technology in the coming years as the Measure G Bond has been structured to provide cyclical infusions of funding on a 3-5 year cycle to replace and upgrade our equipment. These efforts have been supported by our “Four City Agreement” which has allied the four cities within our District (Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, Hidden Hills, and Calabasas) into a collaborative effort to provide nearly $600,000 to provide support personnel for our technology vision.
OTHER
WLR Question:
What else would you like parents and the community to know about the furlough days and/or budget crisis?
Dr Z’s Answer:
The agreement reached with our Associations is historic. It demonstrates a tremendous commitment and sacrifice on the part of our employees in support of our students. And, while it makes tremendous headway in addressing our problem, it does not solve our problem. The situation is simple – the State of California has reduced our funding by nearly 16% resulting in an ongoing annual loss of $13 million dollars. This has resulted in millions of dollars in cuts to date along with the pay reductions just agreed to by our employee groups and administration. We are still left with a $5 million short fall. As a community, we must come together to overcome that loss.
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WLR Question:
What do you think parents, students, and community can do to help, if anything?
Dr Z’s Answer:
The State has failed in it’s responsibility to our children. We must work to return control of our schools to our local community through ballot initiatives, changes in law and continued support from our four cities.
For additional information, contact the LVUSD District Office. 818-880-4000