For San Marino Unified School District, crisis
averted. For the first
time in months, students, district staff, parents and community
members can breathe a sigh of relief.
At a special meeting of the board of education, the 2010-11
budget was approved for submission to Los Angeles County.
Thanks to a very supportive and generous community, the
budget assured the continuation of the vast majority of the
district's programs and educational priorities. $4,300,000 was
raised in an effort to assure that the community's children continue
to receive the world class education that has enabled the district
to claim the #1 school district ranking in California for the last 6
years.
In
January, the San Marino Unified School Board appointed a committee,
headed by Jeanie Caldwell, to address what was and remains an
anticipated $5M gap, resulting from substantial cuts in the state's
funding for public education.
Last night, Jeanie presented the campaign's
final report
highlighting the efforts and the results of the campaign to the
Board. In
conjunction with the RTL fundraising effort, the district initiated
an aggressive retirement incentive plan which substantially reduced
salary and benefits expense and aided in "bridging the gap."
The district enters 2010-11 substantially in tact.
A few changes will occur.
- The most
notable is a change in 6th period PE at the high school.
On staff coaches often had 6th period assigned as a PE period
to facilitate afternoon practices.
For next year, an academic session will need to be scheduled
for 6th period.
- Enrollment has not been finalized for 2010-11.
Today's elementary class sizes are estimated at 28-32;
however, substantial changes are expected in enrollment during the
next few weeks. As those
numbers become more complete, it is expected that class sizes may be
reduced. The board
remains committed to class sizes of ~25 at K-3 and not more than 30
in grades 4-5.
The district is extremely grateful for the generous support of the community and the many volunteers who worked so tirelessly to ensure that the San Marino education continued for 2010-11. We wish everyone a wonderful summer.
The video is a potential view of what public education might be like with the proposed budget cuts--SMUSD's successful RTL campaign will continue quality education in San Marino.