The Budget, Survey Results and COVID-19

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Chart from CACF Presentation

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​​The Monday, June 1, 2020 LASD Board meeting will start open session at 7:00pm and it will be held using the Zoom webinar platform.  To register in advance for the meeting, click on this link.  The entire agenda and supporting documentation for this week's meeting can be found here.

First, Jeff Baier will continue discussion of the planning process involved in Re-Opening for the 2020-21 School Year.  He will go over the factors they are considering in their vetting processes and will present the results of the survey(s) that went out to the parent, student and teacher communities (our stakeholders).  This is a discussion item and there is no presentation included as of yet because the survey closes today (Friday) and staff needs time to get data into a presentable format. Staff and the Board will pick a path forward toward re-opening by the end of June.  We will pick the best in breed for our District commensurate with our constraints.  However, please know that those plans may change based on the ever changing COVID-19 guidelines. Either way, school, in whatever form, will resume on August 19, 2020. 

Next the Citizens Advisory Committee for Finance (CACF) will present their Annual Report.  This is a discussion item and their presentation can be found under agenda item H.2.  The CACF recommends the District:

1. create a Capital Maintenance account funded with Measure N proceeds
   to help preserve $1 million per year in the general fund through the recession,
2. freeze rehiring and prepare to freeze all pay (estimated to save: $350K per year), and
3. freeze discretionary spending

Last, but definitely not least, Randy Kenyon will present the draft 2020-21 District Budget.  This is a discussion item and his presentation and draft budget can be found under agenda item H.3.  Despite the fact that there are many uncertainties facing the District in the face of COVID-19 and the ensuing recession, we must pass a budget before June 30th.  However, we can revisit the budget and make revisions when we have more information and certainties in late summer, early fall.  Here are some of the educated assumptions the budget relies on:

1. 5% growth of property tax revenue for 20/21 year (the lions share of our budget is paid for by property tax revenues), with no growth projected for 21/22 or 22/23
2. at least a 10% reduction in any funds we would normally get from the state
3. expect a reduction in the LAEF gift for the 20/21 school year
4. expect decreased ability of PTAs to support their individual schools.  
5. same program as current year carried forward to 20/21 school year
6. increased/different expenses for operating in the face of COVID-19.  

 
Please come to the meeting on Monday to learn more!  

Please note, this is just the highlights of what is on the agenda for the 6/1/20 meeting.  You can inform yourself about the rest of the agenda at the link provided above.  As always, feel free to email me with any questions.