MEDIA ADVISORY - SDUSD Board Vice President Scott Barnett to Discuss Plan for Avoiding Shortening of School Year

MEDIA ADVISORY, June 22, 2012

SDUSD BOARD VICE PRESIDENT SCOTT BARNETT TO DISCUSS PLAN FOR AVOIDING
SHORTENING OF SCHOOL YEAR

-- Proposed agreement with Teachers could results in "kids having summer
vacation start a month sooner" says Barnett.


-- PARENT LEADERS DECRY SHORTENED SCHOOL YEAR


"The use of an additional 14 furlough days to close the budget gap if the
governor¹s tax initiative does not pass is UNACCEPTABLE to parents in this
district. Second to parent involvement, there is nothing that impacts the
educational success of a student more than sufficient instructional time
with a quality educator. Now that the issue of class size for next year
appears to be resolved, your number one goal should be to protect the
integrity of the school year in case the governor¹s tax initiative does
not pass." see full letter below

WHAT: Media availability with Scott Barnett, Vice President, Board of
Education, representing Sub-District C

WHEN/WHERE: 3 p.m., Room 2249, Eugene Brucker Education Center, 4100
Normal St. (92103). Room 2249 is on the second floor. Use the stairs
adjacent to the Information Counter near the Board auditorium. Mr. Barnett
will be available to discuss his position.

DETAILS: Mr. Barnett will discuss his opposition to the aspect of the
tentative agreement with the San Diego Education Association which may
result in school year being shortened 19 days. He will discuss his option
that would avoid reducing the school year by 14 days. His plan includes:
Renegotiated health provider contracts and new health care incentives to
staff; Reallocation of some existing expenditures; Cuts to administration,
transportation and other non-class room cuts.

Possible funding to save school year from being cut:
-- $7 to $10 million in bidding out health care without change of benefits
-- $12 million in savings by all employees getting Free Kaiser and we
charging for delta between Kaiser and higher end health care
-- $4 million saving from cutting 139 departments which are untouched in
this proposed budget
-- $2-$4 million in reducing all transportation except that which is
legally mandated
-- $10 million in remaining non school/non educational programs and
departments. Including, landscaping, maintenance, warehouse, etc.
-- $2-$3 million-Apply the proposed "teacher development day, and (senior)
teacher raises to saving school days.
-- $3 million in carry over (one time revenue)

I am urging my colleagues to make the proposed cuts I have outlined,
immediately bid out health care, and start discussions with SDEA on
changing health coverage. This can all be accomplished prior to the
November Vote

"This is cutting bone in some areas," said Barnett. "But under this
scenario if the state tax passes we can restore the current Five furlough
days, restore these administrative cuts, and build up District reserves,"
said Barnett "But we must do everything we can to save the school year."

Attached:

Letter just received by school board from parent leaders calling for
saving school year


June 22, 2012

Dear School Board Trustees and Superintendent,

The use of an additional 14 furlough days to close the budget gap if the
governor¹s tax initiative does not pass isUNACCEPTABLE to parents in this
district. Second to parent involvement, there is nothing that impacts the
educational success of a student more than sufficient instructional time
with a quality educator. Now that the issue of class size for next year
appears to be resolved, your number one goal should be to protect the
integrity of the school year in case the governor¹s tax initiative does
not pass.

The impact on student learning with the loss of an additional 14 days will
have serious consequences for San Diego Unified students. The Parent
Leaders wonder how students will be able to meet the demands of A-G with
less instructional time. The addition of 14 furlough days will impede the
progress of English language learners. English language learners need
specific instruction, extra support, and most importantly, time to
practice the skills they have learned to speak and write in English.
Shortening the school year will create breaks in routine for students with
disabilities. These breaks can lead to regressive behavior and are
disruptive to the student¹s success beyond just the academics. Also,
students with disabilities who still receive Extended School Year services
will lose essential time with peers and forfeit necessary access to
general education. Expecting students with disabilities to make
reasonable progress while losing a significant percentage of instructional
days is unrealistic. The overarching concern to us all is that our
students with less instructional days will not be as prepared for testing
whether it be the CSTs, the CAHSEE, or AP exams.

San Diego Unified cannot rely on the governor or the electorate to save
the educational integrity of our district. We must do it ourselves and we
must be proactive about it. Please protect the integrity of the education
provided by San Diego Unified by protecting the school year by any means
necessary. We owe it to the children in San Diego.

Signed,
Moira K. Allbritton
Chairperson, Community Advisory Committee for Special Education

Katie Anderson
Co Chair GATE DAC
Minerva Espejo
DELAC Representative and Cluster 6 Parent Representative

Elizabeth Distler Nagy
Co Chair GATE DAC

Nicanora Montenegro
Vice Chair of DELAC

Debbie O¹Toole
Mom of three, Voice of Our Kids, Past President-Jerabek FFO

David Page
Chairperson, District Advisory Council for Compensatory Education

Amy Redding
Past PTA president-Fletcher Elementary, DAC representative, GATE DAC
representative

CONTACT: Scott Barnett, 619-857-1857, scott@scott-barnett.com

scottbarnettSDUSD@gmail.com


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