Posted by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/01/2011 11:35 PM
Updated by: Kim_Hamilton on 02/01/2011 11:37 PM
Expires: 01/01/2016 12:00 AM
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Budget Talks at The Calaveras County of Education Board Meeting Held on January 31, 2011~by Patrick Works
Calaveras County of Education Office, Angels Camp, CA....Monday night's meeting of the School Board was an all business event, as budget concerns, details on how to deal with those concerns, and plans for the future education of our community's children were worked out in earnest. As most readers know, available dollars from the State of California are likely to soon be reduced, despite all our federal and state politicians' stated commitments to education and to the future our children that they have promised.....
President Obama's Federal Stimulus Bill has meant a great supplement to Calaveras County schools for the past two very difficult years, but those funds will soon run out. Federal Stimulus monies have been coming directly to the School District, as well as indirectly from the State of California. Both revenue streams will be drying up very soon.
As with all budgets concerning public employees, contractual obligations undertaken with Calaveras County teachers, while money was available, are about to meet a tidal wave of revenue reduction. The expiration of Federal Stimulus Bill dollars is only a small part of this wave, and a great deal of Monday night's discussion went into detail about how our schools will be able to move forward with reduced funding.
While many details were discussed, it does seem certain that layoffs are a certainty. Contractual obligations regarding how to handle those layoffs are fixed. A great deal of difficulty for the management of this unfortunate scenario has to do with conflict between legal requirement of notification, issuance of actual layoffs etc., and the calendar within which budget notice from the State of California might be available to those at the School District mandated to act as necessary.
The Calaveras County School Board must act in accordance with the law. This means they must make decisions, and execute upon those decisions long before any real budget numbers are available. Worst case scenarios discussed Monday night included the need to lay off teachers and other staff as the current school year ends, only to find it necessary to recruit new employees in order to meet needs for the coming school year.
Amidst all the nuts and bolts discussed, a new (interim) member of the board was seated. Marilyn Krause was sworn in as representative for Supervisory District #2, as Kathy Huebert has recently resigned that seat in order to fill the role as Superintendent of Schools.
Both Ms. Krause and Ms. Huebert come to their new roles with a great depth and breadth of experience not only in education, but with Calaveras County schools particularly.
While so much of great importance was at issue during Monday's meeting, introduction into their new roles was met with relief and great welcome, as senior district staff and the entire board applauded the swearing in of Ms. Krause by Ms. Huebert.
With the challenges ahead for all the Calaveras County schools, the faith and support the new Superintendent and School Board member received are a hopeful sign.
Please stay in touch with thepinetree.net for more about education and our community.
Patrick Works for thepinetree.net
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