HCSD School Board Retreat

1
HCSD School Board Retreat

• Budget Reduction Discussion
• March 18, 2009

2
Why are we here/What will we accomplish?

• No decisions will be made tonight 
• The purpose is to present a proposal for budget
  reductions, and get input and feedback from the
  Board of Trustees, staff and public 
• The Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent
  will utilize information and input gathered
  tonight to further revise the proposal, if
  necessary
• A final proposal will be placed on the March 24th
  agenda for approval by the Board
• Please confine references and discussions to jobs
  and positions, not referencing individuals by
  name
• Opportunities for input will be provided at the
  beginning and end of the meeting

3
Goals

• As much as possible, work to assure that budget
  reductions have minimal impact on classroom
  learning.
• As much as possible, work to preserve employment
  opportunities for HCSD employees.
• Always make decisions based upon whats best for
  students.

4
Values

• Drive the process
• Values to be considered
• Parents/Community
• Community Forums
• Staff
• Staff Surveys
• Letters and other communications
• School Board
• Superintendent

5
Values Themes

• Staff/Community Forums (themes)
• Minimize the impact on daily, regular classroom
  teaching/learning
• Preserve current class size, if possible
• Preserve extra curricular opportunities, if
  possible

6
Superintendent Values/Goals

• Minimize impact on the classroom instructional
  day
• Provide the best education possible for every
  student
• Provide a wide range of programs/services to meet
  a wide range of student needs
• Preserve employment opportunities for staff,
  especially new certified employees

7
Superintendent Values/Goals

• Keep the school district moving forward in
  student achievement, staff development, and in
  creating a 21st Century curriculum

8
How Are Students Educated?

• This is a fundamental question, and means
  different things to different people
• What is your Opinion?
• Activity and discussion

9
Superintendents Opinion

• Superintendents Opinion
• Four tiers
• The Classroom Experience
• The Unwritten Curriculum
• Extra- Curricular Activities
• Home Life Experiences

10
The Classroom Experience

• 95 of a students school day is spent in a
  regular, heterogeneous classroom
• Core Content Knowledge
• Math , Science, Language, Social Studies
• Develops the intellect
• Electives/Arts
• Art, Music, PE, Vocational, F.Lang etc.
• Develops life skills, attitudes and knowledge
  that enrich life
• Remediation/Enrichment
• Opportunities to excel, or multiple opportunities
  for success

11
The Unwritten Curriculum

• Interactions w/ others that occur outside of the
  regular classroom, but during the school day

12
Unwritten Curriculum

• Social skills
• Interactions w/peers and adults in the hallway,
  at recess, during lunch. Etc.
• Interactions w/ teachers, administrators, staff
• Opportunities for growth, both positive and
  negative
• Helps students make real life connections with
  content learning

13
Unwritten

• Teaches cause and effect
• Actions have consequences
• Decisions impact lives
• Pain can be an effective teacher
• Experiencing natural consequences for ones
  actions builds character, integrity, and good
  decision making skills
• Networks students to outside learning
• Off campus experiences, sports, libraries,
  technology not available at school etc.

14
Extra Curricular

• Sports
• Builds healthy bodies
• Builds healthy attitudes about life and problem
  solving
• Character, integrity, persistence, appreciation
  of differences
• Teaches collaborative problem solving, higher
  order thinking skills
• Teamwork the power of working together
• For non participants (fans) builds school pride,
  sense of community, acts as a social outlet

15
Extra Curricular

• School Clubs
• Allows for exploration of special and unique
  interests
• Math Club, Science Club, FFA, etc
• Builds a sense of belonging in students
• Builds school pride
• Outlet for social interaction and development of
  people skills

16
Home Experiences

• Out of schools control
• Research shows that as much as 60 of a students
  education occurs at home
• The School-Home Connection
• Homework
• Communication between home and school
• The place for moral and ethical values to be
  taught and learned

17
In Sum

• In the school setting, students are shaped and
  formed through
• The Regular classroom experience
• The Unwritten Curriculum
• Extra Curricular Education
• It is CRUCIAL to provide a well rounded
  educational experience for each child, which
  include the three listed above

18
So What?!

• What does all this have to do with budget
  reductions??
• EVERYTHING!!

19
Budget Review

• Nevada continues to see a decline in revenues
• Deficit for the upcoming biennium is greater than
  2 billion dollars (required to maintain current
  services)
• Decline was first noted in FY08 at which time
  HCSD was assessed a reversion of 249,000, with
  an additional 49,000 assessed in FY09
• Fiscal impact was determined after the Special
  Session, with new DSA figures provided on July 2,
  2008

20
Why Such a Deficit

• Nevada is a gambling state
• Biennial budget developed was based on
  projections during last legislative session
• Nevada is reliant on three primary areas for
  funding
• Gambling/Tourism
• Real estate
• Tax Revenues
• Nevada has been ranked at the top in number of
  foreclosures
• Disposable income for travel and gambling has
  reduced
• Fewer tourists also equates to less sales tax
  revenues

21
Nevada Plan

• Though Humboldt County is doing relatively well
  in response to gold prices, most funding is not
  based on local revenues
• Under the Nevada Plan 2/3rds of funding is basic
  support guarantee from the State
• Other 1/3 is from local revenues
• If local revenues generate more than the total
  guarantee, the state reduces the amount they
  provide. If less, they make up the difference

22
Issue

• Since the last budget crunch of 2000, districts
  have generated millions in additional revenues
  reducing the states obligation
• There is no credit provided to districts for this
  reduction in State funding obligation
• However, in rough financial times, such as now,
  local school districts have been required to make
  drastic cuts
• NASB, NSEA and School Districts are seeking to
  remedy this issue

23
Fiscal Impact

• During FY 08, the district was required to revert
  a total of 249,000 in response to state
  revenue short falls
• In addition an assessed reduction of 49,000
  was levied for FY 09
• After completing and submitting a tentative
  budget as required by NRS, the districts funding
  was reduced for FY 09 by 879,481
• 640,948 DSA reduction/Reduced Textbook
• 238,533 (3.3 reduction)

24
Impact over Biennium

• Over the course of the past two years, the
  district has seen the following fiscal impact
• - 249,000 FY 08
• 49,000 FY 09
• 879,481 FY 09
• Total biennial impact - 1,177,481

25
For FY 09

• In addition to the 1,177,481 reduced over the
  last biennium, we are preparing for a reduction
  of _at_1,900,000 (8 reduction) over last years
  funding for FY10
• Three year impact on Humboldt County would equal
  3,077,481
• Note We are hoping the 8 reduction is not
  assessed

26
Why Not Tap EFB?

• EFB was flat coming into FY 09 (_at_3.5 million)
• However, this figure is deceptive as 1.6 million
  is NPM and is included in General Fund figures
  (part of wealth formula factor in 2/3rds) for
  FY09
• EFB has been/will be critical to meet the needs
  of the District during this year (Self insurance
  needs/transition to fully insured)
• In essence, we are tapping into the EFB

27
The Goals-Again

• As much as possible, work to assure that budget
  reductions have minimal impact classroom
  learning.
• As much as possible, work to preserve employment
  opportunities for HCSD employees.
• Always make decisions based upon whats best for
  students.

28
The Plan

• Examine areas for reductions not directly tied to
  regular classrooms
• Program reductions/Cost savings initiatives
• Reduce personnel costs through attrition

29
Humboldt County School DistrictBudget Reduction
Planning Fiscal Year 2008-2009Presented to Board
of Trustees

• Guiding Principles
•  
• Having been directed to create a tentative
  budget, in accordance with NRS, prior to the
  release of final Basic Support figures, Humboldt
  County School District has begun the arduous task
  of identifying areas of possible reduction.
  Currently, the district has been asked to reduce
  funding by approximately 8 (not including the
  loss of legislatively driven funds). In order to
  accomplish this task, the community, staff,
  administration and Board of Trustees have
  provided information relative to areas that are
  vital to maintain, and areas that may be reduced
  in an attempt to meet this objective. No cuts are
  easy, and the ability to provide an overall
  educational experience as currently provided will
  be impacted. The following information
  consolidates the findings associated with general
  priorities
• Maintain Reduce 
• Pull-outs -Athletics/Freshman Sports
• Athletics - Administration
• Teaching Staff -Professional Development
• Instructional Aides - TAG
• Class Size - Specialists and Curriculum
  Director
• This information was then consolidated into an
  overall guiding structure. Reductions were
  targeted addressing reductions away from
  personnel first, then considering a progress
  through personnel, with cuts in general
  instruction only as absolutely necessary.

30
Budget Reduction Levels of Reduction
31
Having sought and received the information as
detailed above, and with strong consideration of
the feedback received, the following is outlined
for the boards consideration. Targeted reduction
1,900,000.00
32
(No Transcript)
33
(No Transcript)
34
Reduction Analysis

• Programs as a percentage of overall reduction
  24.4
• Ten year funding history, Operations 14
• Classified as a percentage of overall
  reduction 21.1
• Ten Year funding history, Classified 22.2 
• Certified as a percentage of overall
  reduction 48.8
• Ten Year funding history, Certified 57.3 
• Admin. as a percentage of overall
  reduction 5.7
• Ten Year history, Admin 6.5

35
Thank-you for your Assistance

• Board Discussion