GO Board Watch: May 7, 2018
Welcome to GO’s School Board Watch for the meeting on Wednesday, May 9, 2018.
This week’s agenda includes the following key items:
- Additional Layoffs of Classified Positions for 2018-19
- Capital Program Reconciliation of Measures B and J
- Water Quality Update
- School Network Update
Additional District Employee Layoffs
Amendment of Layoffs/Additions/Net of Classified Positions for Fiscal Year 2018-2019
On April 11, 2018, the Board approved the net reduction of -41.4 FTE from central-office-funded positions and -13.73 FTE from school-site-funded positions. On Wednesday, the Board is scheduled to vote on an amendment that would reduce central-office-funded positions by an additional net -12.8 FTE. Included in these reductions are the directors of the Office of Equity’s targeted initiatives: African American Male Achievement, African American Female Excellence, Latino/a Achievement, and Asian Pacific Islander Achievement.
This year GO Public Schools has advocated that the school district avoid a third straight year of cuts to schools (letter we sent to board members and senior staff) and that the school district adopt and implement best practices in district level budgeting. As the district announces and approves cuts that are being made for the 2018-19 school budget, it is important to consider the following questions:
- How is the district currently setting goals and measuring the impact to students of departments and positions in the central office and school sites?
- If the analysis of return on investment is currently not in place, what steps is the district taking to make sure that future investments and adjustments are grounded in data-based decision making?
- How is the district communicating this information to the community when they announce cuts to help frame difficult decisions in an approach that puts students first?
Parcel Taxes & Bonds
OUSD Capital Program Reconciliation of Measures B and J
The OUSD Board will hear a presentation on the reconciliation of Measures B and J. In 2012, Measure J was passed, authorizing OUSD to borrow $475 million for facilities projects. Additions and reductions were made in 2015 and 2017, bringing the total cost of Measure B and J projects to $549 million. In 2018, the additional cost to complete the projects increased by $117.4 million. After proposed reductions of $46.75 million and additional funding of $37.5 million, the District is facing a budget shortfall of $33.15 million to complete the projects. The OUSD Board presentation lists the projects whose budgets increase and those being considered for decreases.
Schools
“On May 1, the Oakland City Council voted to approve the purchase and installation of new hydration stations for 110 schools in Oakland Unified School District (OUSD). The vote will help ensure that students throughout the District have access to clean drinking water at school. Oakland’s Sugar Sweetened Beverage tax, will provide $371,000 in funding for the stations. Additionally, Alameda County Supervisor Wilma Chan will also allocate $100,000 from Measure A discretionary funds.”
In each Superintendent Report going forward, the Superintendent will report on successes in 1-2 of the School Networks. This report’s success highlights include:
- “After 3 years of declining enrollment in 4-year colleges, we have increased the number of students enrolling in 4 year colleges by 4.8%.”
- The number of African American males participating in internships has tripled.
The rate of participation in Linked Learning Pathways has increased from 45.1% of all high school students in 2013-14 to 78.1% of all high school students in 2017-18.