San Diego Unified School District Newsfeed

Superintendent lauds PTA volunteer contributions as "priceless"

2013-05-31T06:00:00.000-07:00

Supt. Kowba receives the Honorary Service Award from
the PTA. Joining him are his daughter, Elizabeth, left, his
wife, Maureen, and Barbara Flannery, President of the
San Diego Unified Council of PTAs.

A $4,254,750.07 check from the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs to the San Diego Unified School District?

The check may not have been real, but the amount was – it represents the monetary equivalent to the District of the 192,174.8 volunteer hours donated by PTA members this school year. A mock check for the amount was presented to Supt. Bill Kowba at the Council's Founders Day dinner on May 20.

"Even thought the PTA has assigned a monetary value to this, the real value to our kids is priceless," said Kowba, who will retire from the district at the end of June.

In addition, the Council of PTAs presented two service awards, recognized special unit PTAs who met the membership challenge and one National PTA award winner.

Superintendent Bill Kowba was presented an Honorary Service Award for the outstanding commitment he showed to the students of San Diego Unified School District these past seven years in his various roles from "CFO to CEO," said Barbara Flannery, President of the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs.

"The superintendent is known for his 4 a.m. emails and his calm in the face the state education budget crisis," she said. "He has become a true supporter of parent involvement and belongs to multiple PTAs in the district. The Honorary Service Award recognizes outstanding service to children and youth."

In attendance with him were surprise guests, his wife, Maureen, and daughter, Elizabeth.

Flannery was presented a Continuing Service Award for her decade of service to the students and families of San Diego Unified. She started out in PTA as just a helper, later becoming President of Language Academy PTA and moving up to Council PTA to serve as webmaster, secretary and president. She is presently the Council PTA representative on the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee for Prop S and Z and will continue her service to the community as vice-president of Programs for the Council.

Linda Zintz, Director of Communications, and Dr. Betsy Cook, Principal of Marston Middle School were recognized for their two years of service as liaisons to the San Diego Unified Council of PTAs Executive Board for San Diego Unified and Administrators Association of San Diego, respectively.

The Honorary Service Awards Program is the funding source for the California State PTA Scholarships and Grant Programs.

PTA programs at 19 schools units were recognized for membership increases of more than 25 members, 37 schools had an increase in membership. Six schools were recognized for having more than 300 members: Hearst PTA, Holmes PTA, Marshall Middle PTSA, Mira Mesa High PTSA, Spreckels PTA and with a high of 605 members La Jolla High PTA.

Lindbergh Schweitzer PTA received the California State PTA award, “Members Matter, Teachers Matter,” for an overall increase in members and with 100 percent of their teachers joining the PTA. The unit received a free State PTA Convention registration.

Cadman PTA was a recipient of the National PTA “Take You Families to School” grant.
Three schools organized this year's event: Creative Performing and Media Arts PTSA, America’s Finest Charter School PTSA and San Diego High School PTSA.

Karen Fleck, Ninth District President, presided over the installation of the 2013-15 Executive Board: President Derby Pattengill, Executive Vice-President Laura Schumacher, VP of Leadership Betsy Mueller, VP of Programs Barbara Flannery, VP of Communications Cathy Lackmann, VP of Legislation Celeste Bobryk-Ozaki, Secretary Bey-Ling Sha, Treasurer Janine Morrow, Auditor Michelle Cass, Historian Kelly Barnes and Parliamentarian NiChelle Cannon.

Also in attendance were Board of Education Vice President Kevin Beiser, and past PTA Council Presidents Barbara Peluso, Debbie Vincent, Patt Sloan, and Cindy McIntyre.
The San Diego Unified Council of PTAs is comprised of 80 school-level PTAs in the San Diego Unified School District. To start a PTA at your school, contact Vice-President of Leadership Betsy Mueller at sducpta@yahoo.com.

Board proclaims May as Supt. Kowba Legacy Month

2013-05-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

BOARD OF EDUCATION SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT RESOLUTION
Resolution Declaring May 2013 as Superintendent Kowba Legacy Month

WHEREAS, the members of the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District (San Diego Unified) honor Superintendent Bill Kowba and call upon schools and the community to pay tribute to him during the month of May 2013; and

WHEREAS, the Board recognizes Superintendent Kowba’s dedication to the students, parents, staff, and community, and expresses their appreciation for the educational growth achieved by our students and the stability that he has provided the District during his tenure; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent Kowba began his career with San Diego Unified in 2006 serving in several senior level executive positions until his appointment to Superintendent on June 29, 2010; and

WHEREAS, under Superintendent Kowba’s leadership, San Diego Unified has been named a finalist for the 2013 Broad Prize for Urban Education in recognition of the District's student achievement gains; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent Kowba has consistently demonstrated that he is a man of integrity and a servant leader by listening to all people and taking all ideas into consideration before making decisions; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent Kowba has been able to maintain fiscal solvency for San Diego Unified with balanced budgets during severe economic times; and

WHEREAS, Proposition Z, a $2.8 billion bond measure was passed by voters to help maintain safe and productive learning environments for all students during the state’s ongoing budget crisis; and

WHEREAS, Superintendent Kowba has been honored by many organizations for his anti-bullying advocacy including the Harvey Milk Leadership Award of San Diego County; multiple awards from the Center for Excellence in School Counseling and Leadership (CESCal) for “Excellence in Creating Safer School Climates for LGBTQIA Youth” and for his participation in their annual conference; special recognition from the Safe Schools Task Force; awards from the Cambodian Buddhist Society of San Diego; the Association of African American Educators (AAAE); State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson; Equality California; Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS); and the San Diego Education Association (SDEA) Retired members.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education, that it recognizes Superintendent Kowba for his years of dedicated service to the students, parents, staff, and community and hereby designates May 2013 as Superintendent Kowba Legacy Month.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board calls on all teachers, staff, students, parents, and community members to focus on Superintendent Kowba’s accomplishments and acknowledge them during this month so that we can faithfully build on his legacy of stability and integrity for many years to come.

Adopted and approved by the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District at the regular meeting held on the 23rd day of April 2013.

Superintendent testifies before state legislature on budget issues

2013-04-21T14:00:00.000-07:00

Superintendent Bill Kowba testified before the California Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Subcommittee 1: Education on April 18. Here are his remarks on the topic of school district perspectives on local control funding formula.

Good morning Chairman Block, Senator Wyland, Senator Wright and Senator Leno:

Bill Kowba
Read coverage
from UT San Diego»

I am Bill Kowba, Superintendent of the San Diego Unified School District. Thank you for the opportunity to address you today to share my perspective on Governor Brown’s proposed Local Control Funding Formula and its impact on school districts.

Let me begin by giving the members of the committee an overview of San Diego Unified to provide context for the diverse student population we serve. As the second largest school district in the state, we serve more than 130,000 students in pre-school through 12th grade. Approximately 65 percent of our students are free and reduced lunch recipients and 27 percent are English learners. In an urban setting as large and diverse as ours, with 223 schools, enhancing a district’s ability to design programs that best meet the needs of our students is of high importance. It is of equal significance that students with the greatest needs are provided adequate and even additional resources required to succeed in the classroom. These are two goals the Governor’s LCFF proposal is trying to achieve, and two of the reasons why San Diego Unified fully supports the proposal.

Support for LCFF: Focus on Local Decision Making, Flexibility and Accountability

I commend Governor Brown for his determined advocacy for public K-12 education and for his visionary leadership in restructuring an archaic education finance system.

I believe Governor Brown’s proposed new formula will address many problems inherent in the state’s existing K-12 funding structure. This major overhaul in education finance is a significant improvement relative to the current system. The existing distribution of state funds is convoluted and based on dozens of categorical programs with many restrictions and reporting requirements to the state.

With equity and flexibility as two of the core principles in the Governor’s proposal, the San Diego Unified Board of Education unanimously passed a resolution on April 9, explicitly stating the district’s support for the LCFF proposal with its focus on local decision making, local accountability and extended flexibility. We support the goal of developing a new state school finance system that is simple and transparent, one that focuses on local control and results in increased community engagement.

We enthusiastically back the Governor’s commitment to ensuring our education system is equitable and fair. Regardless of a school district’s student population or its geographical location in the state, school districts with the highest number and largest concentration of low-income and English learners deserve supplemental resources to help our neediest young people meet state standards and graduation requirements.

Maintaining the concentration thresholds of 50 percent at a district average, as currently proposed by the Governor's plan, will enable school districts to target supplemental resources to EL and low-income students. In the case of English learners, our district leadership and parent advisory committees may decide these students need supplemental services such as tutoring and smaller class sizes.

The specific strategies we would pursue will depend on whether the English learner is an elementary or secondary student. Best practices are linked to grade level. Having this local discretion in allocating resources is essential as districts create school budgets.

Given the scale, multi-community diversity and sizable continuum of student needs in San Diego Unified, we believe the district leadership is better suited to make decisions on how to allocate the resources appropriated by the state as we are the ones working closely with our students to reduce dropout rates, increase high school graduation rates and advance preparation for college and career.

By shifting decision making to the local level, school districts will better allocate resources to programs and school-site initiatives that have demonstrated positive academic results at our campuses. We are committed to continuing to place emphasis on programs currently funded through categorical revenues, yet our evaluation of school needs’ may encourage the district to focus funds on some areas more than others.

This proposal of extended flexibility is an opportunity for school districts to assess what strategies are working at our highest performing schools, consider replicating promising pilot initiatives and shifting the allocation of state resources for particular interventions we see working well in our schools. Our district staff, in consultation with the School Board and our stakeholder advisory committees composed of parents and community leaders will be better positioned to allocate the resources and prioritize initiatives.

A case in point, San Diego Unified may choose to fund additional Advance Placement and Career Technical Education courses as we continue to prepare our high school students to be career- or-college-ready. Some of our schools may benefit from additional instructional support for the language immersion and biiteracy programs.

We may decide to reduce class size at our high need sites and hire counselors or librarians since these positions are the ones we’ve had to eliminate or reduce during the painful years of budget cutting. As we prepare to implement the Common Core Standards, we may consider providing additional support for our teachers in the form of professional development, which has been dramatically reduced since the onset of the recession in 2008.

In the recent California Department of Education’s release on the 2012 graduation and drop-out rates, San Diego Unified proudly exceeded all of the state averages by increasing graduations and decreasing drop-outs. In fact, we attained the lowest drop-out rate among California’s large urban districts and the second highest graduation rate among our peer districts. This is validation that we are pursuing strategies that work and that are helping our students graduate from high school with the necessary skills and knowledge to enroll in college or compete in the workforce.

We also support the Governor’s plan to maintain the Targeted Instructional Improvement Block Grant (TIIBG) as an add-on to the formula. It has been a critical, stand-alone integration fund that has benefitted many of our students for decades as San Diego Unified was one of the districts subject to court desegregation orders. The court has acknowledged the district has remained committed to achieving the integration goals, and to that end, San Diego Unified has continued to use TIIBG resources for transportation activities attributed to desegregation.

We have also applied these funds to other integration strategies, including increasing enrollment options for our students who live in racially isolated areas, decreasing class sizes for high needs schools, transporting our students to magnet schools across the district, and increasing parent involvement.
I am confident that the proposed finance system will allow local educators and communities to adapt, innovate and respond to changing student needs. Under LCFF, district and school staff will spend far less time navigating the cumbersome bureaucracy created over decades by layers of restrictions and requirements and instead focus on improving educational outcomes in response to being held accountable for raising student achievement across the board.

More Clarity on Role of COE and What New Accountability System Means

Before I conclude, I would like to make a few remarks in the area of accountability. We look forward to receiving additional direction on what the proposed accountability system will look like, and we encourage the Governor’s office, the Legislature and Department of Education to engage school districts in developing an accountability plan that is not cumbersome, but one that is simple, straight forward and implementable.

The accountability proposal currently envisions that each County Office of Education to review the local accountability plans for all school districts within its county concurrently with its review of district budgets. We are concerned about the implications of this approach because of the broad diversity of County Office capabilities around the state. Each County Offices of Education in the state conducts a variety of activities depending on the size of the county and the characteristics of the districts they serve. Before implementing this accountability review approach, school districts and County Offices of Education will need to be informed on the responsibilities County Offices of Education will have under this new system and what the consequences will be, if any, if districts fail to comply with their plan.

While it is important that County Offices of Education to review the District Plans on an annual basis, this examination should be limited to a fiscal analysis, not one based on evaluating whether schools have met academic progress. This separation of fiscal review versus academic performance review is very important as many school districts across the state believe student achievement and academic progress should not be part of the County Offices of Education.

While the accountability structure is further defined, the state should consider convening a stakeholder advisory group to assist with the development and adoption of the Local Control and Accountability Plan so the county's superintendent role in reviewing district's plan is clear.

One final point on accountability. I am aware that concerns have been raised that the proposed local decision making and flexibility granted to school districts does not factor in an accountability system that will ensure the supplemental funds are being spent on the neediest students: English learners, low-income and foster care youth. I disagree with and challenge these concerns, as I believe the proposed formula will empower parents and community members to hold school districts accountable for ensuring the funds are being used for the most disadvantaged students.

Conclusion: Education Finance Reform is Needed Now

In conclusion, how best to improve upon the existing K-12 funding system has been discussed by stakeholder groups for many years, San Diego Unified believes that the need for action grows increasingly urgent.

Not only does a strong rationale exist for restructuring the current flawed system, but the passage of Prop 30 and projected annual growth in Prop 98 minimum guarantee serves as a unique opportunity to transition to a more rational funding system that is equitable and one which allocates a share of new funds in a way that more closely aligns with current student needs.

School districts have suffered more than $20 billion in reductions and deferred payments from the state since 2007-2008, and our school district has had its own share of these cuts. Thanks in large part to Governor Brown; the passage of Proposition 30 will serve to stop additional cuts to schools. California¹s public schools must be funded at a level that allows them to meet the state¹s expectations, and to serve all students while providing them with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in today¹s society.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide you San Diego Unified’s perspective. I welcome any questions from members of the committee.

‘Get Connected’ with Superintendent-Designate Cindy Marten

2013-03-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

Getting Connected

In the Community with Cindy Marten

Superintendent Designate

Principal Central Elementary

Welcome Cindy. It has been my honor and privilege to serve San Diego Unified students, staff and community during the last seven years. I am truly grateful for the opportunity to lead the district during the last four years as Superintendent. In the final months before my retirement, I will be working closely with our new superintendent, Cindy Marten, to help her transition to the superintendency.

In the coming weeks, Cindy's first priority is to be out in the community listening to our staff, parents and other stakeholders. She will be collecting ideas, perspectives and issues to consider in pursuing quality schools in every neighborhood. With this new email update "Getting Connected", Cindy will share her community schedule each week and briefly share her thoughts about what she is hearing and learning about the district.

Let's all give Cindy a warm welcome as our new superintendent and help her get started on the next chapter for San Diego Unified.

Welcome to Getting Connected

Photo Credit: Courtesy of UT San Diego/Peggy Peattie

What an incredible honor it is to be selected by the Board of Education as the next Superintendent of San Diego Unified. The heart-felt welcome and well wishes I've been receiving from the community-at-large have energized me to fully embrace this opportunity to work together on behalf of our children.

Supt. Kowba and I met last Tuesday to design a smooth and seamless transition plan. During the next four months of taking on my new role, I will spend significant time connecting with our staff, parents, students and community members. I look forward to learning more about the district through my interactions with all of you.

As an educator, I have seen the power of community engagement in building highly effective schools. I am committed to working with each cluster community to ensure that we have a quality school in every neighborhood.

Please share this email with anyone interested in public education. Be sure to subscribe to the updates I'll be sending weekly. I invite you to join me in the coming weeks at any of the events listed below. Also, please invite me to any events or forums that you would like me to attend. You can email me at DreamBigSupt@sandi.net .

My goal in the next several months is to reach out to every corner of our fine district to listen and learn about your hopes and dreams for the education of our children. I am filled with hope as I invite you to join me as we continue to build the best public school system in the nation.

Highlights from Last Week

I have always kept an active schedule doing things in the community to support children and public education. Last week was no exception.

March 1

McKinley Elementary Variety Show, "Together We Are Stronger," I enjoyed a wonderful display of student talent at one of our great neighborhood schools.

March 2

Chelsea's Run I have worked closely with the King family as they developed the Chelsea's Light Foundation to honor the memory of their daughter. Each year I participate in the Run and celebrate Chelsea's life and the wonderful student scholarships made in her memory. One of our own San Diego Unified students, Korral Taylor from Lincoln High School, was one of the scholarship winners last year. We hope to see more from San Diego Unified this year.

Upcoming Events

March 12	Noon - 1 p.m. Urban Corps, SDG&E Tree planting at Franklin Elementary
March 13	7 - 8:30 p.m. Terra Alta Park Neighborhood Park Alliance meeting at Central Elementary
March 14	1:10 p.m. K to College Kick-off at Bayview Terrace Elementary 4 p.m. Kearny Cluster meeting at Kearny High 7 p.m. Community Advisory Committee (CAC) for Special Education meeting at Ballard Center
March 21	5:30 p.m. Clairemont Cluster meeting at Marston Middle Media Center
March 25	4:30 p.m. University City Cluster meeting at University City High 5:30 p.m. Mira Mesa Cluster meeting at Mira Mesa High Library 6 p.m. San Diego Unified Council of PTAs General Meeting at Ballard Center

Contact
Cindy Marten, Superintendent Designate
dreambigsupt@sandi.net

Stay Connected

"If we all did the things we are capable of, we would astound ourselves."

- Thomas Edison

Supt. Kowba outlines transition plan for Cindy Marten

2013-03-08T12:00:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Cindy Marten! This week the Board of Education officially appointed her to be our next Superintendent as of July 1 following my retirement. The community response to Cindy’s appointment has been overwhelmingly positive. She is excited to begin her Superintendency in July.
Moving expeditiously, Cindy and I have already met to address a transition plan with the goal of getting her well-oriented to the full range of academic, operational, administrative and leadership matters. We agreed that she will spend the month of March wrapping up her commitments at Central Elementary School and preparing to move to the Central Office on April 1. At the Education Center, Cindy will immerse herself in programs, processes and routines that she will oversee as the Superintendent.

From April through June, Cindy and I will work side-by-side until I retire from the district on June 30. I remain as Superintendent through this period and all superintendent-level decisions will be made by me, but with input and consultation as appropriate from her. Our close collaboration in the near term, especially in the realm of budget development and strategic decision-making, will provide Cindy with a “big picture” understanding of the complexities and interdependencies of district operations.

A top priority for her during the transition is stakeholder engagement. Cindy will be to be out in the community connecting with parents, district employees and the public. This outreach will afford her an opportunity to hear from our stakeholders directly about their recommendations, concerns and ideas for achieving a quality school in every neighborhood. Cindy plans to share her outreach schedule in a weekly email, “Getting Connected”. You can subscribe to this email update at this link: http://www.sandi.net/gettingconnected-signup .

I look forward to helping Cindy prepare for her new role and assisting her in any way on the great work she will lead on behalf of our students as the next Superintendent. As you encounter Cindy on our campuses and around the community, please join me in giving her a warm welcome as she opens the next chapter for San Diego Unified.

Supt. Kowba announces retirement

2013-02-26T20:27:00.003-08:00

Bill Kowba

Superintendent Bill Kowba has announced his retirement from the San Diego Unified School District, effective June 30.

Kowba was named Superintendent in June 2010, after serving as interim superintendent following the departures of Terry Grier and Carl Cohn. He also served as the district's Chief Financial Officer, Chief Special Projects Officer and Chief Logistics Officer.

In a statement to the San Diego Unified staff and the community, Kowba said he notified the Board of Education of his decision today. His retirement will come at the end of his three-year contract as Superintendent.

"It is only after extensive reflection with my family and great mixed emotions that I have formally notified the Board of Education of my decision to retire on June 30, 2013," he wrote in a statement to the district's employees and the San Diego Unified community. "In the months ahead, I will have opportunities to thank all of you for your support, loyalty, and commitment to our San Diego Unified mission. But one can never thank enough those who have dedicated themselves to singular sacrifice and collaboration on the incredible journey of the past seven years."

During his tenure as Superintendent, San Diego Unified's record of academic achievement has garnered national attention. The district last year celebrated achieving an overall California Academic Performance Index score of 808, ranking second of just three large California districts that meet the state's target score.

In addition, Kowba's tenure has been marked by expansion of the technology available to students, with iPad tablet computers and Promethian "smart boards" equipping a growing number of classrooms.

These advances have kept student achievement growing throughout his years with the district, despite continual cutbacks in funding. Two successful bond measures during the Kowba era have provided local funding for infrastructure improvements but operating funds have dwindled by millions as a result of state and federal cutbacks. Kowba addressed these challenges in his retirement letter to the Board of Education.

"This tenure has been earmarked by both great resource challenge and solid academic achievement," he wrote. "At center stage, the Board, staff, and community have had to deal with incessant draconian cuts to the state and district budgets triggered by the single deepest and most prolonged economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

"Year after year, we have had to make the most difficult decisions impacting all stakeholder groups. Great collaboration and sacrifice by all have enabled us to accommodate the budget deficits. That said, we must relentlessly address the future year fiscal challenges with balanced, long-term budget solutions."

Still, Kowba said the focus on academics had paid off for students.

"We have been able to maintain a laser focus on academic excellence and not allow the budget woes to distract from our core educational mission. The results speak for themselves," he said.

"This is testimony to one of the hardest working and most dedicated teams that I have ever been associated with in my adult life."

Board of Education President Dr. John Lee Evans thanked Supt. Kowba for his service.

"We congratulate Superintendent Kowba for the stability that he has finally brought to this district," said Evans. "He has shepherded this district through a difficult period with the utmost dignity and human decency, has planned for the future, and has provided a great example for the next superintendent."

Other Board members also lauded Kowba's record at the District.

"As a parent and as a board member," said District D Trustee Richard Barrera, "I just want to thank Bill Kowba for being a role model that I think any of our young people could be proud to look to as an example of how to live your life in a way that makes a difference."

"The candor, with such concern, and how carefully you consider the issues, and how thorough you examine the issues is very impressive and very much appreciated," said Trustee Marne Foster of District E.

"I don't think there is any employee of this district who works harder and cares more about our kids than Bill Kowba," said District C Trustee Scott Barnett.

"While I don't agree, I understand your desire to retire and just as Trustee Foster said, you'll be missed," said Kevin Beiser, District B Trustee.

San Diego County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Randy Ward lauded Kowba for his service to San Diego Unified, as well as the other 41 districts in the county. Kowba has chaired the county-wide Achievement Gap Task Force, which is working to ensure that all students are ready for the 21st job market.

"To use a naval analogy, which is fitting given Bill’s background, he provided a stabilizing rudder that guided the district through the rough waters of the state’s fiscal crisis," said Ward. "Bill’s strong leadership has made a difference not only in San Diego Unified, but also across the County."

Before joining the District, Kowba was a career Navy Supply Corps Officer, retiring at the rank of Rear Admiral. Across his extensive military service, he served in ever increasingly responsible leadership positions in the supply chain/logistics and financial management fields. His assignments included three shipboard tours, two Navy Pentagon details, and numerous field activity experiences. Admiral Kowba was the first commander of the Fleet and Industrial Supply Centers. As such, he developed a global network of seven supply centers operating at more than 100 sites and staffed by almost 7,000 logistics, acquisition, and financial professionals.

Bill Kowba was born and raised in Rochester, New York. After completing his undergraduate and graduate degree programs at Saint Bonaventure University and the University of Richmond, he joined the Navy and was commissioned as a Supply Corps Officer. He holds Master Degrees from University of Richmond and Webster University and an MBA from the Anderson School at UCLA. Additionally he has completed the Executive Management program at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College.

The Board of Education has not yet announced a plan for hiring a successor.

From Supt. Kowba: The path to a balanced budget

2013-02-01T11:00:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, Jan 22, the Board of Education held a budget workshop where I presented the reality of the district’s projected $84 million deficit for 2013/14. We outlined two alternative scenarios for balancing next year’s budget. One alternative is to initiate a large layoff process similar to the one we followed last year. The second alternative is to reduce staffing levels through attrition combined with a significant increase in property sales to generate one-time revenue.

Both alternatives are difficult. The massive layoff strategy creates great turmoil, destabilizes staffing and increases class sizes. The attrition approach will result in an uneven and challenging staffing pattern. But it is the best approach to safeguard stability and student supports. Consequently, the Board directed staff to prepare a balanced 2013/14 budget using a combination of attrition savings and property sales.

Outlook for 2013/14 – The Path to a Balanced Budget

Over time, the recently approved Proposition 30 taxes will generate more revenue for the state for education funding. This new revenue does not immediately return the district to the funding levels of 2008, but it is a first step toward that goal. We are in a transition period to a better funding environment but our current budget shortfall must be addressed now.

Over the past several years, the district has spent down reserves, made permanent operational cuts, and used one-time funding solutions to balance budgets during the state’s financial crisis. These budget balancing strategies of previous years still leave a 2013/14 budget deficit of $84 million.

Since last week’s board direction, I have initiated a two-pronged budget strategy of personnel reductions through attrition and planning for additional real estate sales. The following is a summary of these two key deficit reduction strategies.

Attrition-Based Staff Reductions

Each year, 500-600 staff members leave the district stemming from retirements, leaves or separations. Typically, these are budgeted positions that are refilled with temporary contracts for approved leaves, probationary contracts or new hires for separations. Teaching positions that become vacant during the year are filled in the same manner. Certificated management at school sites are also replaced with interim appointments until permanent appointments are made. Classified positions are similarly filled based on function and situational need.

The attrition-based deficit reduction program will require a significant change to this standard operational approach. Beginning immediately and throughout the 2013/14 school year, every vacancy created in any manner at all school sites and support departments will be reviewed by a position review committee and the appropriate senior management leader.

More detailed procedures for implementation will be developed to support the following general guidelines:

A reduction of a minimum of 300 staff positions not replaced from attrition is targeted for a savings of approximately $30 million. This target will be adjusted in response to the evolving state budget development.
All teaching and other certificated positions and classified positions WILL NOT be automatically filled to replace leaves, retirements and separations.
All hires will require senior management approval. Positions will not be automatically filled unless absolutely needed.
Schools may be required to adjust class sizes upward and add combo grade classes to accommodate for staff reductions from anticipated attrition.
Unassigned qualified teaching staff at other locations may be moved to fill positions.
Temporary contracts and subs will only be used if absolutely needed for critical positions.
School sites and departments will have to support flexible staffing and staffing variations.
Business operations will be asked to adjust by not filling positions vacated through attritions unless the position is deemed critical.
Principals will communicate to school site staff and their parent community that as an alternative to destabilizing layoffs that there will be a potential for mid-year class size and configuration adjustments as a result of attrition at any point.

Real Estate Sales

The second critical element of our 2013/14 deficit reduction strategy is to increase the revenue from real estate sales. The Board of Education has committed to proceeding with real estate sales as an alternative to a massive layoff. To accomplish that goal, the district will need to sell $50 million of surplus property in 2013/14. In addition to these sales, I will also pursue the implementation of a program to optimize short and long-term lease revenues from district real estate assets.

Summary

I believe that 2013/14 is a critical bridging year for San Diego Unified. We will need to solve our budget deficit as we await the fufillment of significant new revenues from Prop. 30 in subsequent years. This challenge will require more collaboration and support than ever. We face a stark choice for a balanced budget, massive layoffs or the path selected by the board, attrition reductions and real estate sales. Staff reductions from attrition will not be easy but it will give us more stability. In the weeks ahead, we will develop more details to guide this strategy and will consult with employee groups to ensure implmentation of this approach in the best way possible. As we move forward, I value and appreciate the understanding and cooperation from all employees.

From Supt. Kowba: Governor’s January budget proposal

2013-01-11T16:00:00.000-08:00

Governor Jerry Brown released his budget proposal for the 2013-14 fiscal year yesterday, Jan. 10. At first look, the Governor's proposal seems like a good starting point for restoring funding to public education, although it will take us time to analyze its impacts for our District. San Diego Unified is committed to providing stability for our students and schools in the 2013-14 year. As we study the details of the Governor’s proposal, we are hopeful that we can maintain stable school staffing in the next budget year. After five years of cuts to education, it is a relief to see that trend reversed but as the Governor stated, it will take time to return education funding to the adequate levels that we saw in 2008.

This is a step forward but at first look we believe there will be enhancements that we and others in the education community will be urging the Legislature to make as they begin to refine this preliminary proposal from the governor. As we go through our own budget process in the coming weeks, we will make clear to both the Governor's office and to the Legislature where the proposal needs to be improved in order to achieve the goal of stability for our schools in the coming year. These efforts began last week when Board members Richard Barrera and Kevin Beiser, SDEA President Bill Freeman, teachers, administrators, community members and I visited State Senator Marty Block regarding adequate funding for education.

For more information about Gov. Brown's budget proposal, go to http://www.ebudget.ca.gov/ .

Bill Kowba
Superintendent

An Appreciation From Supt. Kowba for All The Hard Work in 2012

2012-12-21T06:00:00.000-08:00

As we close our schools and offices for the winter break, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you for your dedication to improving the lives of our students. The recent event in
Connecticut has been a painful reminder of the importance of taking every opportunity to say thank you to those who have committed themselves to the education, safety and well-being of our most precious resource: our children.

Since the beginning of the school year, adults and students have been working hard, in and out of the classroom. As a result, we continue to see our students’ academic achievement go up. I am proud of these efforts and appreciate the important role that our staff, parents and community partners play in our successes.

Winter break provides the opportunity to relax, re-energize, and enjoy special moments with family and friends. I wish you a safe and peaceful holiday season and look forward to continued success in the new year!

Sincerely,

Bill Kowba
Superintendent

P.S. Remember, traditional calendar schools, child development centers and district offices reopen on Monday, Jan. 7, 2013. Year-round schools resume classes on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013.

Statement of San Diego Unified Superintendent Bill Kowba to Parents on Connecticut School Tragedy

2012-12-14T14:45:00.000-08:00

The following was emailed to parents/guardians in the San Diego Unified School District.

The tragic and senseless shooting today at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut has shocked and saddened all of us. We join in the national outpouring of grief and offer our deepest condolences to the families of the victims. No words can express our feelings about this horrific tragedy.

The safety of the children who attend schools is always the highest priority of every employee at every school in our country. But sadly, we live in a world where senseless acts of violence occur all too frequently. Today¹s shooting transcends our ability to understand how anyone could commit such an act on innocent children, teachers and caretakers.

All San Diego Unified schools have safety plans that cover all contingencies. We are continually reviewing those plans and training our staff to ensure the safety of our students. We also have the expertise of our own school police department who monitor the safety of our school campuses. Our school police and our school staff will have a heightened awareness of security issues during this time.

Our school counselors and the crisis response team will be available to our Principals to provide guidance during the coming days to support the emotional needs of our students. Counseling professionals recommend that parents encourage their children to talk about their thoughts and feelings related to this incident and to reassure children of their own health and safety. It is also recommended that parents limit children¹s television viewing, since this tragedy will receive extensive media coverage.

Unfortunately in our society, there are no absolute safe havens from senseless acts of violence. But our schools are safe environments where our students grow and learn each school day under the care and guidance of dedicated and caring teachers and school staff. I want to assure our parents and the community that we will continue to protect our students and give them a sense of safety and well-being at our schools as we all cope to understand the tragedy in Connecticut.

BILL KOWBA
Superintendent

Tips for Parents and Teachers: Helping Children Cope with A National Tragedy

From Supt. Bill Kowba: Thanks to Voters For Supporting Schools, Kids

2012-11-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

The quote, "what a difference a day makes,” is certainly relevant to this week’s ballot results. Going into Tuesday Election Day, all of us associated with public education – Board, staff, parents, and members of the greater San Diego community – were all anxious and uncertain as to the fate of Proposition 30, the state tax measure designed to add revenue to education, and Proposition Z, the district initiative to fund a $2.8 billion construction bond. Both of these measures passed due to the generosity and support of the community. It is with a tremendous sigh of relief and deep sense of gratitude I acknowledge this milestone occurrence.

California voter approval of Proposition 30 has a very immediate and positive impact on San Diego Unified and school districts throughout the state. The Governor will not exercise midyear trigger cuts. If that had occurred, our schools would have lost more than $40 million from the General Fund and would have furloughed staff in the process of shortening the school year by almost three weeks. This will not happen! Our staff and students will continue the planned school year without any change in schedule and build upon the academic successes of a district that now has an 808 score on the Academic Performance Index. It is our hope and expectation that Proposition 30 will begin to generate the state revenue that we will need for the 2013-14 budget to preserve the stability of our schools.

With the passage of Proposition Z, San Diego voters have given a great and generous gift to San Diego Unified and the children of San Diego. With this gift also comes great responsibility for our school district to invest these tax dollars wisely in infrastructure projects that will improve the condition of our campuses and create positive learning environments. In the years ahead, San Diego Unified will work hard to demonstrate to the community that this investment is a worthy one, an investment that will return huge dividends for our community through thousands of well-educated students who will benefit each year from the improvements funded by Proposition Z.

On behalf of the Board, staff, parents, and students, I want to express our collective appreciation to the voters for taking a stand and investing wisely in the future of our students. Thank you San Diego for supporting our schools and the children of San Diego!

Bill Kowba
Superintendent

Supt. Kowba: Welcome back!

2012-09-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, Sept. 4, is the first day of school for all students. Thanks to all of our principals, teachers, support personnel and central office team who have been working very hard to prepare for the first day and beyond. We are ready to build on last year's academic successes for every student, every day, on every campus. Parents, please join us in these efforts by making sure your child is at school on Tuesday, on time and ready to learn. Thank you for your support and the privilege of serving your child. Enjoy the Labor Day weekend. We look forward to welcoming all students back to school on Sept. 4.

Tentative Agreement Reached between San Diego Unified, SDEA on 2012-13 Contract Revisions

2012-06-20T07:41:00.001-07:00

San Diego Unified and the San Diego Education Association (SDEA) have reached a tentative agreement on revisions to the 2012-13 school year contract that will result in the district recalling all 1,372 of the K-12 teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses who had received final layoff notices in May. An additional 109 Early Childhood Education teachers will be recalled under the agreement.

To make this possible, SDEA members will defer raises and continue the five furlough days in the current contract with possible additional furlough days should the November tax initiatives fail.

The membership of San Diego Education Association must now ratify the revisions and the Board of Education must also approve the agreement.

Board of Education President Dr. John Lee Evans praised SDEA for coming forward to work with the district.

"On behalf of the district and all of our students, I want to thank SDEA for agreeing to come together with the district to save our schools," said Evans. “This marks a new era of cooperation between SDEA and the district.”

SDEA President Bill Freeman acknowledged the continuing budget crisis made it necessary to make some tough decisions.

"Our members have invested their lives in public education and deserve to be rewarded for that investment. These are tough times that require tough decisions and ultimately, I believe that this agreement protects our schools and our members,” said Freeman.

Superintendent Bill Kowba believes that this agreement will save the jobs of teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses and allow San Diego Unified to maintain current class sizes and educational programs for the 2012-13 school year.

"San Diego’s educators deserve a raise but without this agreement to return teachers to our classrooms, we are facing a new school year with higher class sizes and reduced programs that threaten our positive record of increasing student achievement," said Kowba. "We would not have been able to develop an agreement that protects our schools without SDEA.”

The Tentative Agreement, which must be ratified by the Association membership, contains the following elements:

All SDEA members in the K-12 program released May 25 will be recalled in two phases: 1,090 unit members will receive a written notice of recall by June 30. The remaining 280 unit members will be sent a notice by June 30 stating they will be recalled no later than Sept. 30 as budgeted positions become available through attrition.
109 (full-time equivalent) SDEA members in the Early Childhood Education program will also be recalled on or before June 30.
Raises will be deferred.
Five furlough days will continue.
Health care will remain the same; SDEA members who are not placed in a budgeted position by July 1 will maintain uninterrupted healthcare benefits for up to 3 months.
A retirement incentive will be offered to eligible SDEA veteran members.
Additional furlough days are possible if the November tax initiative ballot measure fails.

"Teachers, librarians, counselors and nurses as well as our police officers already sacrifice every day for our kids; they've agreed to sacrifice even more to keep working despite a fifth year of draconian budget cuts by the state,” said Evans. “I hope that our legislators in Sacramento will take note of what educators are sacrificing here in San Diego. We now must be united with the teachers in advocating for proper funding of public education in California.”

From the Superintendent: Thoughts on the End of the School Year

2012-06-08T11:00:00.000-07:00

Supt. Kowba

Tuesday, June 12, marks the last day of instruction for the traditional school year.

I want to extend my deepest gratitude for everyone’s hard work and dedication during a year of solid cluster development, sobering budget cuts, and collaborative sacrifices. You have stayed the course and continued to make our students the top priority. The wonderful teaming of staff, students, and parents is reflected in a solid trend of academic excellence.

Congratulations to the graduating Class of 2012, their parents and families. More than 7,000 seniors from the district’s 31 high schools will be attending their commencement ceremonies next Monday and Tuesday. We are proud of your achievements and wish you the very best in all future endeavors.

I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the administrators, certificated staff and classified employees who are retiring or leaving the district. Thank you for your countless years of service, loyalty, and commitment to public education. We will miss your expertise and experience and wish you well.

For those who will open our classrooms at the start of the new school year, we appreciate your steadfast focus on service to others and dedication to a job well done. In this incessantly resource-limited environment, we will go forward with a shared vision for student well-being and success. Please remember, the first day of school for students is Tuesday, September 4.

Again, thank you for all that you do for our students.

Sincerely,
Bill Kowba

From the Superintendendent: Sobering Budget News from Sacramento

2012-05-25T14:00:00.000-07:00

Now that the Governor’s May Revise Budget has been released, the District CFO team is finalizing our budget and the associated deficit target for implementing the 2012/13 fiscal year on July 1. In the past few months, we have watched with growing concern as the state’s projected tax revenues have consistently fallen well below projection. This trend prompted Governor Brown to recently report that the state-wide deficit has grown from almost $9 billion dollars to almost $16 billion dollars. Given this sobering news, the Governor’s May Revise did not improve the funding outlook for K-12 education in our state. On contrary, the updated budget points to even deeper potential cuts to education based on the outcome of the November ballot measure.

With this as backdrop, this past Tuesday, the Board of Education took the very difficult step of approving final certificated layoff notices for 1,534 teachers, nurses, counselors and librarians. Based on the fluid nature of resignations, retirements, leaves of absence, and the like, we do expect that several hundred of our certificated employees will be called back before the school year starts to fill vacancies. But the unfortunate reality remains that the district will not be able to recall more than 1,000 of our certificated staff. There is simply no new revenue in the immediate future that would override this terrible occurrence. You can see a video of my remarks to the Board here that further details the situation.

The district remains open to begin discussion with our employee unions about alternative solutions to these layoffs. We remain hopeful that we can work together to find a way to reduce the number of these layoffs and mitigate the impacts that these budget cuts will have on our students.

Sincerely
BILL KOWBA
Superintendent

From the Superintendent: Budget Update

2012-04-27T11:00:00.000-07:00

It has been some time since I have updated the staff and community on the budget and related staffing issues. Let me take a moment in this Friday Note to paint the current picture. We are in the uncertain period between the March 15 submission of the second interim financial report and the release of the Governor’s May Revise 2012-13 budget. There is much budget discussion and debate ongoing in Sacramento, but no decisions.

Concurrently, San Diego Unified and other school districts are continuing their budget development as dictated by the California Education Code. This past Tuesday, the Board of Education had to make another extremely difficult decision, authorizing the issuance of layoff notices to more than 975 classified support staff. This figure includes 385 personnel in the early childhood education program who are directly impacted by state funding cuts to preschool programs. The classified number, combined with the 1,656 certificated staff who already received preliminary layoff notices, equals a staggering 2,631 of our dedicated employees affected by the state’s enduring economic woes.

Another parallel activity was last week’s Administrative Law Judge hearings that were held in response to the certificated layoff notices. We are now standing by for the judge's decisions before presenting an updated certificated layoff list to the Board. The layoff notice numbers will likely be adjusted a bit as a result of the judge's decision and could subsequently be altered by other dynamics such as near-term decisions of the Governor and/or legislature. In the meantime, the terrible reality is that the layoff process must proceed in accordance with specified Education Code procedures that include the dissemination of final layoff notices to hundreds of our certificated staff in May..

At this point in the 2012-13 budget cycle, our calculated deficit for next year remains at $122 million. With a revenue gap of that magnitude, the proposed program and personnel reductions highlighted in the March 15 second interim financial report remain in effect. As the district heads into the homestretch of our 2012-13 budget adoption process, the California budget outlook for public education continues to look grim. The state controller is reporting that California revenues may come in more than $2 billion below projections. This disconnect could further undermine the state’s ability to adequately fund public education next year.

The Governor’s May Revise budget proposal may come out at a later date than is the norm. We may not know the full impact of his proposal until after May 20. While many assume that this is the final direction for the preparation of next year’s budget, it is probably not the final word. I expect the budget uncertainties will spill into June as the legislature weighs in with responses to the May Revise. We will eventually arrive at a final state budget and an adopted district budget but still have to prepare for another major uncertainty, the outcome of November tax ballot measures.

Clearly, we are operating in an ambiguous and fluid budget process, one that is, in no way, synchronized between the state and local agencies. We all want clarity and certainty and there is none to be had at the moment. We will do all that is possible to keep you informed. I am firmly committed to seeking the solutions that will best mitigate the detrimental effects on our students, staff, and programs; resolve the budget deficit; and create a balanced 2012-13 budget. I will work closely with all stakeholder groups to deflect the financial blows, but we all know that there will be some direct hits.

In closing, words are inadequate to express my deepest appreciation to the entire staff for their steadfast support of our students and laser-focus on academic excellence during this unprecedented, financially turbulent time. We are a team and by working collectively and collaboratively, we will get through this together.

Bill Kowba
Superintendent

From the Superintendent: Volunteers Make a Difference

2012-04-23T11:00:00.000-07:00

As National Volunteer Appreciation Week draws to a close, we extend our heartfelt appreciation to the thousands of volunteers who give countless hours to our students each year.

Research validates that support at home and community involvement are critical to academic success. Volunteers have a tremendous impact on the lives of students, both today and in the future.

To parents and grandparents, community members and neighbors, high school and college students, working people and retirees, business partners, and the countless others who dedicate their time to making a difference in the lives of our students.

Thank You!

Bill Kowba
Superintendent

From the Superintendent: Testing Season Is Here

2012-03-21T06:00:00.000-07:00

Dear Parent/Guardian:

This spring, your child will take several very important tests at school as part of the California Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) program. STAR results help us monitor your child’s achievement and, along with other information, help teachers make decisions about each student’s academic needs. The STAR results are also used by the state to calculate the Academic Performance Index (API) that determines whether schools in California are making progress in improving student achievement. In addition, STAR results are used to determine whether schools and districts are making Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act of 2001. State and federal law require that at least 95 percent of the students at each school participate in the state testing. If you do not want your child to participate in the STAR program, you must complete a Parent/Guardian Request to Exempt Student form available from your child’s school.

Students in Grades 2 through 8 will be tested on the California Standards Tests (CSTs), which measure how well students are meeting state standards in English language arts and mathematics. Students in Grade 8 will also be assessed on state history/social science standards and students in Grades 5 and 8 will be assessed on state science standards. Students in Grades 4 and 7 will take a Writing Standards Test where they will write an essay.

Students in Grades 9 through 11 will be tested on the CST, which measure how well students are meeting state standards in English language arts, mathematics, history/social science, and science.
Students in Grade 10 will be administered an additional Life Science Standards test as required by NCLB. Limited English-proficient students: In addition to the STAR tests, Spanish-speaking students in grades 2 through 11 who have been enrolled in schools in the United States for less than 12 months or who are participating in the district’s biliteracy program will be given the Standards-Based Test in Spanish (STS).

Students with special needs: Most students with special needs take the California Standards Tests (CSTs) with all other students under the same conditions. Accommodations will be made for students whose Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) or Individual Service Plans (ISPs) indicate the need for special assistance. Certain students with moderate to profound disabilities who are unable to participate in more traditional testing will be administered the California Alternate Performance Assessment (CAPA). Some students in Grades 3 through 11 will take the California Modified Assessment (CMA), which serves as an alternate assessment to the CSTs for students who meet specific criteria, have been identified by students’ IEP teams, and are not eligible to take the CAPA.

The teachers and staff at your child’s school are dedicated to making sure that all students receive the support they need to meet the state standards and do well on the STAR tests. Please contact your child’s teacher to learn about the extra programs and services that are available to help your child be successful.

I encourage you to discuss with your child the importance of doing his/her best on these upcoming tests. The results of your child’s tests will be mailed to your home within 20 days of their arrival in the district, and you should be in receipt of those results prior to the beginning of the 2012-13 school year.

Sincerely,
Bill Kowba
Superintendent

From The Superintendent: Budget Realities Update

2012-02-08T19:00:00.000-08:00

Supt. Kowba

I am writing to all of you in a continuing effort to keep our team fully informed and current about the budget development process. February is a critical month for the preparation of the 2012/13 budget because of two state deadlines imposed on school districts (both on March 15): the requirements to issue certificated staff layoff notices and to submit the Second Interim Financial Report to the County Office of Education.

Some Budget Facts

We are all struggling with the realities of the national economic downturn and the state’s budget morass that are decimating school district funding. San Diego Unified faces a 2012/13 budget shortfall of $122 million. This includes a structural deficit of $72 million, transportation funding cuts of $9 million, and potential midyear reductions of $41 million. The shortfall is unchanged from the analysis provided to the Board of Education in January. We continue to monitor the legislative budget process in Sacramento.

The Road Forward

Given this context, our district is at a crossroads. We can proceed down the path of reducing our school and support staffing by more than 1,000 FTE or we can pursue employee concessions that will significantly mitigate layoffs.

At the direction of the Board, I have reached out to all of our collective bargaining unit leadership to address possible concessions. As a first step, we have proposed that employees forgo the raises negotiated in existing contracts, accept an extension of the five-day furlough currently in place, and consider options for health benefit changes. We also need to develop a contingency plan if the November ballot measures fails and midyear cuts are triggered.

These shared sacrifices are difficult for all of us. It is truly unfair that the burden of the state’s failure to adequately fund public education is being placed on students, academic programs, and district employees. The deep and ongoing reductions raise fundamental questions about how much society values public schools. Unfortunately, we must deal with the circumstances at hand and move forward. By working together, we can get through these difficult times, reduce the number of layoffs, and most importantly, limit the detrimental impacts on our students.

In the chart below, I provide information on a number of topics in response to incomplete and inaccurate opinions and conclusions that are circulating. It is critical that all of us have a full understanding of the convoluted and evolving state budget. You are entitled to straightforward and transparent explanations.
Thank you for being open minded about the facts associated with the district’s budget dilemma and for your ongoing dedication to our students.

Sincerely,

Bill Kowba

If you hear this…	The reality is...
1. The District “lacks comprehensive and reliable budget information” …	There is NO reason to assume any significant improvement in education funding. Next year the state is facing a $9 billion budget deficit. The Governor’s January proposal provides the framework for the preparation of the 2012/13 budget. The Legislature can and will make budget adjustments, however, changes will likely be minor and not offset the need for layoffs and/or concessions. San Diego Unified must resolve a budget shortfall that is far above $100 million including midyear cuts. Should there be any questions about the accuracy of budget projections, our employee unions have been invited to meet with our finance staff with their external audit experts to review all budget information in detail.
2. The district will “receive additional monies based on the elimination of redevelopment agencies.”	There are no additional funds provided to school districts as a result of the elimination of redevelopment agencies. The Governor’s proposed budget uses redevelopment funds to balance the state budget rather than increase funding to schools. The Governor intends to maintain K-12 education funding at the current, flat, level with the threat of a significant midyear reduction if the tax ballot measure fails in November.
3. Governor Brown’s budget “replaces the current categorical funding model with a weighted formula wherein districts with high proportions of low income students and English learners may receive even more funding.”	No additional funding is expected from the consolidation of categorical funds into a weighted student formula. The State Finance Department has indicated that the transition to this new formula distribution will be designed to redistribute funds with more flexibility but not to increase or decrease current K-12 education funding levels. The transition to the new model will be phased in over a five-year period resulting in very limited impacts, if any, in 2012/13.
4. “Legislation has been passed that will restore more than $4 million in transportation cuts “	This legislation does not help the district’s budget because the restoration of transportation formula funding is paid for with an across-the-board cut of $42 per student. In fact, this legislation may cost San Diego Unified an additional $100,000 in funding this year because we receive slightly less than the average district in transportation funds. Furthermore, this legislation only deals with 2011/12 funding, and has no effect on 2012/13 funding. The Governor’s proposed budget will eliminate 100% of transportation funding, a cut of $9.2 million to our district.
5. The November ballot measures will increase education funding. Layoffs should be delayed until after the election.	The Governor’s proposed budget already assumes revenue from a November ballot measure. Even with the passage of the measure, San Diego Unified will still face a deficit of $81 million. Unfortunately, school districts cannot assume the passage of a ballot measure and must balance their budget based on the assumption the measure will fail. We must plan for a budget shortfall of $122 million and the necessary staff reductions to meet the March 15 layoff notice deadline.

Budget Update from Supt. Kowba

2012-02-03T16:41:00.000-08:00

Our Board continues to wrestle with the evolving budget challenges facing us in the next school year. This week, the Board approved moving forward with a 2012-13 budget reduction plan. This strategy requires that our district make substantial reductions to balance our 2012-13 budget, cuts that will result in higher class sizes, fewer teachers and support staff, and detrimental impacts on student learning.

During the next few weeks, school site budgets will be prepared and merged with central office department budgets as a consolidated budget projection that must be reported to the County Office of Education by March 15. This is also the deadline when the district must notify teachers and other certificated staff that their contracts may not be renewed for the next school year. All of this activity occurs long before our final budget must be completed by June 30, 2012.

As we move forward, the Board and the district leadership team will continue to explore every avenue to protect classrooms and mitigate lay-offs. One way would be through employee concessions. The Board has directed me to reach out to all of our employee unions to ask that we begin discussions about concessions that could include forgoing negotiated raises, continuing furlough days, adjusting health benefits or other solutions. I am hopeful that we will have productive discussions with our collective bargaining teams that will result in shared solutions and sacrifices that are in the best interest of our students.

We will also continue to press our message with the Sacramento leadership that public education cannot sustain any more cuts.

During the coming months, many budget details may be adjusted as the lawmakers debate and reach agreement, and collective bargaining dialogue identifies solutions.

I am very proud of the daily commitment of our staff through the fifth-straight year of budget turmoil. I also appreciate the support of parents and the community who continue to focus on academic priorities. They are similarly and staunchly committed to a successful future for all San Diego children.

I will regularly update you as the budget development cycle unfolds. Budget information is available on our website at www.sandi.net/budget. You can also take action to communicate with your elected officials on our new Education Issues Action Center website at www.sandi.net/actioncenter .

Thank you for your support!

Bill Kowba
Superintendent

From the Superintendent: Our Four Budget Realities

2012-01-20T16:00:00.000-08:00

At the onset of 2012, our school district continues to face significant financial challenges stemming from the deep and prolonged state budget crisis. Five years of K-12 education cuts has taken its toll on everyone. All of us who care deeply about preserving the quality of education will struggle with balancing tough trade-offs in the weeks and months ahead.

In this letter, I provide a first look at the 2012/13 budget to establish a common appreciation of the district’s fiscal realities. During this very difficult time, it is critical that we all comprehend the realities that we must face together and that we openly communicate with one another about our concerns. I believe that it is important for every employee, parent and community member understand the basics of our budget situation and to appreciate the difficult work underway by the Board and our staff to balance our budget. I am very sensitive to Board meeting testimony and casual conversation that suggests that this will be a better budget cycle with new resources and minimal cuts. That is not the case based on current information.

The fiscal landscape is a very sobering one as outlined below.

Budget Reality #1: The Governor’s Budget Does Not Increase School Funding. The proposed November Ballot Measure Does Not Improve K-12 Education Funding.

Contrary to some early media reports, the proposed 2012/13 budget IS NOT a good one for school districts. The great ambiguity associated with state revenues, the legislative turmoil in Sacramento, and the high stakes gamble of a November ballot measure has put us out on a limb.

School districts will not receive new or additional funds for educational programs or staffing. The proposed K-12 state budget is one of flat funding. San Diego Unified will experience about the same funding level next year as this year. A flat budget is a negative budget because there are no cost-of-living adjustments for fact-of-life expense growth tied to utilities, health care, fuel, and the like. With flat funding from the state, our district will still face a significant deficit which I explain below. Rather than provide any real increase in resources, the proposed state budget is shifting money to remove previously planned deferred payments to school districts. This means we may receive our General Fund allocations in a timelier manner, but no additional money from redevelopment agency accounts or other sources.

School districts face a potentially HUGE midyear cut dependent on the passage of a tax measure by California voters in November 2012. The Governor’s strategy for a November ballot measure also has NO additional money for schools; it would just keep our funding at the current threshold. Simply put, a successful ballot measure only preserves the status quo for K-12 funding. But, per the proposed state budget, a failed ballot measure could result in a $4.8 billion cut to education. The governor’s staff has said that a funding reduction of this magnitude would be the equivalent of cutting three more weeks off school next year. Such an outcome translates into a devastating resource cut halfway through the school year.

Budget Reality #2: Our Expenses Exceed Our Revenues.

For several years, San Diego Unified has been able to partially offset our revenue shortfall by using one-time funds and reserves. This amounts to deficit spending and it must stop. We continue to face a reality that the district’s total operating expenses significantly exceed our total annual revenues. Given that there are no additional monies forthcoming from the state, we must significantly cut district costs again, recognizing that more than 90% of our expenses are connected to salaries and benefits.

The fiscal facts are straightforward:

San Diego Unified is projecting an operating deficit of more than $90 million for the 2012/13 fiscal year and more than $125 million in 2013/14 if budget reductions are not made.
There no longer are adequate reserve funds to accommodate revenue deficiencies.
Our expenses must be realigned to match our revenues for the district to become financially stable.
Our Board of Education is committed to balancing the district budget and will do everything necessary to maintain the district in a solvent position, thereby avoiding a state takeover.
Positive cash management remains a crucial and challenging element of the district’s budget.

Budget Reality #3: We Have to Fix a Multi-Year Structural Deficit Problem.

To achieve and sustain a stable financial footing, it is necessary to solve our multi-year structural deficit with ongoing expense reductions and limit the use of one-time solutions like proceeds from the sale of real estate. My goal is to guide the Board to a plan that can stabilize our budget not just for next year, but for the foreseeable future to avoid the annual trauma of program cuts and layoffs.

Financial stability is dependent on making very difficult reductions for the 2012/13 and 2013/14 budget years. Our list of cuts, reviewed by the Board at the first interim financial report presentation on December 13, will serve as the basis for more than $150 million in reductions to our General Fund Unrestricted budget over the next two years. These adjustments include significant class size increases and educational and support services decreases, actions that no one wants to even consider…but unfortunately that is our reality.

Budget Reality #4: Given No New Revenues in Sight, Both Employee Concessions and Layoffs Must Be Considered.

With flat budgets looming in the “best case” scenario and expenditures exceeding revenues, the District has few options with which to overcome the budget shortfalls. We are at a crossroads where the choices are bleak and severely impact both central office and campus operations.

At this juncture, the Board has asked that we reach out to our unions to address a package of employee concessions that can help the district mitigate the number of layoffs needed to balance the budget and safeguard our academic and administrative programs so critical to student achievement.

We are hopeful that the conversation with the employee collective bargaining teams will begin in the very near future. Some suggested concessions include deferring the negotiated salary increases in current contracts, continuing the current five-day furlough of the last two years, applying salary rollbacks, and/or reshaping health benefit contributions. Contingencies also have to be considered in response to mid-year cuts. We all must approach these negotiations open minded and committed to equitable agreements that lessen the blow of personnel reductions and personal sacrifices.

What’s Next?

On Jan. 24, Chief Financial Officer Ron Little and I will present a budget overview to the Board of Education. In preparation for that meeting, we are collecting technical information, analyzing the proposed state budget, and updating our financial projections. A key element of this work will be the direction received from the County Office of Education about factoring midyear cuts into our proposed district budget.

We are also stepping up advocacy with our elected representatives in Sacramento. “The devil is in the details” and that is very true for the state budget. We are awaiting specific legislative budget language forthcoming in early February. It will provide more details about how school districts can be expected to implement a possible midyear cut, such as legislative authorization for a three-week school reduction as a contingency.

We will continue to face great uncertainty about our budget for the next six months. The state budget will evolve and change during a time when school districts are required to make layoff notice decisions. This is a terribly disconnected process where local agencies act on and react to State government decisions with no synchronization between the two parties. We are likely to face the reality of issuing March 15 certificated layoff notices in unprecedented numbers and subsequently rescinding some number as budget details are updated and employee group negotiations become finalized.

In conclusion, the budget situation is very serious, but one we can overcome through our demonstrated past resiliency and commitment to expending our best efforts. Let me assure all of you that I will continue to present complete and factual budget information to you and the Board. I will devote all of my energies to finding solutions that can minimize the impacts of these difficult fiscal realities.

I ask that each of you continue to stay focused on our mission to provide a quality education to our students each and every day. We are a team and by working collectively and collaboratively, we will get through the worst of times in California public education.

Sincerely,
William Kowba
Superintendent

Season's Greetings from Supt. Kowba

2011-12-16T11:14:00.001-08:00

As we prepare to close our schools and offices for the holiday break, I want to share my heartfelt appreciation to our team, all of the men and women who spend each day working to improve the lives of our students. Often, we become so busy with our daily routine, caught up in a myriad of issues, that we underplay the significance of our own work. It is both remarkable as well as inspiring to me how you focus on our core academic mission despite the incredible churn that characterizes our K-12 public education environment. It is a testimony to your unwavering dedication to the children that results in steady influx of academic growth. The San Diego Unified administrators, teachers, and credentialed and classified support staff in partnership with parents, businesses, and community members are making a positive, value-added impact on the next generations of citizens of America’s Finest City.

I thank the entire staff across our campuses, central offices and administrative sites for your dedication and pursuit of excellence in advancing public education. I thank our board members for their commitment to collaboration among all stakeholders and for their vision to have a quality school in every neighborhood. I thank parents and families for the privilege of being a part of your child’s life. By working together, we will ensure that all San Diego students are prepared to succeed in college and career.

As we ready ourselves to face more budget challenges in the new year, please take a moment during the break to catch your breath, re-energize, and enjoy special moments with family and friends.

I wish you all a safe and peaceful holiday season and a healthy and prosperous new year!

Superintendent Bill Kowba

P.S. – Remember traditional schools and central offices reopen on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2012. Year-round schools resume classes on Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2012.

Thanksgiving Wishes from the Superintendent

2011-11-18T14:05:00.001-08:00

Dear San Diego Unified Community,

As the Thanksgiving holiday approaches, it is time to reflect upon all of the bounties we enjoy locally and across this great country. It is also our first break of the year, after three months of hard work by our students, teachers and staff.

The 2011-12 school year has so far been outstanding in many ways. One of our teachers, Mark Alcorn, of Lee Elementary School, was named one of the County Teachers of the Year for 2011. Principal Cindy Marten of Central Elementary was just named Principal of the Year by the local YMCA.

Our students continue to excel, as our district-wide English-language arts scores are now tops among California's largest districts. Our high school juniors and seniors are receiving scholarship awards that they'll use at a college or university. We hope to set a record for daily attendance and for graduation in 2012.

The community continues to give us great support in monetary contributions and by volunteering. NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson's foundation donated nearly $100,000, Target and partners completed a library makeover at Kimbrough Elementary, and thousands of volunteers help kids every day at our schools. New facilities continue to open, a result of our voters' support of Prop. S in 2010. Our school communities have been organized into clusters that are contributing every day to excellence in education.

Overall, our district should be enjoying one of the best periods in its history, despite the continuing crisis in funding that threatens our collective good work. However, Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday where we give thanks for all we've been given. For 2011, our district has much to be thankful for. I urge all of you to look for the good in our district and say thanks for it not only on Thursday, but for the rest of the school year.

Sincerely,

Bill Kowba
Superintendent

BUDGET UPDATE FROM SUPT. KOWBA

2011-10-15T06:00:00.001-07:00

The funding environment of public agencies in California, including school districts, has been and will continue to be that of great uncertainty and fluidity. At this point in time, one of the realities we continue to face is a large budget deficit of approximately $60 million that must be resolved to balance the 2012/13 budget. Complicating this challenge is the possibility that the Governor will impose (“trigger”) significant midyear cuts to education should state revenues fall short of projections by this December. As a result, parallel budget tracks are evolving.

Over the past several weeks, district staff has been briefing the Board on our General Fund departmental budgets as a starting point for the development of next year’s budget. Unfortunately and concurrently, we are also considering a strategy to accommodate upwards of $30 million in midyear cuts that would be implemented in January. Our district staff, parents, and the greater community must be informed about these activities and this debilitating and deepening budget crisis. During the next 60 days, supporters of public education must voice their concern with all stakeholder groups, especially our state representatives as we approach a midyear trigger decision in Sacramento. We are all in this together and must pursue the most genuine of collaborative and courageous conversations about difficult trade-offs and shared sacrifice.

I truly appreciate your loyalty to public education and our students in these unprecedented times. In closing, I encourage you to read my commentary published this week in the San Diego Union Tribune.

Sincerely,

Bill Kowba

From the Superintendent: Enrollment, Budget Challenges and Impacts to Classrooms

2011-09-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

In the first few weeks of each school year, class sizes and staffing are adjusted to balance the numbers of students in each grade across each campus. Even with the best projections, this planning is not a precise science and adjustments must be made in response to enrollment growth and decline. This year has been especially challenging. Due to state budget requirements and contractual obligations, we had to submit a budget and reduce teachers based on projections made last Spring. Our official 2011 enrollment numbers, released today, indicate that the district has experienced an enrollment decline of about 1,700 students, slightly more than projected.

Starting today, our principals will be working with the Education Center team to make adjustments at schools to ensure the right teacher with the proper qualifications is in a classroom with the correct number of students. This will result in changes to classes at some campuses, which we know can be difficult for staff and students. In making the adjustments, a number of teachers will be recalled from layoff status and rejoin the district. We are working to get them fully reinstated and in the proper classroom as soon as possible. Our area superintendents, principals, and teachers are working to make these transitions as smooth as possible for all campus stakeholders.

As always, our top priority is our students. We are committed to making these changes with as little impact on the learning process as possible. Your patience and understanding with this very difficult and complicated transition is very much appreciated.

Bill Kowba
Superintendent