District to Receive Funds for Arts, Music & Physical Education

The funding for the Arts, Music and Physical Education Grant is just around the corner. The California Department of Education (CDE) funding will be released in mid-April. A committee for the Arts, Music and Physical Education Grant is being assembled at this time to make recommendations and propose a plan to Division Heads. All districts are guaranteed to receive no-less than $2,500 apportionment for each school. Although this is one-time money, there is no deadline for spending the money. Lastly, there is no direction as to the proportion of fund distribution for arts, dance or physical education. Interested Bargaining Unit members are invited to attend the District meeting which is scheduled for Tuesday March 27, 2007 from 3:15 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in the MCR at the district office.

Block Grant Monies to Sites this Spring

This year’s State Budget included a one time block grant to sites. The intent of the one-time Block grant money is to provide additional funding to ensure that all students achieve California’s rigorous academic standards.  The site plans must be approved by the School Site Council. The  school plans must go to the Board before May 1. The $44.13  per 05-06 CBEDs enrollment will be placed into the school accounts the day after the Board approves the school plans.  Once the State has the final 06-07 CBEDS enrollment figures, the final 25% allocations will be calculated and distributed to the schools. Current assumptions is that the second allocation to the schools will be $14.71 per student. The total to schools will be approximately $58.84 per student based on the formula listed above.

Council Approves 2007-2008 Calendars

The Council approved calendars for 2007-2008. The Association will seek Board approval of the calendars as soon as possible. The calendars will be distributed once approved by all parties.

Site Specific Waiver Applications are Due April 27

The deadline for Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for banking minutes and staff development days is Friday, April 27.

Studies Show California Schools Are Under Funded as Student Test Scores Climb

When California’s total expenditures for K-12 public schools are viewed as a percentage of personal income, California has actually lost ground since Ronald Reagan was governor.

 In 2005-2006 the state’s average Academic Performance Index (API) score was up 11 points from the previous year. Median API scores showed improvement at all levels.