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Monday, February 09, 2009
OUSD Board hears more proposed cuts in Work Session
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
OUSD Board hears more proposed cuts in Work Session
The continued California Budget Stalemate in Sacramento has led to budget panic though out the state. In their continued efforts to keep the Greater Orange Communities informed, the OUSD Trustees and the OUSD Administration under Superintendent Dr. Renae Drier held a public Budget Work Session on Thursday February 5th, 2009.
Continuing to base budget forecasts on the now very old, but last available predictor, Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal he made after his budget veto, some new proposals from the OUSD Administration were released (see link to full presentation below) during the budget study session. Some of the new OUSD budget saving proposals included: a $30 high school athletics fee; elimination of the middle school athletics program; a three year freeze on administration salaries; and a moratorium on all outside educational consultants. The end of the presentation included a slide on what the community could do to help the schools. Members of the community were urged to contact state legislators (see link below) and ask that budget cuts be kept away from education. If cuts to education are made, citizens were urged to ask legislators to give school districts increased local control over spending. Finally, ask for elimination of the requirement for local districts to pay for “unfunded mandates”. The first staff budget recommendations on the budget are expected at the February 26th OUSD Board Meeting.
The news since the February 5th meeting has not been good. This week all sides again failed to reach a budget accord in Sacramento, plus Federal Senate Republicans were able to cut deeply into the proposed dollars for school rebuilding as part of the compromises on the Federal Economic Stimulus Package.
To see the latest February 5th Budget Presentation, CLICK ON:
BUDGET PRESENTATION
For a list of State Leaders to contact CLICK ON:
STATE BUDGET LEADERS
OUSD BUDGET RESOLUTION and Budget Presentation
At the February 12, 2009 OUSD Board Meeting, OUSD Trustees will be approving a Resolution urging Sacramento lawmakers to solve the budget crisis (Action Item 12 D, Agenda pages 18-19). In addition, another sure to be informative Budget Update (Information item 13 A, Agenda page 20), no doubt featuring the latest information, will be presented by Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Jon Archibald. Archibald’s presentations have been locally highly acclaimed for clarity and easy to comprehend terms and graphics. In addition, unlike many Power Point users, Archibald has mastered the “explaining vs. reading” pitfall that makes so many other Power Point presentations crash and burn. Clearly a master at the budget, Archibald has now also proven himself at master at the Power Point presentation.
CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN
“Knowledge is powerful, especially in times of uncertainly”
-Dr. Renae Drier 2/9/09
OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Drier continues to keep OUSD staff involved and informed sending out a follow-up letter on the budget crisis this week that directed staff to the district website for budget information and staff suggestions.
COMMUNITY DONATIONS
Exxon-Mobil-$500 for supplies, Riverdale ES; Serrano PFO-$1837 refurbish computers Serrano PFO; El Modena Girl’s Basketball Boosters-$2306 El Modena H.S.; Villa Park High School Aquatics-$2000 Stipends Villa Park H.S.; Canyon Band Boosters-$7600 Stipends Canyon H.S.; Olive PTC- $495 Laptops Olive ES.
For a complete list of Community Donations see the Agenda pages 24-25.
Inside the February 5th Agenda
Action Item 12 A (page 3-5) - Proposed Board Policy on Intradistrict Open Enrollment Second Reading
Action Item 12 B (page 6-15) – Public Hearing for a Waiver to not buy new textbook adoptions for 1 year to save money
Action Item 12 C (page 16-17) Legislative Coalition 2009 Platform, with no Rocco to blast them, and a focused agenda for Sacramento, expect little of the fireworks of the past.
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2009:
Total $200,000
2009 Attorney Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Parker & Covert (for 1/09 -6/09) $200,000
2009 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
01/24/09 Leadership Associates Consultants $ 3,000
2009 TOTAL $ 203,000
Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008):
$8470.00*
* The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using a 6% lifetime formula calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the taxpayer costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2008: $907,800
2008 Attorney Fee Tally:
6/19/08 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
6/05/08 Miller, Brown & Dannis $ 40,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $150,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $200,000
2/07/08 Parker & Covert $100,000
11/15/07 Parker & Covert (for 1/08 to 6/08) $200,000
sub total $750,000
2008 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Subs for SDCDE (Reading First) $24,000
11/13/08 SDCDE (Reading First) $30,000
10/30/08 Dr. Willard Daggett (ICLE) $ 4,500
10/16/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 4,200
9/25/08 Visual Ink for Sadler Consultant $ 6,600
9/25/08 Bob Sadler Consultant Fee $ 8,500
9/25/08 Candace Simpson-Sadler Helper $ 5,500
7/24/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 10,000
4/17/08 Dr. Kenneth Stichter Speaker Fee $ 6,500
3/7/08 Dr. Kathleen Weigel Speaker Fee $ 8,000
Consultant Total $ 107, 800
2008 TOTAL $ 907,800
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00**
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
**JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to APPROVE Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00:
Total 2005 Conference Administrator/Board Fees: $ 7,500.00
2005 Attorney Fee Tally: $730,600.00
Total Watched 2005 OUSD Consultant spending: $ 270,200.00
Next OUSD Board Meeting February 5, 2009 -OUSD BOARD ROOM
FOR the Agenda CLICK ON:
FEB 11
OUSD Regular Session: 7:30 pm
For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
a news service of Orange Net News /O/N/N/
Independent insight into OUSD
OUSD Board hears more proposed cuts in Work Session
The continued California Budget Stalemate in Sacramento has led to budget panic though out the state. In their continued efforts to keep the Greater Orange Communities informed, the OUSD Trustees and the OUSD Administration under Superintendent Dr. Renae Drier held a public Budget Work Session on Thursday February 5th, 2009.
Continuing to base budget forecasts on the now very old, but last available predictor, Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal he made after his budget veto, some new proposals from the OUSD Administration were released (see link to full presentation below) during the budget study session. Some of the new OUSD budget saving proposals included: a $30 high school athletics fee; elimination of the middle school athletics program; a three year freeze on administration salaries; and a moratorium on all outside educational consultants. The end of the presentation included a slide on what the community could do to help the schools. Members of the community were urged to contact state legislators (see link below) and ask that budget cuts be kept away from education. If cuts to education are made, citizens were urged to ask legislators to give school districts increased local control over spending. Finally, ask for elimination of the requirement for local districts to pay for “unfunded mandates”. The first staff budget recommendations on the budget are expected at the February 26th OUSD Board Meeting.
The news since the February 5th meeting has not been good. This week all sides again failed to reach a budget accord in Sacramento, plus Federal Senate Republicans were able to cut deeply into the proposed dollars for school rebuilding as part of the compromises on the Federal Economic Stimulus Package.
To see the latest February 5th Budget Presentation, CLICK ON:
BUDGET PRESENTATION
For a list of State Leaders to contact CLICK ON:
STATE BUDGET LEADERS
OUSD BUDGET RESOLUTION and Budget Presentation
At the February 12, 2009 OUSD Board Meeting, OUSD Trustees will be approving a Resolution urging Sacramento lawmakers to solve the budget crisis (Action Item 12 D, Agenda pages 18-19). In addition, another sure to be informative Budget Update (Information item 13 A, Agenda page 20), no doubt featuring the latest information, will be presented by Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Jon Archibald. Archibald’s presentations have been locally highly acclaimed for clarity and easy to comprehend terms and graphics. In addition, unlike many Power Point users, Archibald has mastered the “explaining vs. reading” pitfall that makes so many other Power Point presentations crash and burn. Clearly a master at the budget, Archibald has now also proven himself at master at the Power Point presentation.
CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN
“Knowledge is powerful, especially in times of uncertainly”
-Dr. Renae Drier 2/9/09
OUSD Superintendent Dr. Renae Drier continues to keep OUSD staff involved and informed sending out a follow-up letter on the budget crisis this week that directed staff to the district website for budget information and staff suggestions.
COMMUNITY DONATIONS
Exxon-Mobil-$500 for supplies, Riverdale ES; Serrano PFO-$1837 refurbish computers Serrano PFO; El Modena Girl’s Basketball Boosters-$2306 El Modena H.S.; Villa Park High School Aquatics-$2000 Stipends Villa Park H.S.; Canyon Band Boosters-$7600 Stipends Canyon H.S.; Olive PTC- $495 Laptops Olive ES.
For a complete list of Community Donations see the Agenda pages 24-25.
Inside the February 5th Agenda
Action Item 12 A (page 3-5) - Proposed Board Policy on Intradistrict Open Enrollment Second Reading
Action Item 12 B (page 6-15) – Public Hearing for a Waiver to not buy new textbook adoptions for 1 year to save money
Action Item 12 C (page 16-17) Legislative Coalition 2009 Platform, with no Rocco to blast them, and a focused agenda for Sacramento, expect little of the fireworks of the past.
INSIDE the OUSD Budget
INSIDE’s EDUCATIONAL TAX DOLLARS WATCH 2009:
Total $200,000
2009 Attorney Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Parker & Covert (for 1/09 -6/09) $200,000
2009 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
01/24/09 Leadership Associates Consultants $ 3,000
2009 TOTAL $ 203,000
Former Superintendent Godley’s Retirement Bonus running total (beginning 8/2008):
$8470.00*
* The Godley Retirement Bonus presented here is an estimate of the amount in “bonus retirement” accrued since the Superintendent’s retirement on 6/30/08 using a 6% lifetime formula calculated here at $1210 a month since 8/08. The actual retirement plan the former OUSD Superintendent opted to take is not public information and the figures presented are only as an estimate of the taxpayer costs after the OUSD trustees voted against an amendment to exclude Godley from the retirement program. The on-going estimated figure is presented as a reminder to the community of the high cost in educational tax dollars the OUSD Board vote to allow the former Superintendent to participate in the 6% retirement incentive cost the OUSD education community in tax dollars. Godley retired from OUSD on June 30, 2008 after he worked for the school district for a little over five years.
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2008: $907,800
2008 Attorney Fee Tally:
6/19/08 Parker & Covert $ 60,000
6/05/08 Miller, Brown & Dannis $ 40,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $150,000
6/05/08 Parker & Covert $200,000
2/07/08 Parker & Covert $100,000
11/15/07 Parker & Covert (for 1/08 to 6/08) $200,000
sub total $750,000
2008 Consultant/ Speaker Fee Tally:
11/13/08 Subs for SDCDE (Reading First) $24,000
11/13/08 SDCDE (Reading First) $30,000
10/30/08 Dr. Willard Daggett (ICLE) $ 4,500
10/16/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 4,200
9/25/08 Visual Ink for Sadler Consultant $ 6,600
9/25/08 Bob Sadler Consultant Fee $ 8,500
9/25/08 Candace Simpson-Sadler Helper $ 5,500
7/24/08 Dr. Parker 40 pt Consultant $ 10,000
4/17/08 Dr. Kenneth Stichter Speaker Fee $ 6,500
3/7/08 Dr. Kathleen Weigel Speaker Fee $ 8,000
Consultant Total $ 107, 800
2008 TOTAL $ 907,800
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2007: $704,090.00**
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2006: $849,717.00*
**JUNE 8th, 2006 Trustees VOTE to Give OUSD Superintendent the power to APPROVE Travel Requests taking this item OUT of the PUBLIC AGENDA
Total for Watched Tax Dollars approved in 2005: $978,300.00:
Total 2005 Conference Administrator/Board Fees: $ 7,500.00
2005 Attorney Fee Tally: $730,600.00
Total Watched 2005 OUSD Consultant spending: $ 270,200.00
Next OUSD Board Meeting February 5, 2009 -OUSD BOARD ROOM
FOR the Agenda CLICK ON:
FEB 11
OUSD Regular Session: 7:30 pm
For more information call the OUSD Superintendent’s office at 714-628-4040
For budgeting questions call Business Services at 714-628-4015
ORANGE Unified Schools INSIDE
Independent insight into OUSD
is an independent news service of /O/N/N/
Orange_NetNews@yahoo.com
