Pay Them Later, Not Now
Sacramento
With Tuesday’s decision by Controller Chiang not to pay Legislators (reaction) until they pass a balanced budget, the uncertainty remains for school districts. Subsequent discussions later during week have not shown any signs of movement towards a solution. In fact, increases in revenues may not voted on and take effect until 2012/13. As a result, school boards would be prudent to revert back to assumptions from the current 2010/11 budget. Unfortunately, with over a 140 school districts already on the fiscal watch list that may not be possible.
By the way, we have known for a long time that California has had problems solving its budget problems, but apparently Texas is doing the exact same thing California did in 2009 and 2010.
Civic Discourse
I was recently asked to submit a blog post for a local blog in Alameda. Below is the post:
The foundation of the democratic process is the ability and willingness of civic leaders and ordinary citizens to utilize civic discourse as a means to find common ground and broadly based effective solutions. Depending on the diligence of the public agency and the willingness of the print press to cover upcoming meetings, civic discourse was limited. In the “good old days” (I let you decide when this was), the framework for dialogue and the opportunity to speak was limited to a city council meeting or board of education meeting.
However, in the brave new world of increasing access to information, multiple channels of communications (email, Twitter, Facebook) and the rise of participatory media culture (blogs, comments on print media news stories, social bookmarking) the nature of civic discourse is changing. Civic leaders and public agencies can no longer control the framework for dialogue. Now ordinary citizens have multiple opportunities to engage in civic discourse. With the civic discourse moving out of the structured world of a city council meeting/board of education meeting, I offer some principles for civic discourse in the public:
- Focus on issues, not personalities
- Avoid personal attacks
- Invite and encourage a variety of perspectives
- Recognize and value different forms of evidence ranging from testimony to statistical evidence and story telling
- Seek common ground and consensus whenever possible
- Resist relying on sound bites and buzz words heard from political pundits or politicians
- Make your goal to understand rather than persuade
If we focus on applying these principles, I believe we can find common ground and develop broad base effective solutions for the problems facing our community.
Now What?
Sacramento
After the week started with a focus on the impact of redistricting, a Wednesday budget deadline loomed. On Wednesday, the Legislature actually passed a majority budget but apparently ignored Prop 98 requirements. However, on Thursday, Governor Brown’s veto of the budget, left the question of the validity of ignoring Prop 98 moot. State controller Chiang will analyze the budget submitted to determine if it meets the criteria established in Prop 25 early next week. The pay for Legislators hangs in the balance.
Alameda Education – Replace not Reform
Technology is only one of the tools teachers can use in classroom to improve teaching and learning. It will not replace teachers. We need to ensure teachers receive ongoing professional development on using technology and we need to provide a stable infrastructure that supports technology in the classroom.
June 7 School Taxes Election Results
Hollister, $96 per parcel, four years
For the last 16 years, San Benito County has been California’s political bellwether, located south of the San Francisco Bay Area with an unparalleled record of matching statewide voter sentiment. In 2002, Gray Davis won reelection with 47% of the vote; in San Benito County he received 49%. In 2006, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger cruised to victory with 57% support. In San Benito County, he got 56%. In 2010, Jerry Brown was elected with 54%; in San Benito county he received 52%.
In Hollister in San Benito county, voters decided on a four year, $96 parcel tax. With 51% yes votes, the parcel tax measure was defeated. Overall, the Hollister vote seems to reflect the state sentiment on tax extensions. While the state voters want to have an opportunity to vote tax extensions, they are split on supporting extending taxes.
Richmond, .25 cents sales tax increase
While not a parcel tax election, Richmond voters went to the polls to decide if schools were to receive additional funding through an increase in sales tax. In order to avoid the 2/3 hurdle for tax directed for a specific purpose, the referendum was broken into two measures. The first measure asked voters to advise the city council if proceeds from the sales tax should be divided between schools and services for the poor. The second measure asked voters to increase the sales tax by .25 cents.
The first measure advising the city council on how to use the funds was passing with 56% votes with all 43 precincts reporting. The second measure to increase the sales tax by .25 cents was failing with 43% of the vote. Had the measure passed, the Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association was considering challenging the legality of using the two measures process to avoid the 2/3 hurdle.
The Edge of the Cliff
Sacramento
The game of budget chicken is getting interesting. Sen President Steinberg continues to keep SB653 alive as a weapon against GOP lawmakers who do not pass a budget by June 15th. In addition, Sen. Leno’s bill SB223 will allow counties to set vehicle license fees back to the historic level of 2%.
Down the street, Controller John Chiang indicated that he will begin withholding legislative pay and per diem, if a budget is not passed by June 15th.
Finally, all attention will be focused on the release of the first draft of new legislative districts next Friday, June 10th. Find the first, blurry versions of what those lines might look like here.
Almost lost in all of this focus on the budget was the passage of AB18 by a vote of 74-2. AB18 could become the beginning point for school finance reform.
Alameda Education – Replace Not Reform
In order to engage the Alameda community in a visioning process I created a webpage: Vision 2020. At the bottom of the page was an invitation to join an online Ning community – Alameda Education. As of June 3rd, 20 intrepid souls have signed up. Let the conversation begin. This week’s featured video talk about the steps necessary to activate young people’s tremendous capacity for intensity.
Replace Not Reform
Starting this week, I am shifting the focus of my weekly blog posts. While I will still cover developments impacting school districts, I will begin to focus on two questions:
1.) What year are we preparing our students for?
2.) Who owns the learning?
In the past eight years, I have tracked the discussions, developments and dynamics of student achievement and accountability debates. I have come the conclusion. that if we actually achieved the stated objective of NCLB that our students would be prepared for 1990s. So I will be starting a visioning project to replace not reform public education in Alameda. The initial spark for this project came from this 15 minute video.
Sacramento
With the theoretical deadline of three weeks for passage of a state budget, the chess pieces are flying. The Democrats have advanced Senate Bill 653 as a tactical move to bring Republicans to the table on extending taxes and holding a special election. Meanwhile, every legislator has June 10th circled on their calendar. When the California Citizens Redistricting Committee releases the new maps for Assembly and Senate districts do not be surprised if some legislators become more flexible in how to solve the budget deficit problem.
May 3 School Parcel Tax Results
Overall nine school districts won their parcel tax election and four school districts lost. Of the nine winning school districts, seven districts either renewed or passed an additional parcel tax measure. Of the four losing districts, three school districts have lose more than once.
Alameda County
New Haven Unified – $180 for 4 years
With 65.7% Yes, New Haven voters narrowly defeated the $3 million measure. This was the first parcel tax measure for New Haven.
Pleasanton – $98 for 4 years
With 65.2% Yes, Pleasanton voters defeated the second measure in less 24 months. The first measure was set at $233 in 2009 and garnered 62.7% Yes.
Contra Costa County
John Swett – $60 per parcel and .0085 cents/parcel square foot for 4 years
With 59.2% Yes, this is the sixth loss for John Swett school district. With organized opposition it was an uphill battle for the school district.
Lafayette Elementary – $176 for 4 years
With 74.3% yes, Lafayette votes will pay a total of $489 per year for school parcel taxes.
Marin County
Dixie School District – $352 for 8 years
With 80.2% Yes, Dixie is six for six in parcel tax elections. This measure takes the existing measure of $245 that was set to expire in 2012 and added $107 to raise the parcel amount to $352.
San Mateo County
Jefferson Union High- $95 for 4 years
With 59.5% Yes, Jefferson Union suffered its second loss in seven months. In November, 2010, the first measure received 65.8% Yes.
Ravenswood City Elementary- $98 for 7 years
With 68.5% Yes, Ravenswood got a double dose of good news. The existing measure of $98 set to expire in 2013 was extended to 2018 along the additional $98 measure that passed.
San Carlos Elementary- $110.60 for 8 years
The existing measure that set to expire this year was passed with 81.1% Yes.
Santa Clara County
Cupertino Union – $125 per parcel for 6 years
With 69.9% Yes, Cupertino voters will double the amount they pay for parcel taxes.
Los Altos School District – $193 for 6 years
With 67.3% Yes Los Altos voters approved the parcel tax measure.
Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High – $49 for 6 years
With 72.6% Yes in Santa Clara county and 64.1% Yes in Santa Cruz and overall 72.0% Yes, Los Gatos-Saratoga JHUSD won its first parcel tax election.
Sunnyvale – $59 for 7 years
With 69.6% Yes, Sunnyvale won its first parcel tax election.
Yolo
Davis Joint Unified – $200 per parcel/$20 per dwelling for multi-unit dwelling for 2 years
Davis Joint Unified maintains perfect record with its ninth parcel tax measure victory.
Handicapping May 3rd School Parcel Tax Elections
There are twelve school districts hoping to continue the 2011 school parcel tax success experienced by three school districts in March, 2011.
1.) Cupertino Union – $125 per parcel for 6 years
After three failed attempts in 1984,1986 and 2004, Cupertino Union passed a $125 per parcel tax, 6 year measure in May 2009 with 70.0% Yes vote.
Likelihood to Pass: High
2.) Davis Joint Unified – $200 per parcel/$20 per dwelling for multi-unit dwelling for 2 years
This will be Davis’ 9th parcel tax election. Davis has won all eight previous parcel tax elections. Currently two parcel taxes are in effect and they expire June, 2012. The total parcel tax for 2011/12 would $520 and then reduce down to $200.
Likelihood to Pass: High
3.) Jefferson Union High- $95 for 4 years
Jefferson Union High lost a November, 2010 parcel tax election with 65.20% Yes vote.
Likelihood to Pass: Medium/High
4.) John Swett – $60 per parcel and .0085 cents/parcel square foot for 4 years
John Swett has lost five parcel tax elections. Their highest Yes voter total was 64.2% in 2006 and they received 54.2% Yes vote last November. This election had a lawsuit filed to change the wording of the measure. The largest land owner, ConocoPhillips refinery opposed the 2010 tax measure.
Likelihood to Pass: Low
5.) Lafayette Elementary – $176 for 4 years
Lafayette Elementary has won all three of its parcel tax measures. The 2007 measure for $313 goes through 2014 and would be a source of concern for passage.
Likelihood to Pass: High
6.) Los Altos – $193 for 6 years
Los Altos has won its previous two parcel tax elections. The current parcel tax is $597 and would be a source of concern for passage.
Likelihood to Pass: High
7.) Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High – $49 for 6 years
This is Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High first parcel tax election.
Likelihood to Pass: Medium/High
8.) New Haven Unified – $180 for 4 years
This is New Haven’s first parcel tax election. There was no opposition argument filed.
Likelihood to Pass: Low/Medium
9.) Pleasanton – $98 for 4 years
Pleasanton has lost its two previous parcel tax elections. Most recently it lost an election that asked for $233 in 2009.
Likelihood to Pass: Medium
10.) Ravenswood City Elementary- $98 for 7 years
Ravenswood has won its previous two parcel tax elections. In 2008 voters approved a 5 year, $98 measure with 78% Yes vote. There was no opposition argument filed.
Likelihood to Pass: High
11.) San Carlos Elementary- $110.60 for 8 years
San Carlos Elementary passed a $98 measure in 2003. This measure would renew the expiring measure. After losing a November 2008 election asking for $185, a $78 , 6 year measure passed in May, 2009.
Likelihood to Pass: High
12.) Sunnyvale – $59 for 7 years
This is the Sunnyvale’s first parcel tax election. There was no opposition argument filed.
Likelihood to Pass: Medium/High
Top 5 Stories Impacting CA K-12 Education in 2010
You voted and the Top 5 Stories Impacting K-12 Education for 2010 are:
Number 5 Story: LAO Issues Report on $26 Billion Deficit
Number 4 Story: Unemployment Remains above 12% in 2010
Number 3 Story: Proposition 25 Lowering the Requirement to 50% for State Budget Adoption is Passed
Number 2 Story: Jerry Brown Beats Meg Whitman
Top Story in 2010: Robles-Wong Lawsuit Filed
2010 Events Impacting K-12 Education Five Years From Now
The second question was what 2010 story will have the greatest impact on K-12 education in five years and your rankings were as follows:
Number 5 Story: Proposition 14 allowing Top Two finishers to compete in the General Election Passes/Kindergarten Entry Age Changed
Number 4 Story: Jerry Brown Beats Meg Whitman
Number 3 Story: Common Core Standards are adopted
Number 2 Story: Proposition 25 Lowering the Requirement to 50% for State Budget Adopting is Passed
Top Story in 2010: Robles-Wong Lawsuit Filed
Please complete a quick two question survey to improve 2011 posts for this blog.
Poll: Top Five Events Impacting California K-12 Education
So what 2010 news event/story has the greatest impact on California school districts in 2010? What is your top five?
What 2010 news event/story will have the greatest impact on California school districts in five years from now? What is your top five?
These are two questions you can answer by completing this survey. Here is a list of the event/stories that have nominated and you can add yours if you like.
- California fails to receive round one funding of Race to the Top funds
- California fails to receive round two funding of Race to the Top funds
- Robles-Wong lawsuit filed
- State budget is signed 100 days after deadline
- Jerry Brown beats Meg Whitman for Governor
- Redistricting commissioners are named and also given additional work of redrawing Congressional districts
- Proposition lowering the requirement to pass a State budget to majority passes
- Proposition to create Open Primary (top two from primary move to General election regardless of party) passes
- Congress passes ARRA funding for California schools
- Age to enter Kindergarten is changed
- CSBA Executive Director retires
- Common Core Standards is adopted by California
- The Romero Bill (identifies under performing schools and allows parents to move their children) is passed
- The Dream Act (allows higher education for children of illegal immigrants) fails to pass
- Unemployment in the State remains above 12% for 2010
- LAO issues report in October indicating budget deficit is $26 billion
Alameda County BOE Races Recap
The Alameda County Registrar of Voters has finalized the ballots for the November 2, 2010 ballot. There are 36 openings in 21 local school board races. 12 incumbents are not running for reelection. There are 38 individuals challenging incumbents in school board races.
In the San Leandro, District 6 race, no one filed and the Board of Education will have to make an appointment. In Castro Valley, Oakland, District 2 and Oakland, District 6 the incumbents do not have any challengers. In Dublin, one individual filed beside one of the incumbents so that race will not appear on the ballot.
Alameda, Berkeley, Hayward and San Lorenzo have the most crowded election fields with four or more challengers to the incumbents.
2010 BOE November Ballot Recap