Budget News – May 20, 2009

Last week, the budget committee of the Marquez Governing Board met to discuss a preliminary budget for the upcoming school year. The news, as you can imagine, is less than ideal. We are going to have to undergo some careful examination of what we want for our students in the upcoming school year.

The budget is comprised of two different sources – the block grant we receive from the State of California and the budget from the fundraising efforts of Friends of Marquez. Traditionally these two budgets are what pays for all of the programs here at Marquez. This year, the block grant is estimated to be $225,000 and the Friends of Marquez budget is $350,000. That gives us a total of $575,000 in which to operate our school. Last year we had a budget of $650,000. Simple mathematics shows us that we are in a deficit of approximately $75,000. There are additional factors to consider as well as discussed below.

Different scenarios were discussed at this preliminary budget meeting. If we remain with higher class sizes (24:1 in kinder – 3rd grade and over 39:1 in 4th and 5th), we would be able to continue with our art, physical education, music, STAR, ELA and science enrichment programs. In addition, we have funded teacher assistants and additional psychologist time that would likely continue. However if we are to reduce class size (20:1 in some grades and 25:1 in 4th /5th) the chances of maintaining these programs at the current level are dismal.

Below is a detailed list of the programs and personnel costs:

• Teacher assistants $135,000
• Art Enrichment $30,000
• Physical Education $34,000
• 4th grade class size reduction
• (Language arts, science) $32,000
• Kinder enrichment STAR $18,000
• Music Enrichment $ 8,400
• Technology maintenance $42,000
• Technology Liaison $30,000
• Landscape $15,000
• Copier maintenance $ 6,000
• Psychologist $26,000
• Teacher $85,000

There are new pressures placed upon us this coming school year, including our decision of whether or not to fund additional teachers to reduce class size. If we were to purchase Erin Abrams, Randy Hain, Alexys Buckner, Sherry Venn, and Akiko Arevalo $425,000 would be needed. We do have one stimulus package that will be coming to Marquez and that coupled with some savings in the block grant, we would be able to purchase one teacher and save one position, Erin Abrams, provided that the district rescinds the probationary 2 teacher layoff notices. Purchasing Akiko Arevalo and Sherry Venn would require the District to rescind probationary 1 teachers.

If we wanted to maintain a lower class size by purchasing all of our teachers and also keep all our programs, we would need to raise an additional $225,000 now. That’s an additional $375 for every student at Marquez. FOM has included a giving envelope in this packet for those of you who haven’t given or for those who want to give more to offset the deficits of next year. Please remember that FOM will begin the annual circle of giving fund raiser in September 09 where the original $350,000 budget estimate comes from.

The teachers and I will be talking about what the upcoming year will look like and I would greatly appreciate input from you as well. Contained in this packet is a survey that I would like you to complete and get back to school before Thursday, May 14th. The decisions that we will have to make are enormous and I want us to have input from everyone so that decisions can be comprehensive. Obviously I can’t please everyone, but I need and want to know what everyone is thinking.

Friends of Marquez and the PTA are going to conduct an evening meeting on Wednesday, May 20. Here there will be a chance for you to get involved to make decisions and to participate in a dialogue regarding the upcoming school year. I urge you to participate in this meeting.

We have much to consider at this time of year. We have difficult decisions to make. I encourage you to come to the Governing Board meetings as well and take an interest in these decisions. The next Board meeting is Thursday, May 21 at 2:00 pm.

Above all, I want to thank the community for supporting Marquez and public education. I take my job seriously and will do my best to lead us through the difficult decisions that lie ahead in the next few weeks and through the next school year as well.

As always, you can reach me at phollis@lausd.net