Welcome to the 2nd School-Force Education Foundation eNewsletter.  The goals of these newsletters are to provide information about what is happening with the foundation, and to create a two-way channel to communicate with the school community. Additionally, they will highlight some of the great things that happen in our district about which many people may not be aware.   The eNewsletter is part of an ongoing communication effort by School-Force volunteers.  It will be sent out every month or two as needed. You can see archived versions on the S-F website.

 

The foundation is still in the process of updating the email list for the new school year, so please forward this eNews to your spouse, friends, neighbors and anyone else you know who might appreciate it.  You can email mailto:communications@schoolforce.orgif you wish to add or update an email address.  It may have also been sent to people who do not have an ongoing relationship with the Belmont-Redwood Shores School District, so please feel free to unsubscribe below. 

 

 

 

President's Update:

 

 

This year's School-Force fundraising goal is “Beyond $1,000,000”.  You may scratch your head and ask, "Why add the word 'Beyond'?  Why not just make it a $1,000,000?  The reality is that next year our district will face huge financial challenges; some of which we do not know of even today.  The financial picture changes on a daily basis. Therefore, there is no magic number that, when reached, will make us safe for another year.  Given the information we have today, it is likely that the district budget next year will be short by significantly more than just $1,000,000.  It is critical for us to brace for the worst and hope for the best. 

As shortfalls in educational funding continue to grow, the participation of every family in our school district becomes more critical.  Every contribution makes a difference in the lives and skills of our children. We have chosen to send our children to award winning schools and to be part of a community that values education. By pushing beyond $1,000,000, this committed community will pull together for our kids, since we want and expect more for them and their future.  Every family’s donation counts as it re-affirms the importance of educating a child, your child.  

 

Ardythe Andrews

President, School-Force Education Foundation & Parent, Central Elementary School

 

 

 

 

There were many dire predictions about what the budget crisis would do to the quality of education here in Belmont-Redwood Shores.  Yet, this year I’m not seeing huge changes at our schools.  What happened?  

First, the state provided unusual financial flexibility to all districts that will be unique to this school year (09-10).  Generally the State and Federal governments provide money in two ways, restricted and unrestricted.  If the money is unrestricted it can be spent on general expenses; things like salaries, electricity, heat, etc.  Restricted “categorical funds” can only be used for specific items such as textbooks, class size reduction, or building improvement funds.  This year the state is allowing a “sweeping” of select restricted funds allowing these funds to be used in unrestricted ways.  This flexibility helped pay for things such as classroom growth in the district which is at unprecedented levels.  (See We're Growing! article below.)  Without this increased flexibility we would have seen much more dramatic changes at our schools this year.  But, much of these “flexible” funds are one-time only.  We won’t be able to use them again.

Second, cuts were made to very important programs here in Belmont-Redwood Shores.  However, the school board and district staff made every attempt to minimize the direct impact to our kids. Many programs have been scaled back.  For example, libraries are not open every day at elementary schools.  There are shorter visit times for classes partially because the library has fewer staffed hours and more students this year.

Also, instrumental music is being taught in groups of 5-6 students rather than more individualized instruction of 1-2 students at a time.  There are simply not funds to keep the small instructional model due to increased student numbers in 4th and 5th grade.  The music teachers have worked hard to creatively restructure their lesson plans so they can reach more students without increasing their hours.   

Financial belts are tighter at every school site.  Principals greatly reduced School Library Improvement Program (SLIP) funds, so monies spent on consumables (workbooks – the tear out sheets our kids use for homework every night) and site unique programs such as art or spelling were dramatically cut back. Other on-going reductions include less custodial hours at every site.

Additionally, Ralston Middle School lost its Technology Assistant position, a role that supported both staff and students with their integration of technology in the classroom.

Imagine the additional cuts that might have been made without the increased flexibility or the incredible support from our community in terms of donations and passing the Measure U parcel tax.  Many districts throughout the state have increased class sizes in K-3 but our district was able to maintain small class sizes for this year.  Other districts have also adopted employee furlough days to cut costs, again our District has not had to implement this so far.

However, the district is now at the point where additional cuts will have a more visible impact.  

 

 

Still confused? Have questions? Want to learn more?  Please attend one of the BRSSD’s School Funding Forums Oct 6th or Oct 8th.  

 

Many thanks to Mrs. Nellie Hungerford, BRSSD Asst. Superintendent of Business Services, for reviewing this article.

 

If you have a question for the foundation, please feel free to email Ardythe Andrews.

 

• The Oracle Main Stage will host a wide range of professional musicians. Steel drums, rock, R&B, pop, folk, and jazz performers ensure something for everyone!
• Over at the Wells Fargo Community Stage you can see our own local talented youth. Bands, orchestras, and choirs from around the Peninsula, including Ralston Middle School and Carlmont High School, will amaze you.
• Kids will be inspired at the See's Candies Children's Stage, which features the Belmont-Redwood Shores 4th grade Recorder Band, Carlmont High School Drum Line, and fun children’s performers.

 

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1. Dr. James Catterall, UCLA, Fall 1997.
2. Getting Ready for College Early: A Handbook for Parents of Students in the Middle and Junior High School Years, U.S. Department of Education, 1997
3. Michael Greene, Recording Academy President and CEO at the 42nd Annual Grammy Awards, February 2000

Read more on this subject in the San Francisco Chronicle: Why California Must Fund Music Education

 

 

 

In October of 2007, the Belmont Redwood Shores School District served a total of 2616 K-8 students. In 2007, that number had grown to 2749, and in August of this year the number was 2936 students:  a rise of 320 students (almost 12%) in just two years.   At most school districts in California, this would a positive turn of events, since each new student brings them addition money from the state. However, in the BRSSD, additional enrollment is actually a cause for concern, since no significant additional funding is received with the growth.  This year, the district needed to add 10 new teachers due to the increased enrollment.  Including salary and benefits, that is approximately $700,000 of new personnel costs without additional revenues. 

This situation arises because the BRSSD is a so-called “Basic Aid District”.   Our school district, along with a small minority of other California districts, receives more property tax revenue than the state would provide on a per pupil basis.  So all of the district  general funding comes straight from the local property taxes, rather than being supplemented by the state.  Most of the time being a Basic Aid District is a huge benefit, because the district gets to keep additional property taxes over the amount that the state would otherwise give us.  However, with additional students, there may not be a corresponding rise in property taxes, so on a per pupil basis it can be a net loss. 

The majority of school districts in California are “Revenue Limit” districts.  They receive money from the state on a per pupil basis, based on a complex formula called a revenue limit.   Their property tax revenue totals less than the necessary amount to meet the revenue limit amount and so the state makes up the rest.  With increases in enrollment, the state increases the funding so the revenue limit continues to be met.  For a more detailed explanation (with graphics) please visit http://www.edsource.org/iss_fin_sys_revlimits.html.

Next you might ask, “If Basic Aid Districts don’t receive additional state money, how does the current state budget crisis affect them?”  In years such as these, the state asks the Basic Aid Districts to pay their “Fair Share” of money back to the state so they too feel the budget pain.  For 2009-10 the BRSSD Fair Share amount is approximately $700,000 and next year it is anticipated to be just under $1 million.    So this school year, the $700,000 for increased enrollment cost and the 09-10 Fair Share payment of $700,000 leaves the district down $1.4 million.  When additional payroll costs are added in (due to step and column increases and increases in health benefit costs) the costs rise by another $300,000, for a total of $1.7 million.   Property taxes rose only 1.46% for additional revenues of only $282,000.  (In an average year, property taxes revenues rise by 5%.)  Therefore, costs outpaced revenues by over $1.4 million.    So as you can see, the district’s Basic Aid status does not exempt it from feeling significant budget pressure and indeed, the increased enrollment is an ongoing challenge.

Still confused? Have questions? Want to learn more?  Please attend one of the BRSSD’s School Funding Forums Oct 6th or Oct 8th.  

EdSource is also an excellent online source of general information.  It is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization whose mission is to clarify complex education issues and to promote thoughtful policy decisions about California public school improvement. It recently released a free downloadable publication entitled Local Revenues for Schools: Limits and Options in California.

 

Many thanks to Mrs. Nellie Hungerford, BRSSD Asst. Superintendent of Business Services, for reviewing this article.

 

 

 

 

 

The School-Force Endowment fund balance is currently $30,000+ and growing.  Thanks to all your support of the Endowment!

For those of you who are hearing about the Endowment for the first time or have questions about what it is, please read on...

 

What is an Endowment?

The School-Force Endowment is an investment fund where the principle balance from donations is allowed to grow each year and only a portion of the interest/capital gains is used to fund annual operating budgets.

The School-Force Endowment works together with our annual giving campaigns to provide long-term funding and financial security for the educational programs for children in the Belmont-Redwood Shores public school district.

The Endowment is a non-profit fund where all donations are tax deductible.

Why Create an Endowment?

With the current economic outlook, growing education needs, and uncertain funding from state and federal sources, we must finds ways to  smooth out our school district funding so we can give more consistent, long-term, and stable financial commitments.

As it grows, the Endowment Fund will provide this consistent source of funding that we can depend on each year.  This will allow us to do better long-term planning with the District and fund the teachers and enrichment programs that are so important to the children of our community.

How the Endowment Funds are Invested

The Endowment Funds are invested in a diversified portfolio of mutual funds and money market accounts.  Our primary investment goal is capital preservation and growth.

In 2009, the School-Force Board approved the seeding of the Endowment from the Annual Fund (4% per year) for the first five years or until it reaches $500,000 in funds.  This has been done to show potential donors our commitment to the Endowment and to jump start our investing capabilities.

How the Endowment Funds will be Used

Each year, the Endowment will strive to transfer about 4% of the total Endowment Fund to the Annual Giving Campaign.  In a typical year, the Annual Giving Funds are used to help to pay for specific needs of the district including, but not limited to, programs and teachers for reading, technology, music, libraries, and science.

If you would like to review the detailed Endowment policies, please follow this link: S-F Endowment Policies.
Endowment Goals

We have a ten-year vision to grow the Endowment to over $10 Million.

Every dollar raised is important – and puts us closer to our goal.

How to Donate or Contact the Endowment Team to Learn More

Endowment donations may be received in cash, check, credit/debit card, or marketable securities.  For any other gifts, our Investment Committee will work with you to determine whether or not the Endowment can accept the type of gift (examples include: real estate, personal property, closely help securities, time share units, life insurance, etc.).

Contact Us to Learn More:

If you would like to have someone from the Endowment team meet with you to discuss the options, please call us at 650-242-4270 ext 2 or send us an email at endowment@schoolforce.org This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Donate Now:

At the current time, donations to the School-Force Endowment Fund are accepted only through the mail or in person.

We should all have pride in our Belmont-Redwood Shores Community.

Thank you so much for your support!