2010 – 2011 Budget Recommendation for Miraloma

Informed by the school's academic plan (called the Balanced Score Card) and the preliminary results of the recent school wide survey, Principal Ron Machado, the staff and School Site Council have adopted a budget recommendation for next school year. The recommendation is to be conservative in our plans and our spending in order to keep things as consistent as possible for our children over the next few budget years – when funding is going to be scarce. Our recommended strategy is to contain costs everywhere possible in order to build up a cash reserve to help mitigate anticipated further cuts in the 2011- 2012 school year.

In terms of revenue, the recommended budget assumes SFUSD funding allocations and $150,000 in PTA fundraising to meet expenses. In terms of expenses, the recommended budget keeps all staff positions consistent for the 2010 – 2011 school year but proposes the streamlining of enrichment options to help trim expenditures.

The preliminary plan for enrichment streamlining by grade is:

· Ceramics[1] K, 2, 4 for 8 weeks

· Poetry 1, 3, 5 for 8 weeks (possible 6 weeks for 1st grade)

· Gardening[2] K-3 for 10 weeks (possible 12 weeks for 1st grade)

· (4-5 will use YSP, CalAcademy, and other outdoor Ed)

· Dance K-2 for 10 weeks

· Rhythms/Recorder 3rd grade for 8 weeks

· Theater 4-5 for 14 weeks

· Chorus 3-5 (Th 8:30-9) 2-5 (Fri 8:30-9) for entire year

Feedback requested: Feedback from community members is encouraged. Feel free to contact any SSC member below with questions or comments:

Leslie Acosta-Bhattacharya- leahouston2002@yahoo.com
Mr. Machado – machador@sfusd.edu or 469-4734
Virginia Schuler- virg@broah.com
Ms. Kitsuda - christiej527@yahoo.com
Brad Jones- jbj1@yahoo.com
Ms. Eierweiss - jme00@hampshire.edu
September Jarrett – septemberjarrett@comcast.net or 334-2490
Saul Bloom- saulbloom@yahoo.com

FAQ Regarding Budget Cuts & Consequences for Miraloma

1. What are the major changes or losses in services in the recommended budget?

2. Why should we streamline enrichments next year if the PTA has a cash balance?

3. Will Miraloma lose teachers next year?

4. Will PE continue?

5. What Student Support Services will continue?

6. Why aren't the cuts larger?

7. Have all education reform efforts been put on hold due to the budget?

8. What can parents do to prevent further cuts to public education?

1) What are the major changes or losses in services in the recommended budget? Some enrichments are cut back, technology improvements have been put on hold, and the school will be buying fewer materials and supplies. In addition, the school is planning on eliminating the $17,000 cost in release time –as the school will pilot a once a month early release day to ensure teachers have time to meet in grade level teams without the cost of hiring substitutes. A test run of early release is being planned in May.

2) Why should we streamline enrichments next year if the PTA has a cash balance? It is anticipated that the cuts for the 2011 – 2012 school year will be even larger. Building a reserve is essential to ensuring there are no extreme changes in what can be offered to our children for the next two years.

3) Will Miraloma lose teachers next year? The proposed budget keeps all Miraloma teaching positions intact. However, three teachers received pink slips and may be replaced by other more senior teachers if layoffs take place at other schools (which is likely if class sizes are increased district wide).

4) Will PE continue? We have been able to eliminate this expense during the budget process, as Miraloma has just been awarded an SFUSD grant offering a full time PE teacher along with training, equipment and a yard container. Teachers will be trained and increasingly responsible for some aspects of PE through this grant.

5) What Student Support Services will continue? While SFUSD cut their support for the school's social worker (Learning Support Professional, Susan Hammond), the recommended budget will keep this needed service, along with a Student Advisor, two Literacy Specialist/Reading Intervention Teachers, and targeted afterschool tutoring given their importance for helping the school meet its academic goals. Mr. Machado negotiated continuation of the USF Counselors at a lower cost for next year.

6) Why aren't the cuts larger? From all the buzz, I thought they would be huge! Miraloma is extremely fortunate to have a special grant from the state – Quality Education Improvement Act (QEIA) which allocates special funding to our school to keep class sizes small and provide instructional support and services. This grant, combined with PTA fundraising, has been essential for keeping our staff and programs largely intact in the 2010 – 2011 budget. While we are insulated somewhat for now due to our special circumstances, public education needs advocacy and support today. Also, we need to be sensitive to other schools in our district and statewide who are not in a position as fortunate as ours.

7) Have all education reform efforts been put on hold due to the budget? SFUSD is trying to continue to implement its strategic plans and make positive improvements for our children. For example, special education reforms are underway and SFUSD is exploring strategies to provide better support to school sites through a regional administrative structure.

8) What can parents do to prevent further cuts to public education? Parents are strongly encouraged to be informed and take action to preserve public education. Check Funding our Future for more information.