NUSD approved a budget Jan. 25th. Sac Bee story below.
http://www.sacbee.com/education/story/2489257.html
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Monday, January 4, 2010
Sacramento Bee Article on Natomas schools - Dec. 27th
Natomas budget cuts hit classrooms; parents worried
By Diana Lambert dlambert@sacbee.com q{
Published: Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 - 12:00 am Page 5B
Natomas Unified School District officials have reached deep into classrooms to balance their budget.
They have cut days from the school year, reduced class periods for most juniors and seniors, relaxed graduation requirements and eliminated summer school.
And parents are worried.
"They need to start putting the kids first," said Elena Quintero, president of the Inderkum High School Parent Teacher Student Association.
She is concerned about the district's decision to reduce the number of units required for graduation and to cut counselors.
"Counselors now don't even have the time to go over a schedule with kids, let alone go over graduation requirements and college applications," said Quintero, whose son is a freshman at the school.
Quintero and a handful of other parents were at a meeting last week at Inderkum High School where interim Natomas Unified Superintendent General Davie Jr. and other district staff talked about plans to cut another $20 million over this year and the following two.
Many of the parents in the room that night have already enrolled their children in charter schools.
Chana Wynne has three children in district charter schools.
"I think eventually the charters will be affected too," Wynne said.
This year 400 students migrated from district schools to Natomas Pathways Preparatory School after the charter school added middle grades. This migration will cost the district $2.5 million in state funding by the end of the school year.
The 12,000-student district also has lost 807 students to Natomas Charter, 321 to Westlake Charter and 512 to Natomas Pathways Preparatory School's high school.
Davie said charters offer healthy competition to districts. "They are part of the fabric of educational offerings in the Natomas community," he said.
But district officials are concerned enough about the bleeding charters are causing that they have made retaining and attracting students part of their budget recovery plan.
"We need to attract students that left us," Assistant Superintendent John Christ told the parents.
But that may be a hard sell in a district that has had to make over $11 million in cuts this school year alone. Cuts over a three-year period include closing a school, increasing class sizes, eliminating all elementary and middle school counselors, ending all but special education transportation, reducing library technicians, limiting athletics and postponing the adoption of new textbooks.
District officials have so far identified $15.5 million in potential cuts to help offset the nearly $20 million still needed. The only options left to reduce the budget are to lay off more staff, negotiate more concessions from unions, close a second school, generate new income or make more cuts to schools, according to district staff.
"As desperate as it is, we may have to look at more cuts," Christ said.
All California schools are struggling with state budget cuts. They received $18 billion less than anticipated in state funding a year ago, said state schools chief Jack O'Connell in a previous Bee interview. That was despite an influx of federal dollars from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
The Folsom Cordova Unified School District will close two schools at the end of the school year, as will the San Juan Unified School District. The Sacramento City Unified School District closed four schools at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
The Elk Grove Unified School District also is struggling with budget cuts, voting recently to reduce spending on district sports programs, increase K-3 class sizes and eliminate 592 positions.
Like Natomas, Folsom Cordova officials voted to shave a class period off the school day for high school juniors and seniors. But no other Sacramento County school district has taken the drastic measure of cutting the school year.
So how did Natomas Unified get into this situation?
District leaders didn't make timely decisions, Davie told The Bee last week. He said the district's decision in May to postpone layoffs was a mistake. Instead, the district waited until August to lay off 59 teachers and counselors.
The picture could be even more grim next month when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger presents his proposed budget for next year. Educators are hoping there are no more cuts to school districts.
"We're worried," Davie said. "We hope education has had its turn. We're preparing."
By Diana Lambert dlambert@sacbee.com q{
Published: Sunday, Dec. 27, 2009 - 12:00 am Page 5B
Natomas Unified School District officials have reached deep into classrooms to balance their budget.
They have cut days from the school year, reduced class periods for most juniors and seniors, relaxed graduation requirements and eliminated summer school.
And parents are worried.
"They need to start putting the kids first," said Elena Quintero, president of the Inderkum High School Parent Teacher Student Association.
She is concerned about the district's decision to reduce the number of units required for graduation and to cut counselors.
"Counselors now don't even have the time to go over a schedule with kids, let alone go over graduation requirements and college applications," said Quintero, whose son is a freshman at the school.
Quintero and a handful of other parents were at a meeting last week at Inderkum High School where interim Natomas Unified Superintendent General Davie Jr. and other district staff talked about plans to cut another $20 million over this year and the following two.
Many of the parents in the room that night have already enrolled their children in charter schools.
Chana Wynne has three children in district charter schools.
"I think eventually the charters will be affected too," Wynne said.
This year 400 students migrated from district schools to Natomas Pathways Preparatory School after the charter school added middle grades. This migration will cost the district $2.5 million in state funding by the end of the school year.
The 12,000-student district also has lost 807 students to Natomas Charter, 321 to Westlake Charter and 512 to Natomas Pathways Preparatory School's high school.
Davie said charters offer healthy competition to districts. "They are part of the fabric of educational offerings in the Natomas community," he said.
But district officials are concerned enough about the bleeding charters are causing that they have made retaining and attracting students part of their budget recovery plan.
"We need to attract students that left us," Assistant Superintendent John Christ told the parents.
But that may be a hard sell in a district that has had to make over $11 million in cuts this school year alone. Cuts over a three-year period include closing a school, increasing class sizes, eliminating all elementary and middle school counselors, ending all but special education transportation, reducing library technicians, limiting athletics and postponing the adoption of new textbooks.
District officials have so far identified $15.5 million in potential cuts to help offset the nearly $20 million still needed. The only options left to reduce the budget are to lay off more staff, negotiate more concessions from unions, close a second school, generate new income or make more cuts to schools, according to district staff.
"As desperate as it is, we may have to look at more cuts," Christ said.
All California schools are struggling with state budget cuts. They received $18 billion less than anticipated in state funding a year ago, said state schools chief Jack O'Connell in a previous Bee interview. That was despite an influx of federal dollars from the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.
The Folsom Cordova Unified School District will close two schools at the end of the school year, as will the San Juan Unified School District. The Sacramento City Unified School District closed four schools at the end of the 2008-09 school year.
The Elk Grove Unified School District also is struggling with budget cuts, voting recently to reduce spending on district sports programs, increase K-3 class sizes and eliminate 592 positions.
Like Natomas, Folsom Cordova officials voted to shave a class period off the school day for high school juniors and seniors. But no other Sacramento County school district has taken the drastic measure of cutting the school year.
So how did Natomas Unified get into this situation?
District leaders didn't make timely decisions, Davie told The Bee last week. He said the district's decision in May to postpone layoffs was a mistake. Instead, the district waited until August to lay off 59 teachers and counselors.
The picture could be even more grim next month when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger presents his proposed budget for next year. Educators are hoping there are no more cuts to school districts.
"We're worried," Davie said. "We hope education has had its turn. We're preparing."
Friday, January 1, 2010
Race to the Top (RTTT) information from CDE
Natomas USD is applying for the RTTT funds. For information on RTTT, below is a link to the Calif. Dept of Educ. website which covers this topic. NTA will be negotiating the terms and limits as to the use of these funds, when and if the grant is received. We are monitoring our neighboring districts' practices, as well as receiving guidance from CTA staff.
http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr09/yr09rel164.asp
http://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr09/yr09rel164.asp
Press Release from Lisa Kaplan, NUSD School Board Member
Press Release
Contact: Lisa Kaplan
916/996-1474
kaplan4kids@yahoo.com
Kaplan to Run for Third Term on Natomas School Board
Sacramento - Natomas School Board member Lisa Kaplan has announced her intention to seek re-election to the Natomas School Board in 2010, opting out of the race for Sacramento City Council, District 1.
"When I decided to run for Sacramento City Council, I promised myself that I would stick true to why I first decided to run for School Board. I first ran for school board because I knew I could make a difference and had a passion for changing the lives of the children of Natomas for the better. My passion is for the children of Natomas and I want the opportunity to continue to make a positive difference in their lives. I cannot knowingly vacate my school board seat without setting the District right financially as we weather this economic downturn," said Kaplan. "I wish to thank everyone who has stood with me from the very beginning, especially my friends like the Northern California Carpenters, Griselda Barajas, Dr. George King, Grantland Jonson, Matthew Bunch, John Vigna and Scott Dosick."
In support of Kaplan’s bid for re-election to the Natomas School Board, are several key supporters in her bid for City Council. In a statement from the Northern California Carpenters Local #46, they affirm their support with the following statement. “Northern California Carpenters Local #46, stands solidly behind and in support of Lisa Kaplan in her re-election for a third term to the Natomas School Board.”
Also indicating support is, Scott Dosick, a Westlake Charter Board member and President of the North Natomas Transportation Management Association, who states, “I fully stand behind Lisa, and her decision to run for re-election to the Natomas School Board.” Further indicating support is fellow School Board Member, Bruce Roberts, who declares, “I look forward to working with Lisa on the Natomas School Board and support her in her re-election to the Board in November 2010.”
###
Lisa Kaplan, A New LeaderCandidate, Sacramento City Council - District 1
Trustee, Natomas School Board (2002 - Present)
www.kaplan4council.com
916/996-1474 (cell)
Contact: Lisa Kaplan
916/996-1474
kaplan4kids@yahoo.com
Kaplan to Run for Third Term on Natomas School Board
Sacramento - Natomas School Board member Lisa Kaplan has announced her intention to seek re-election to the Natomas School Board in 2010, opting out of the race for Sacramento City Council, District 1.
"When I decided to run for Sacramento City Council, I promised myself that I would stick true to why I first decided to run for School Board. I first ran for school board because I knew I could make a difference and had a passion for changing the lives of the children of Natomas for the better. My passion is for the children of Natomas and I want the opportunity to continue to make a positive difference in their lives. I cannot knowingly vacate my school board seat without setting the District right financially as we weather this economic downturn," said Kaplan. "I wish to thank everyone who has stood with me from the very beginning, especially my friends like the Northern California Carpenters, Griselda Barajas, Dr. George King, Grantland Jonson, Matthew Bunch, John Vigna and Scott Dosick."
In support of Kaplan’s bid for re-election to the Natomas School Board, are several key supporters in her bid for City Council. In a statement from the Northern California Carpenters Local #46, they affirm their support with the following statement. “Northern California Carpenters Local #46, stands solidly behind and in support of Lisa Kaplan in her re-election for a third term to the Natomas School Board.”
Also indicating support is, Scott Dosick, a Westlake Charter Board member and President of the North Natomas Transportation Management Association, who states, “I fully stand behind Lisa, and her decision to run for re-election to the Natomas School Board.” Further indicating support is fellow School Board Member, Bruce Roberts, who declares, “I look forward to working with Lisa on the Natomas School Board and support her in her re-election to the Board in November 2010.”
###
Lisa Kaplan, A New LeaderCandidate, Sacramento City Council - District 1
Trustee, Natomas School Board (2002 - Present)
www.kaplan4council.com
916/996-1474 (cell)
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