Superintendent Gwen Gross participated in a Question and Answer session with parents at the Pennekamp PTA Meeting on January 13, 2004.  

1. Will classroom size reduction remain intact next year?

Due to the early retirement package offered by the district, new teachers with lower salaries filled many positions. As a result, there was no encroachment for classroom size reduction (CSR) and it has not been cut. The $275,000 raised for classroom size reduction during the Vital Programs campaign will be put into a holding slot for future CSR encroachments.

2. What percent of the MBUSD population is defined as special education students? What percentage of the annual general operating budget during the past 3-5 years has been expended to this group of students? What is the average cost of educating MBUSD special education children versus the average cost for the other children? 

Approximately 700 students have special needs ranging from speech therapy to assistance with significant learning problems. The government only provides $3 million of the $7 million federally mandated programs for special education. The $4 million deficit has been paid for out of the general fund. It costs the school district $9,500 to $10,000 per special education student. The school district is addressing the increase in autism in the schools.

3. What programs and positions will be cut next year? 

The district is primarily looking at the personnel piece of the budget. The district plans on having a base line budget, which supports only those programs and positions that are federally mandated. Mandated positions include one principal and one office person at the elementary schools. Only the library position at the high school is mandated. Classroom aides, a 2^nd health clerk and P.E. teachers are below the base line budget line. (The proposed baseline budget is available for your review)

4. What will be the criteria for restoring programs? 

A list of all positions and services below the base line budget line will be presented to teachers and others at the school sites, and they will be asked to prioritize the items. The school board will be presented with recommendations, and the board will make the final decisions. The school district wants to cut those items that are the farthest away from the students. It was pointed out that $535,000 will be cut from the district office. (The proposed budget cuts and principal's restore priority are available for your review)

5. You mentioned that we are contractually required to have a 29 to 1 teacher/student ratio, yet some classes have more students than that. How is that possible? 

For every 29 students, a school gets one teacher. Each school site can determine how to divide up the number of teachers among classes. Some classes have more than 29 students while others have fewer students to make up the difference.

6. Can you explain what the duties of the teacher’s aides are and whether you feel they are important? 

Duties differ from aide to aide. Functions can include helping with in-class learning centers, grading papers and paperwork. While SIP and PTA pay for instructional aides, they are considered district employees. The district needs to determine the best way to utilize its limited funds.

7.What are the purposes of the new buildings at Mira Costa? 

The Student Services building will house the principal, vice principals, counselors, the career center, as well as math and special education classes. It will be about 50% students and 50% administration.

8. Approximately how much of property taxes go to the schools? 

The percentage changes from year to year. Schools do not directly benefit from the property taxes paid in their communities. The state government collects the taxes, and all schools are given the same amount of money.

9. Why not convert the new education center into the library or performing arts center for the high school? 

The building does not have the size or layout needed for a library or performing arts center. There will be extra rooms available at the new education building. It was pointed out that the school district owns the old MBI site, maintenance yard and Ladera property. The school district will continue to look for ways to turn these assets into a revenue stream.

10. How much will it cost to landscape the education center? How much did the new sign cost?

The landscaping budget allocated for the new building has been cut. Regular district maintenance workers and gardeners will do the finishing work. Gwen Gross said that she will determine who ordered and constructed the new sign.

11. About 40% of students at Pennekamp are in portable classrooms. A recent study showed that the portables have elevated levels of toxins. What testing and safety maintenance is planned? 

An outside company along with the district’s Maintenance and Operations did testing on several portables. The portables passed the tests and an actual report will be available soon. The school is now running air in the portables.

12. Why weren’t portables considered for the district office? 

The portables behind the Mira Costa gym would have been a fine location for the district office. It is difficult to look back now and take in all of the factors that contributed to the decision to build the new education center.

13. If we are eliminating the Vital Programs Fund, the community needs to be alerted. Should MBEF extend its campaign so that families will contribute their full donations now? 

The Vital Programs campaign caused much confusion and resulted in some parents feeling pressured. The $1.7 million raised by the campaign was used instead of being allocated for long-term purposes. Since there will be no Vital Programs campaign this year, parents are being asked to make a major donation to MBEF. Parents were encouraged to give any money that they planned on contributing to a Vital Programs Fund this year to MBEF.

14. How is your budget plan any different from what was done last year? 

The district is making cuts instead of using outside donations to back-fill the budget. The district needs to know what positions and services it can provide without being dependent on outside donations. Such dependence could result in uncertainty on the part of employees year after year.

15.Does the $7 million spent for special education include Manhattan Beach’s legal fees from due process hearings? Does it also include the parent’s legal fees and providing the services to the children? 

The district needs to work closely with the parents, so that they feel that their children are getting the help that they need. The district should be able to serve the children so that they don’t need to be taken out of the community.

16. What is the logic behind the distribution of Measure A funds? 

The original amounts allocated to each school are not accurate numbers. All projects went over budget.

17. You explained the plan for achieving a balanced budget. If 86% of the budget is people, what is the plan to increase revenue as the average salaries increase? 

The district will continue to accept permit students as space becomes available. Large enrollment growth is not expected over the next few years. The district has to continue to look for way to ensure that revenue and expenses match.

18. Question - Does the school district still own Polliwog Park? What is the appraised value of the asset and how is that asset factored into our budget or planning? How much do we get from the city to lease the property? 

The district still owns the park and receives $1 per year from the city. The school district has a very positive relationship with the city. Police and fire show up immediately on school sites as needed. On January 26, a public meeting with the city will be held to discuss Polliwog Park and the increase in student parking on neighborhood streets due to Mira Costa’s on-site parking fee.

19. Could the Documentary Transfer Tax money collected by the city be given to the school district? 

The school board will check into this issue.

20. There was a report on CNN that states are not accessing federal funds that are available. Do you know anything about how or if California has accessed all it can from the federal government? 

The state has held all funds that should be going to the schools.

21. How will the special reserve be built up again? 

The district’s goal is to have 3% of its funds in reserve. The district will slowly start building the reserve back up over time.

22. What controls are being put in place now to prevent future overspending? 

The community will be encouraged to ask questions, and there will be much more scrutiny by the board. The budget will continue to be monitored closely.

23. I’ve heard rumors of full-time hours for kindergarten classes throughout Los Angeles. Would this cut down on the expense of several teachers at different times throughout the day? 

Many elementary schools begin full-day kindergarten classes after the holidays. The district has not looked into the issue from a cost-savings standpoint. In addition, offering full-time kindergarten classes is a facility issue since the AM and PM kindergartens currently use the same rooms.

24. When will CDC move back to Pennekamp? Where will it be?

This issue has not been addressed yet.

25. What have your past experiences proven to you about dealing with tough decisions like these? 

Gwen Gross pointed out that she has worked in school districts with similar problems before. She wants to pursue a course of action that will rebuild community trust. She also said that she hopes to be with the district until she retires. She wants MBUSD to achieve fiscal stability and be the type of district that continues to attract outstanding teachers.

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