Gene Ruckh writes the truth about the school district and the school's performance.
Like UTLA, San Marino passed out layoff notices without any "relationship to performance." San Marino schools perform well because of the students and the importance of education to the families of those students.
There are entire generations of contributing and high achieving adults who went to school with 30 or more other classmates.
Richard Sun told me during his campaign that he is "different." So far, Dr. Sun is the same old shoe. Do things that are comfortable.
If budget is such a problem, why are we replacing street signs. How much does that cost? Oh please don't tell me it was approved before the economy imploded.
VOTE NO on E. Make those responsible accountable. Giving the schools a parcel tax is like giving drugs to a drug addict.
Friday 10 April 2009
Wednesday 1 April 2009
Another school district has to extend the parcel tax band-aid:
"In 2004, voters approved Measure E: a $98 parcel tax that generates approximately $2 million per year for the Las Virgenes Unified School District. It required a 2/3 voter approval to pass. That approval expires next year.
On Tuesday, November 6th, voters will vote on an extension of Measure E. This time, for 8 years. Like last time, It will pass if there is 2/3 voter approval. "
"In 2004, voters approved Measure E: a $98 parcel tax that generates approximately $2 million per year for the Las Virgenes Unified School District. It required a 2/3 voter approval to pass. That approval expires next year.
On Tuesday, November 6th, voters will vote on an extension of Measure E. This time, for 8 years. Like last time, It will pass if there is 2/3 voter approval. "
No on Measure E
I started this blog on April Fools Day to highlight the arguments behind Measure E.
On the front page of the March 27, 2009 San Marino Tribune, a photo of Carver's 5th grade teachers appears. The "ear to ear" smiles of the teachers don't agree with the heading "Three of Carver's four 5th grade teachers...will be gone if Measure E is defeated in May." Those in the photos seem to be looking forward to a layoff.
On the back of the same issue, a full page ad by a former school board president fail to highlight what conditions are attached to the Parcel Tax.
How about getting the school district to commit to balancing the school budget by year-5 of this 6 year parcel tax. Afterall, there is no guarantee that the state will increase funds to schools in 6 years. What if there are more cuts coming?
This is another taxpayer bailout with no conditions attached. Another AIG, GM, Chrysler bailout. We need the district to commit to balancing the budget by a specific date before the Parcel Tax runs out.
Washington is requiring concessions from GM management, employees and unions. How about the school district? I don't see any employee, union or administrator cutting salary or benefits? How about giving up $795 to match what is asked of the homeowners? They want to keep their full salaries and benefits; while asking homeowners to pay up! What a Team spirit.
I asked Dr. Yen of the school board what was the situation when the school district budget was $4-5 million less? No answer.
Just fill this out:
2008 school budget: $
Number of Students:
Average cost to educate each student:
Number of Teachers:
Student - Teacher ratio:
Total salary cost of teachers:
Total cost of teachers including all benefits:
Average cost per teacher including all benefits:
Number of Administrators:
Total salary cost of Administrators:
Total cost of all admin including all benefits
Average cost per Administrator including all benefits:
Total number of all employees:
Total salary cost of all employees:
Total cost of all employees including benefits:
Average cost per employee including benefits:
Other major categories of expense: maintenance, insurance, etc
19XX or 20XX school budget (2008 budget less $5 million): $
Number of Students:
Average cost to educate each student:
Number of Teachers:
Student - Teacher ratio:
Total salary cost of teachers:
Total cost of teachers including all benefits:
Average cost per teacher including all benefits:
Number of Administrators:
Total salary cost of Administrators:
Total cost of all admin including all benefits:
Average cost per Administrator including all benefits:
Total number of all employees:
Total salary cost of all employees:
Total cost of all employees including benefits:
Average cost per employee including benefits:
Other major categories of expense: maintenance, insurance, etc
Now let's look at where the costs went up. How do we get back to when the budget was $4-5 million less?
The proponents of Measure E is also trying to buy the senior votes by giving a senior exemption. But no one discusses what happens when these same seniors want to sell their homes. A buyer will not only pay the 1% Proposition 13 property tax but now will have another $795 on top of that.
Throwing more money into a budget problem is like giving drugs to a drug addict. It is a band-aid and not a solution.
Tax dollars will be even more scrace in the years to come. By not addressing the root cause and coming up with a logical solution, the school budget shortfall will still be a problem 6 years from now.
Vote NO on Measure E.
On the front page of the March 27, 2009 San Marino Tribune, a photo of Carver's 5th grade teachers appears. The "ear to ear" smiles of the teachers don't agree with the heading "Three of Carver's four 5th grade teachers...will be gone if Measure E is defeated in May." Those in the photos seem to be looking forward to a layoff.
On the back of the same issue, a full page ad by a former school board president fail to highlight what conditions are attached to the Parcel Tax.
How about getting the school district to commit to balancing the school budget by year-5 of this 6 year parcel tax. Afterall, there is no guarantee that the state will increase funds to schools in 6 years. What if there are more cuts coming?
This is another taxpayer bailout with no conditions attached. Another AIG, GM, Chrysler bailout. We need the district to commit to balancing the budget by a specific date before the Parcel Tax runs out.
Washington is requiring concessions from GM management, employees and unions. How about the school district? I don't see any employee, union or administrator cutting salary or benefits? How about giving up $795 to match what is asked of the homeowners? They want to keep their full salaries and benefits; while asking homeowners to pay up! What a Team spirit.
I asked Dr. Yen of the school board what was the situation when the school district budget was $4-5 million less? No answer.
Just fill this out:
2008 school budget: $
Number of Students:
Average cost to educate each student:
Number of Teachers:
Student - Teacher ratio:
Total salary cost of teachers:
Total cost of teachers including all benefits:
Average cost per teacher including all benefits:
Number of Administrators:
Total salary cost of Administrators:
Total cost of all admin including all benefits
Average cost per Administrator including all benefits:
Total number of all employees:
Total salary cost of all employees:
Total cost of all employees including benefits:
Average cost per employee including benefits:
Other major categories of expense: maintenance, insurance, etc
19XX or 20XX school budget (2008 budget less $5 million): $
Number of Students:
Average cost to educate each student:
Number of Teachers:
Student - Teacher ratio:
Total salary cost of teachers:
Total cost of teachers including all benefits:
Average cost per teacher including all benefits:
Number of Administrators:
Total salary cost of Administrators:
Total cost of all admin including all benefits:
Average cost per Administrator including all benefits:
Total number of all employees:
Total salary cost of all employees:
Total cost of all employees including benefits:
Average cost per employee including benefits:
Other major categories of expense: maintenance, insurance, etc
Now let's look at where the costs went up. How do we get back to when the budget was $4-5 million less?
The proponents of Measure E is also trying to buy the senior votes by giving a senior exemption. But no one discusses what happens when these same seniors want to sell their homes. A buyer will not only pay the 1% Proposition 13 property tax but now will have another $795 on top of that.
Throwing more money into a budget problem is like giving drugs to a drug addict. It is a band-aid and not a solution.
Tax dollars will be even more scrace in the years to come. By not addressing the root cause and coming up with a logical solution, the school budget shortfall will still be a problem 6 years from now.
Vote NO on Measure E.
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