As of February 2, my blog is now incorporated into the Current Blog. I felt that merging my blog would streamline our District communication, while still allowing me to share my perspective with you. Those of you who have subscribed to the RSS feed will want to make note of this. All of my posts can be accessed on Current by clicking on the Barry’s Blog tab in the header.
You can now link directly to my blog by going to
current.jordandistrict.org/category/superintendent/.
District's Assessed Valuation Per Student
By now, many of you have previewed or at least heard about, a budget presentation given to the Board on Nov. 17 (available via the District Web site). It’s not good news. We have a large deficit ($29.2 million) to balance before July 1, 2010. In a nutshell, here are the issues. In one day when the District split (from June 30, 2009, to July 1, 2009), we went from $2, 818 per student received from local property taxes, to $1,824. To make up this deficit for this school year, the Board of Education eliminated $9 million in jobs, raised $4 million through property taxes, and used money ($20 million) out of its general fund reserve (rainy day fund).
The challenge for next year (2010-11) is to cut $20 million in ongoing expenses. Some think we are replenishing the $20 million in our rainy day fund. Not true. We used the one-time $20 million to cover ongoing expenses. We also need to anticipate additional revenue shortfalls that may come from the State Legislature. The $20 million deficit for next year climbs to $29.2 million when you add in $6 million (best-case scenario) in anticipated revenue shortfalls from the State, new operation costs to open Herriman High, and anticipated increases in health insurance.
The Nov. 17 presentation outlined $42.7 million in possible revenue sources to balance the deficit. Some possibilities are much better than others. For the next several months, the Board of Education will be reviewing the possibilities, watching the State budget, and making decisions about how to meet next year’s deficit. This is a process. I’ll say it again, this is a process. Decisions won’t be made overnight. It will take much consideration, searching, and discomfort to identify workable, long-term solutions. We will continue to look for ways to reduce costs in areas that can assist the general fund. Please follow the process and stay informed about considerations of the Board. It’s a daunting task that will require everyone’s help.
With all the federal stimulus dollars, why don’t I feel very stimulated?
Education in Utah received $293 million last year from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). The State had three years to expend these funds. The State decided to use all the funds this year to “back fill” much of the deficit in State revenues. In essence, the money really didn’t “stimulate” anything or anybody. It did postpone the consequences of decreases in available State funds. It was hoped that a large portion of these funds would create jobs and ultimately stimulate the economy through State and consumer spending. Not much of this has happened. Many jobs were saved due to ARRA funds, but few, if any, were created. Exceptions to this for most school districts in Utah are in the areas of special education and Title I. They qualified for significant ARRA funds.
I don’t want to get into the politics of ARRA funds, but I do know that without these funds, cuts in education would have been much deeper. For this, I am grateful. Nevertheless, the nickname of “stimulus funds” leaves me with a puzzled feeling.
We receive a lot of questions about the H1N1 flu. Health officials repeatedly tell us the swine flu is coming and we need to be ready. We have a District H1N1 Flu Task Force made up of the administrative cabinet, Lisa Robinson (oversees nursing services), Melinda Colton (Director of Communications), and Steven Dunham (Communications Assistant). We meet regularly to review all information shared by national, state and county health officials, which we receive almost on a daily basis.
So, how are we preparing? We are preparing to send schools and District facilities hand sanitizer and thermal-scan thermometers to assist with reducing germs and determining elevated temperatures in students and staff. We are also working with the Salt Lake Valley Health Department to establish H1N1 flu clinics in our schools. The H1N1 vaccine is expected to be available between mid-October and mid-November. The Health Department would like schools to be distribution points for the H1N1 flu vaccine.
Issues our Task Force is in the process of finalizing include: decision guidelines about when it might be advisable to close schools, make-up days if a school is closed, implications for all employees if schools are closed, impact on school extracurricular activities, student attendance issues related to flu absences, and effective communication strategies throughout the flu season.
As more information becomes available and as decisions are made, we will be sure to communicate with staff and parents about our plans. In the meantime, we must all continue to wash our hands frequently, cover coughs and sneezes, be aware of our own health and take necessary steps if we don’t feel well, especially if we have an elevated temperature.
It’s very nice to be back and into a new school year. The summer has been filled with many activities and charged with lots of excitement, emotion, and many difficult decisions. You, our employees, make all the difference in the world and repeatedly demonstrate why people love to live and educate their children in Jordan School District!
One of the most frequent questions I am asked is, “What about education funding for next year?”
Everything I receive from the Legislature indicates there will need to be additional funding reductions next year. The most frequent amount used to describe the size of next year’s deficit is $700 million. We are being encouraged as a District to maintain reserve accounts wherever possible and prepare for possibly several years of reduced State revenues. I also urge caution when listening to news reports that say the recession has “bottomed out.” Economic indicators viewed in isolation can be misleading as to the overall state of the economy.
As a District, we need to anticipate various financial circumstances that could present themselves. We cannot completely rule out mid-year reductions in funding if second and third quarter revenues are down from projections. However, we are encouraged at the State’s projected revenues during this period of time which would be sufficient for this year’s expenses. We will be working on options and strategies in the event the State were to reduce the value of the WPU mid-year, or cut additional categorical funding to our District this year and next.
The District financial condition is stretched to its limit. Our financial needs are in excess of $30 million for this school year. Through property tax increases, use of fund balances, reductions in staff, and other budgetary action, we will neutralize this deficit for this year, but still need to be very proactive in anticipation of another year of state funding cuts.
Our new logo is unveiled. We hope you like it. I feel it very effectively communicates our rich history, our confidence in moving forward, and the essential elements of our mission as a District – to lead, educate, and inspire. The beginning of this next year is especially unique. There will likely never be another time like this to try to engage all of our community around our mission. That community includes employees, parents, students, patrons without students in our schools, businesses, cities, and Salt Lake County. Among several elements that will be new about the Jordan School District, the unveiling of the logo is the first and one of the more visible. It is intentionally meant to grab attention – lots of it. We contracted with a great design firm, Swivelhead Design Works in Salt Lake City, that was excited to help us. One reason is because the owner is a Jordan District graduate. Matt Doyle saw an opportunity to “give back” to the institution that provided the foundation upon which he has built a successful career. In the midst of many things that have divided us in the past, the new logo is one thing around which we can all unite.
This week employees of the remaining District will receive an e-mail each day giving clues about our new logo. Our logo, tagline and newly-designed Web site will be unveiled on Monday, June 1. We invite you to answer a series of trivia questions to see how much you know about Jordan School District. Please visit www.jordandistrict.org/division/jsd/ to see the latest clues.
Another phase in developing the District budget for next year has taken
place. Preliminary results from a Dan Jones & Associates survey indicated preferences of patrons in meeting our budget deficits (watch for a more complete report of the results to be available in about two weeks).
Patrons rank-ordered their preferences for budget balancing. An increase in class size was clearly an area the patrons did not want used to balance the budget. Patrons also did not favor eliminating academic programs in the District. There was support for reducing non-teaching staff and administrative costs. Increasing taxes was the least acceptable option, although the public did express some support for a tax increase.
The Board spent considerable time discussing these results. As a result, they have chosen at this time to leave the student/teacher ratio unchanged for next year. They did authorize an additional $1.8 million in additional reduction in force from all employee groups in non-teaching capacities. That’s about 35 additional FTE positions. All items of the budget have not been finalized, but many things are beginning to take shape.
Swine Flu: The alerts have elevated. The Federal Center for Disease Control
(CDC) has starting using the words “pandemic” and “imminent.” We are
literally watching and acting minute by minute with our responses. Everyone
needs to follow the precautionary recommendations given by the State Health
Department and the CDC. Official information and direction will always come
through your building administration. If it becomes necessary to close
schools, we will. That will bring a new host of issues and questions to be
resolved. We’ll deal with those as they come. For right now – safety
first.
Remaining District Reductions in Force: If you haven’t already heard – you
will. The remaining Jordan School District has announced its intention to
reduce District-level staff by 122 FTE for the 2009-10 school year. This
action is the first in a series of steps moving forward at the direction of
the Board in order to offset the 2009-10 State budget deficit. The Board is
doing all it can to insulate classroom teachers and students from being
affected. If budget cuts do reach to the classroom, I believe they will be
the least amount possible. Final decisions about where additional
reductions will be made are still in process. The Board is conducting a Dan
Jones poll to determine preferences for balancing the budget from a patron
perspective. Within the next several weeks, specific courses of action will
become finalized.
We have entered a season of significant events. Between now and June, the
Board of Education will prepare next year’s budget, we will enter into
negotiations with employee groups, and the class of 2009 will graduate on
June 4. Employee negotiations begin next month. Preparation of next
year’s District budget is already in full swing.
The budget deficit for next year is approximately $25 million. The Board
is adopting a multiple-solution approach in large measure because there is
no single solution to resolving the deficit. Much discussion will continue
to be held regarding the mix of program restructuring, budget reductions,
reassignment of employees, reductions in staff, tax increases, and employee
compensation. The relative roles of these elements have not been
finalized. It’s as challenging a year financially as I have ever seen in my
professional career. Coupled with the financial implications of the
District split, we are faced with sobering choices. There’s likely to be
lots of rumors about what will happen. Reliable information about how we
will meet our financial challenges will come through proper channels as
“official information.” Beware of “I heard . . .” this or that. Some of
what you hear may be true or close to the truth, some may be partly true,
and some will be absurd. I will keep you informed as we move through the
next several months to help you know what’s happening. We’re in this
together and we’ll find the solutions together.