Letter from Superintendent Don Phillips:

I did not expect to be writing to you about the state budget picture for education so soon, but the past several months have changed our world.  The new economic realities on Wall Street and around the world, and the impact for California , have dominated the news.  Because tax revenues for the state of California have recently fallen short of projections by several billion dollars, the Governor and legislators are considering midyear budget cuts to education much like last year.  Even for this school year, it is unclear how K-12 education would be impacted.

Given the state, national, and global downturn in the economy, tax revenues are anticipated to continue to decline.  This will make the 2009-2010 state budget year even more difficult for the Governor and legislators to adopt.  We are waiting for the Governor’s January budget proposal, but all agencies are bracing for a zero percent cost of living adjustment (COLA) for next year or perhaps even worse.  Across the state, all county offices of education are asking school districts to use a zero percent COLA in planning for next year.  Unfortunately, many of our fixed, ongoing expenses will increase.  Our health & welfare costs, step & column salary commitments, increased special education costs, and energy costs all require additional revenue just to balance our budget.

Therefore, as we plan for the future, we anticipate another very difficult year with further budget reductions.  We are working to ensure fiscal flexibility with state categorical funding and budget carryover to help us weather this storm.  We are also joining together at the state level for an anticipated lawsuit to ensure adequate school funding.  Once the November election is over, legislators are back in session, and we have the Governor’s January budget proposal, we will again need to actively communicate the primary need for K-12 public school funding with our elected officials.

I wish I had more optimistic news, but I feel I need to be clear with what lies ahead.  It saddens me to see our collective efforts to support our students being compromised due to budget cuts.  I just saw a story on CBS comparing a high school in Chicago with the highly renowned New Trier Township High School just north of Chicago .  The story was contrasting educational opportunities by sharing that Chicago only spent $10,000 per student, while New Trier spent $17,000 per student.  In Poway we only spent $8,188 per student last year, and yet we continue to serve our students in wonderful ways.   California continues to lay toward the bottom of the list of states in terms of funding per student and may, in fact, hit bottom this year.  Yet California has some of the highest academic standards in the nation.  But I also know that, as in the past, we will continue to meet the challenge ahead.

I’m so appreciative of how we have pulled together in the most difficult of times to meet our commitment to do our very best with what we have to serve our students.

I’m committed to keeping you informed as we learn more and to seek your input and ideas, as well as input from our parent and community stakeholders.  Our students deserve our very best.

State Budget Update

The budget signed into law on September 23 provides $58.1 billion for K-12 education.  This is $3 billion less than the Governor’s projected “workload budget,” which is the cost of 2007-08 programs and operations adjusted for inflation and enrollment, but it’s a $1.3 billion improvement over the Governors “May Revise” budget proposal.

The budget fails to resolve the state’s chronic structural deficit which has raised concerns among education officials over the potential for mid-year budget cuts and continuing shortfalls for education funding in 2009-10 and beyond.  Facing declining revenues and unanticipated expenses in the first quarter, the Governor is considering calling legislators back into emergency session to consider additional cuts to the budget that was approved just two weeks ago. 

Public Enemy:  Voter Apathy

Did you know that only 42% of registered voters in Rancho Peñasquitos participated in San Diego’s Mayoral election this past June?  And when the fate of the Poway Unified School Facilities Bond was decided this past February, a third of our community’s eligible voters didn’t participate.  

The outcome of our state and local elections impacts how much we pay in taxes and where the money goes.  It also drives policy on important issues including the education of our children.  A recent report by the Public Policy Institute has confirmed that low voter registration and turnout is resulting in fiscal and policy decisions that don’t reflect overall public opinion.

Will your vote be counted in the upcoming November 4th election?  Voters will decide our next U.S. President, U.S. Congressman, State Assemblyman, City Council Member, City Attorney, two Poway Unified School Board Members, three Palomar Community College Trustees, four Palomar Pomerado Health System Board Members and the fate of 12 state and four local ballot measures.  You can view your complete ballot and polling place online at www.smartvoter.org.

Be sure you are registered to vote, and if your schedule will make it difficult for you to be at your polling place on Election Day, consider voting by mail with an absentee ballot.

How to Register to Vote
Here are three fast and easy ways you can register to vote:

• Option 1:  Register online with the California Secretary of State.  After you complete the online portion of the process, a completed from will be mailed to you for your signature
• Option 2:  Postcard registrations are available at our local post office and library – just complete the form and mail it in.
• Option 3: Have a postcard mailed directly to you. Call the Registrar of Voters Main Office at (858) 565-5800 and request a registration postcard. Once received, fill out and return to the Registrar of Voters.

Not sure if you are registered or not? 
You can check your voter status on the San Diego County Registrar of Voters website. 

Too busy to vote at your polling place on Election Day? 
Apply to register by mail on the Registrar of Voters website or by using the application on the Official Sample Ballot that will mail to all registered voters on September 26, 2008.

Key Dates

• October 28 - Last day to apply to vote-by-mail
• November 4 - ELECTION DAY - Polls open from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m.
• Enter your address on www.smartvoter.org to view your complete ballot and polling place online.

 

How to Choose a Candidate who
Supports Public Education

As you begin to learn more about the candidates, keep in mind that every candidate will say that he or she supports public education. The real question is, how far will that support go?  For a list of criteria and questions to define a candidate’s position on school and education issues, visit the National PTA website. Using the toolbar at the top of the front page, click on “Take Action” and then “PTA Votes/Election Activities.”

PTA Supports Proposition 3:
The Children’s Hospital Bond Act

PTA is nonpartisan and NEVER supports or opposes political parties or candidates, including those running for school boards and nonpartisan slates.  PTA does take positions on ballot measures that affect the health, safety, education, or general well-being of children and youth.

The California State PTA has voted to support Proposition 3, the Children’s Hospital Bond Act.  More information about this initiative is available online on the Secretary of State’s website.