SMUSD Spends Money It Doesn't Have or "If you spend it first, it will come"

Latest email broadcast from San Marino School Superintendent Dr. Cherniss seem to show that new spending has been committed that depends on on-going support from Parcel Tax and donations.

How about cutting back the spending to align it with a budget?

I spent 2 months with the new high school athletics operations director to educate him that requiring tennis team members to "volunteer" to buy a uniform is prohibited by the CA Education Code.  Do we really need a new athletics administrator?

Governor's Budget Proposal "Great for Most School Districts, Simply Not Good Enough for San Marino USD"     In This Issue Governor's Proposal Quick Links District Website Strategic Plan Board of Education Our Schools San Marino High School Huntington Middle School Carver Elementary School Valentine Elementary School  To Our Subscribers Thank you for being a part of our flow of information.  If at anytime you change your email or your preferences (such as which e-newsletters you would like to receive throughout our district), please click on the "Update Profile and Email Address" link at the bottom of this email. Stay Connected! Download our Apps! Many of you have knowledge of Governor Brown's May Revise to the state budget, and the associated 2015-16 budget for K-12 Education.  What you have probably heard is that California schools are getting billions of dollars in new money.  This is only part of the story.  The truth is that most of these new funds go to large urban districts like LAUSD. In LAUSD alone, per pupil funding would reach $11,000 per student, up nearly $3,000 from the current year.   Unfortunately, this is not the reality here in San Marino USD. Next year's budget would increase our per-pupil funding by only 2.8% more than the proposed budget from January 2015.  In dollars, SMUSD would receive approximately $7,400 per student under the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) (i.e. $40.65 per student per day), which is lower than most California school districts and considerably less than many school districts in the nation (e.g., New York and New Jersey at $20,000 plus per student).   The harsh reality for us is that San Marino USD continues to receive proportionately less state funding than most school districts in California under the Local Control Funding Formula because the LCFF benefits those school districts with high percentages of English language learners, low-income students who qualify for free and reduced price meals, and foster youth.   Despite the unequal and unfair funding formula, however, San Marino USD will benefit from the additional monies and will continue to provide new and innovative programs for our students.  For 2015-16, the District is planning to expand reading, Common Core, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), and technology classroom support.  We also plan to add a Transitional Kindergarten (TK) class at Valentine and a full-time Athletics Administrator at the High School. The High School will offer additional classes like zero period Chemistry, AP Mandarin, and Honors Humanities at the Huntington Library. Computer Coding classes will be offered at both SMHS and Huntington Middle School. We also plan to maintain low class sizes District-wide to offer more individualized attention for our students.   So how do we continue to be on the cutting edge of K-12 education? The answer is simple... It is because of all of you, our school community supporters.  Based on the generous support of approximately $2.5 million this year from the San Marino Schools Foundation, the District is able to provide for an additional 32 teaching positions throughout the schools at all grade levels. Additionally, with your support we were able to renew the local parcel tax, which provides an additional $4M per year to the District, which we continue to use to fund our lower class sizes and extra-curricular programs. Support from the PTSA and PTAs has been crucial to providing enrichment programs at all schools.   My message to all of you is to recognize that what is good for most of California school districts is not good enough for San Marino USD. A good public education may be free, but an exceptional public education, one that we expect here in San Marino, comes at a cost. I thank you for your continued support of our school district, through the giving of your time and your resources. Respectfully,         Alex Cherniss, Ed.D.   Superintendent of Schools   San Marino Unified School District

Oh My Gosh: More Violin Sessions from San Marino Schools

Live WITHIN your means, PLEASE???!!!!??? Get a lawyer and challenge the Unions and Contracts. Please, cut your expenses and get rid of the crappy teachers.

"Throughout the coming months the Board of Education will be regularly communicating the steps to address the current fiscal crisis as they happen. PLEASE partner with us by keeping up on the news as it happens. "

Unions

An article about Washington DC's head of schools Ms. Rhee:

Since being appointed in 2007 to head one of the nation's worst school districts, Rhee has clashed with the union on issues like merit pay, which she advocates and the union staunchly opposes. Efforts to sign a new contract with the city have so far proved unsuccessful.

Meanwhile, under Rhee's leadership the district's test scores have risen and the high school dropout rate has eased.

While Rhee faces potential troubles in the nation's capital, she is being heralded in the new documentary "Waiting for Superman," which made its debut over the weekend at the Sundance Film Festival.

After seeing the film, Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert wrote the following about Rhee's battle with the union: "The most powerful opponents to better teaching are the teachers' unions. I am a lifelong supporter of unions. But 'Waiting for Superman' makes this an inescapable conclusion. A union that protects incompetent and even dangerous teachers is an obscenity."

Since San Marino's layoff notices had nothing to do with performance, maybe it is time we start using performance as a Key Performance Indicator for our teachers so that our children can benefit.

Water Conservation Ordinance 0-09-1219

This Ordinance is a good idea but how do you cite someone for "Excessive Water Flow or Runoff?"

How do you measure "Excessive." Dr. Richard Sun, Mayor, was a dentist as I recall. He must have had Chemistry classes in college. I don't ever recall a measure called "excessive."

Excessive to one is not excessive to another. If you are caught for speeding, there is a measurable speed limit.

This Ordinance is great for politicians but difficult to enforce some sections.

Let's see if we can find a "Excessive" measuring cup somewhere!!!

What is it like to deal with the City of San Marino?

1) In May 2009 my neighbor erected a fence that was over 6 feet tall and less than 2-inches from the property line in some spots. I called the City Planning Department. Over 3 phone calls with inspector "Billy Bob" I pointed out that the fence is over 6 feet tall and less than 2-inches from the property line. These requirements are clearly stated on the City website in the Zoning Ordinance Chapter 23. At the end "Billy Bob" said "He complied in spirit and I am going to approve it."

I didn't know you can comply with Zoning Ordinances in "Spirit."

2) The same neighbor had a crew with chainsaws trimming the oak trees in his back yard and his parkway strip on a Saturday. The Parks and Public Works manager said no permit is required. That is not what is stated in the Zoning Ordinance. More "in Spirit" compliance with zoning requirements!

3) In Aug/Sep, I had an inspection of my fence for a pool I am installing. "Billy Bob" said my driveway gate was an inch too low and the cross-bar was a few inches too low. Hey, what happened to "in spirit" compliance?

I called the Planning Director and left him a voicemail asking if I can comply in spirit as well? Why is a non-white resident required to comply to the letter of the zoning requirement?

Then another inspector showed up!! He left a note saying my side panel is too low as well. I already knew how these "little people" would react and had asked my contractor to an inch to the height.

Then I pointed out to "Billy Bob" that he should measure the driveway gate from the ground and not just the height of the gate itself. There is a 2-inch premissible gap on the bottom and so my driveway gate is 1 inch over what is required.

4) In November, my contractor went to pull a permit for a side fence. He was told I needed to get a survey done before a permit can be granted.

On Nov 16 I went down to Cith Hall myself because I didn't read that as a requirement anywhere.

The lady tried to tell me the same thing. I asked her to please show me where it says a survey is required for a fence. Then she backed off and said you need a fence line agreement or the fence has to be 2-inches away from the fence line. I told her it is 2 inchese away.

My wife appointed me as her agent by signing the agent appointment form. We needed info on the contractor so I had to come back on Tues. I asked the lady if she can witness that my wife was here and signed the form. She made a copy of her driver's license and said it will be fine tomorrow.

Well, on Tues, the other lady behind the counter said I need to have the appointment form "notarized." I asked her to show me this. She pointed out the form which said "driver'slicense, notarized letter, or....." I said "excuse me, it is "or" not AND" She said "I know my english." I don't think you do.

Then she said "My Director wants this." I said Mr. Saldana can want all he wants but if it is not the law or zoning requirement, he can take a hike. Then I asked, if you need a "notarized" form, where is the place for the notary to sign and put his seal? She said "you have to provide that yourself." Right.

I got my permit.

5) Now the stories I have heard about a realtor passing tickets for a ice skating performance comes to mind. Maybe I should have included a box of Krispy Kreme do-nuts when I submit my permit application. Then I can comply in "Spirit" as well!

San Marino is a nice Southern town. All we need is Detective Virgil Tibbs to come in and clean it up.

Beautiful Oak Trees in San Marino

A lot of oak trees in San Marino are under stress from too much watering of the parkway strip. For example, the tree trunks are washed down regularly from sprinklers. The parkway strip is watered regularly at 1480, 1430 and 1310 Lorain Road. There is so much watering at 1430 that there is sign of moss and thinning of the canopy.

Oak trees are falling down. When will the Parks Dept start telling howeowners to stop watering?

Lots of info on over watering of oak trees: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=over+watering+oak+trees&aq=f&oq=

http://www.lacity.org/BOSS/UrbanForestryDivision/index_prunninginfosheet.htm

Oak root fungus: http://groups.ucanr.org/slomg/documents/Pests_&_Diseases3863.htm

At least San Marino Unified is not the only district having trouble with non-performing teachers. I have been told many times that the district passed out notices that have "no relationship to quality of performance."

Here are a few Letters to the Editor at the L.A. Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/letters/la-le-friday8-2009may08,0,7980669.story