Newark, California Public Schools Expect to Lose More Money After Budget Talks Fail

No financial relief from Sacramento.

That’s the new reality that Newark school board members are dealing with as they move forward with budget planning and other measures to ensure Newark schools continue operating.

During Tuesday night’s board meeting, Chief Business Official Steven Shields said the (NUSD) was now looking at a financial plan that does not count on a voter-approved tax extension since it's become obvious that Gov. Jerry Brown will not be able to push his proposed ballot measure into a June special election.

“Public education is really losing out,” Shields said during a school board workshop on the impact of the governor’s proposed budget.

Last week, Brown explained his reasons for halting budget negotiations with Republican lawmakers in a YouTube video.

“There are issues that are impossible to resolve at this time,” Brown said in the video. “One of the most glaring is a billion dollar tax break to giant companies that keep jobs out of California. I don’t think we should take money from school children, public safety and our universities, and give it to companies that don’t want to create jobs in California.”

California Republican Party Chairman Tom Del Beccaro responded online to Brown’s decision to end budget negotiations.

"The list that Republican leadership gave the governor, after weeks of discussion, included a number of proposals to which Brown has publicly agreed—but obviously angered the public unions that control our state government,” Del Beccaro said in an online statement. “Not coincidentally, Brown, unlike Democrat Andrew Cuomo of New York, is refusing to reduce the state bureaucracy—demonstrating that he values bureaucracy more than essential services.”

Shields said school districts around California needed to have at least two budget plans because of the uncertain nature of the budget negotiations. After January’s School Services budget workshop in Sacramento, school leaders knew they could count on flat funding for public schools if Brown’s tax extension gained voter approval. That added up to a financial loss of about $19 per student.

Since the tax extension measure did not make it onto a June ballot, school leaders are now looking at a loss of about $330 per student. According to the numbers presented during Tuesday night’s meeting, NUSD is looking at an estimated reduction in revenue limit of about $2.2 million.

School board members also took up two new business items to address staffing needs. Board members voted 3-1 to approve a "Declaration of Need for Fully Qualified Educators."

Human Resources Director Timothy Erwin explained this declaration was valid for one academic year and it’s needed for potential emergency permits submitted to the California Commission on Teaching Credentialing.

“This is in case we have a situation in which we need to hire a teacher or replace a teacher to a subject area that they currently do not hold a credential,” Erwin said. “This allows us to issue them an emergency permit for one year, when they can obtain that credential.”

School Board President Charlie Mensinger voted against the measure.

“This concerns me. For example, you have a background in chemistry and then you want to take that person and have them teach biology,” Mensinger said. “They’re two different disciplines. Most years, this isn’t an issue, but this year, as we’re whittling down, this does concern me.”

School board member Nancy Thomas was absent from the meeting.

The school board also voted to approve a 30-day CBEST waiver for substitute teachers. The measure is for a situation in which the school district needs to recruit substitute teachers who have not had the chance to take and pass the California Basic Education Skills Test.

Also at Tuesday night’s school board meeting:

• Student Leadership Club members talked about spirit days for their classmates and the “Passport to Success” program for their parents. They also announced their new school play, Wonderland, will go on stage starting May 20.
• : Students announced they raised $500 for their school with their Blackout Dance. Students are also organizing the promotion dance for eighth graders. Students are also raising funds during a car wash at the on April 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Newark Junior High teachers will face off against eighth graders in a basketball game on May 9.
• : Students kicked off their new Green Campus Program on St. Patrick’s Day. Students say they are still accepting donations for their April 16 garage sale.
• School Board Member Sean Tillman announced Newark Memorial won a Comedy Improv match against Logan High School during the school’s Spring Fling event April 1. Tillman announced Newark Memorial drama students will present Dirty Work in High Places starting April 8.   

You may review Tuesday night's meeting agenda here.