Message from Superintendent Patrick Godwin Regarding the State Budget Crisis

July 20, 2009

We continue to wait for the legislature to pass a budget that the governor will sign.  We know that the funding for public education will be significantly reduced, but the final dollar decrease and the flexibility options for local school districts are not known.

The worst case scenario

If you have been following the District's budget process, you know that the Governing Board approved a "worst case" tentative budget to meet the June 30 deadline for passing a budget for the 2009-10 school year.  This preliminary budget included layoffs of teachers, counselors, and support personnel that would significantly diminish the opportunities and services provided to our students.  The "worst case" budget would reduce high school electives, eliminate middle school electives, eliminate the personnel assigned to libraries, reduce counseling services, and reduce funding for athletics.  (See "Superintendent's June 11 recommendations" for details)

Better than the worst case scenario

Since the July 2 Budget Update posted at this site, the District has been notified it will receive more from the federal stimulus funds than originally projected.  Because we received more in federal funding (backfill for special programs commonly called categoricals), we will be able to reinstate most of the high school electives that were on the June 11 reductions list, especially those related to college admissions and careers.

Additionally, the District and the Folsom Cordova Education Association (FCEA) have reached a tentative agreement to shorten the work year by three days (one student instruction day and two teacher work days).  To be implemented, the tentative agreement must now be approved by the union's membership.   

If a majority (defined as 55% plus 1 by FCEA bylaws) of the members of FCEA approve the tentative agreement, the District will be able to rescind all of the certificated (teacher and counselor) layoff notices issued on June 18.  That means that in addition to the high school electives, the middle school elective period, and seven counselor positions would be reinstated.  Class sizes in grades 1 and 2 would also be staffed at an average of 25-to-1, with no more than 27 students in a 1^st or 2^nd grade classroom.  We are hopeful and optimistic that the members of FCEA will approve this agreement. 

Administrators in the District have previously committed to at least two furlough days and to match or exceed any agreement with FCEA.  All savings from Folsom Cordova Administrators Association (FCAA) furloughs will be used to preserve services and programs for students. 

The District has scheduled another meeting with the California School Employees Association (CSEA) in an effort to save classified jobs and services, such as library personnel and custodians, via some type of furlough plan or other savings.

What happens next?

FCEA has established a deadline of noon on Monday, July 27, for its members to vote.  The District will know the results that afternoon. 

The Governing Board will meet on Thursday, July 30, at Folsom High School.  The public portion of the meeting will begin at 6:00.  At this meeting, the Board will, hopefully, approve the tentative agreement with FCEA and adjust the budget accordingly to reinstate middle school electives, maintain our counseling services, and fund all varsity and junior varsity athletics. 

If the tentative agreement is not approved, the Board will adjust the budget to reinstate high school electives, and any other programs and services that it can fund based on changes in the state budget and/or internal adjustments. 

The state budget may also be a factor before July 30.  We hear that a deal may be close, but we have heard that before. 

Next update

A new budget update will be posted as soon as we have the results of the FCEA vote. 

We will also provide an update when we know the details of how a final revision to the state budget will impact our schools and community. 

Patrick Godwin