Schools
MDUSD Superintendent Warns That State Could Take Over District
The district adopted its 2010-11 budget but left some issues, including the number of layoffs still to come, unresolved.
In a letter sent to parents this week, Mt. Diablo Unified School District Superintendent Steven Lawrence warned that the state could take over the district if it fails to come up with a balanced budget for 2010-11 and beyond.
The school board approved a 2010-2011 budget Tuesday but without resolving certain issues, including the number of layoffs the district may face and furlough days and benefits that have not been negotiated yet with unions. The district is considering laying off 19 maintenance and operations workers and reducing hours for secretaries and other part-time employees. Members of unions representing maintenance workers, bus drivers and other non-credentialed employees say they want to return to the bargaining table to negotiate these cuts.
Here is Lawrence's letter:
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Dear Parents and Community of the Mt. Diablo Unified School District:
In a time of unprecedented budget deficits throughout the state, the Mt. Diablo Unified School District ("District") like many others is forced into the untenable position of making drastic reductions in staff and services. Ongoing state budget cuts have severely impacted the amount of money we receive from the State of California to educate the children of our community. As a result of decreasing revenues and declining student enrollment, the District's annual operating deficit is projected to average nearly $13 million per year for the next three years, on top of the approximately $24.8 million deficit for what remains of the 2009/10 fiscal year.
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Although we have already responded to the budget deficit by implementing staff reductions and non-personnel cuts totaling $15.88 million, we regretfully find ourselves in the position of having to ask for additional concessions from all of our bargaining units in order to present a balanced budget to the County Office of Education by June 30.
In the event we are not able to present a balanced budget in 2010/11 and beyond, there is a very real possibility that the state could take over our District. If there is a takeover and a State Administrator is appointed, your elected representatives (the Board of Education) and by extension you, will have no say in running the District. That is an outcome I know that none of us want to see come to pass.
I am certain that you have questions about the District's finances and what is happening at the bargaining table. Therefore, I am enclosing answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about the budget and the status of bargaining.
I am confident that with continued cooperation we will see our way through this current fiscal storm. Thank you for your patience. Have a good summer.
Sincerely,
Steven Lawrence
Superintendent
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