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.
Many employees of Jordan School District knew and worked with Superintendent Raymond Whittenburg. I was one of them. He passed away on Wednesday, April 1, from cancer. He retired 13 years ago, but his influence on our District and our individual lives continues today. I knew and worked with Raymond for over 30 years. I had the opportunity to live in his neighborhood for 13 years. I was so pleased to witness first hand that the man I saw and admired at work was the same man I knew in my neighborhood. Wherever he was, he consistently practiced the characteristics of caring, patience, hope, and optimism. I remember fondly his persistent encouragement to me and my wife to finish my schooling while our children were young. I remember a private visit with him when seeking advice about applying for the position of superintendent of schools. He was always supportive and encouraging. I was present when he was asked in a public meeting what the greatest compliment someone could give him. He said, “When someone calls me Raymond. I have the relationship I prefer with someone when they are comfortable calling me Ray.”
Raymond was no stranger to challenges at work and in meeting the health challenges of his dear wife, Merilyn. However, he never complained. When asked, “How are you doing?” he would respond, “One day at a time!” Then he would smile – a genuine smile. I knew he meant it. One time while visiting with him in his home, I asked him how he remained so optimistic in the midst of so many difficult issues in all parts of his life. He said, “Merilyn and I decided a long time ago that we would focus our energy on things we can change and not on those things we cannot. We make the best of whatever we have.” I heard him say this on other occasions in various settings. I knew he meant it and knew he lived his life accordingly. Raymond’s life’s motto, “one day at a time,” and his determination to focus his energy on things he could change and not on those he couldn’t, are very appropriate advice for us today. That perspective served him well throughout his life and will do the same for us. Thank you, Raymond, for your encouragement and example to us all. Like you, we will seek to face life with optimism “one day at a time” and will focus our energy on things we can change, not on things we cannot. I can hear you reassuringly say, “Things will work out.” I’m confident they will, too.
Wednesday (March 18) was a particularly important day for Jordan School District. The decision of the Arbitration Panel was released. This decision launches us to a new level in the process of being prepared as a District for the 2009-10 school year. There’s a lot of significant detail and reasoning in the written decision itself. I encourage you to review it to get a sense of the complexity of the issues and the basis upon which the arbitrators ruled. Their reasoning, rationale, and suggestions to the Legislature are admirable.
Realizing that this is an oversimplification, here’s the essence of the arbitrators’ decision:
1. Both districts retain buildings, fixtures, furnishings, land, water rights, and equipment currently in the geographic boundaries of their district. There is no exchange of money for these assets.
2. Cash fund balances will be allocated based on the student populations of the Canyons and Jordan School District, respectively 41% and 59%.
3. One exception to these distribution processes is school buses. They will be allocated based on historical usage, meaning, the number of buses needed to transport students this year, east and west, will be the same as will be needed and allocated to each district for next year. The only decision to be made is how to assign buses fairly based on age, mileage, and make of bus (diesel, CNG). The Transition Teams are assigned to determine these agreements.
Ultimately, the arbitrators grounded themselves in a decision making model that took into account students in each district. I’m very pleased this was their primary criterion. It’s a good feeling to have this behind us. It’s been a long process leading to a positive conclusion.