Comments on: Fiscal doves at Del Mar’s bargaining table

By: DAW

DAW — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:35:34 +0000

District by the teacher contract has to provide prep time for some teachers which turns into ESC teachers – they have to fund a set amount which, recently, has been about 1/2 of the program. That could very well change if the teacher contract changes. There seems to be a feeling among many in the District that the budget crisis isn't really bad and they are sitting pretty good – not quit sure where this comes from as I read it as being very bad – especially by 13/14. Yeah I suspect higher class sizes are definitely coming. The fat has already been trimmed from most non-teaching positions, the only thing left is to reduce the teachers which equals higher class sizes.

By: guest

guest — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:32:38 +0000

I wish it was so simple as to say "i'll keep my money." Trust me I feel the same, however in the end you only end up hurting the kids. It is my fear our entire ESC program will be gone by 13/14 unless there is a big change in Sacramento. I think the district pays roughly half of the cost to cover prep time. Either that will go or we will have larger class sizes. I just don't see a way around it.

I do think Peabody is being too quick to exhaust the reserves though. He can retire when the reserves are gone and we are left to pick up the pieces.

By: DXM

DXM — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:08:55 +0000

"We have given generously to DMESF in years past. However, this latest example of questionable decision-making has caused us to re-consider our priorities. There are plenty of other worthy causes"

While I understand the anger, the fact remains that your child is the most worthy cause there is. If we stop giving to the DMSEF, then our kids will stop getting music, art, science, and tech. PE will remain in some form due to state requirements.

Can you say rock and a hard place?

By: DXM

DXM — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:06:55 +0000

"As we know, several of the financial doves were involved in making that recommendation, as well as many parents whose sole goal seemed to not to be the overall preservation of dollars for education but rather the preservation of Del Mar Hills school"

You are so right about that. What is the population of that school this year? 235 students? Why are we paying to have it staffed with a principal and admin staff when those kids could be absorbed elsewhere?

By: DAW

DAW — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 07:59:22 +0000

Well some spending of the reserves made sense – it was about 15 million at its peak in a district with an annual budget of 42 mil – that's over 30% and way too high for any reserves. County law requires 3% – 1% currently but in general 3%. That seems too little but if they were spending the money on non-recurring or one-time funding then it makes sense to bring the reserves down to say 10%. Of course right now we're in the situation where the reserves will be exhausted by 13/14 and large changes, most likely huge layoffs, will have to be enacted next year in the 2012/13 school year to make 2013/14 livable.

By: guest

guest — Thu, 08 Sep 2011 10:56:23 +0000

Do you know what our budget would look like if we are out of reserves and still pay fair share? Would we be in the same boat as San Diego schools or still more $ per student than SDUSD?

By: DAW

DAW — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:15:17 +0000

It can't by law go below that number. what more than likely would happen is the State/ County would reduce the reserve reqt's. Stay tuned.

By: DAW

DAW — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:14:39 +0000

Only one person showed up at the Board mtg and that one person was the ONLY person to write a formal concern to the Board. It does NO good to sit back and complain on these blogs – if you want to make a difference get involved. Get off your hind quarters and show up at meetings or at least, at the absolute minimum, let the Board know your concerns. Posting here alone does NO good!!!

By: DAW

DAW — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 20:13:18 +0000

You really know nothing. Please refrain from making any comments into what, otherwise, would be an intelligent conversation.

By: Guest

Guest — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 14:40:55 +0000

As a parent of a 4th grader in the DMUSD, I want to echo thanks for this story. To me, the contrast in how other school districts spent the same funding is the most interesting and compelling point to the story. It makes the teacher retention argument seem all the more tone deaf and insulting to one's intelligence. ____It’s really a shame because we think the principal at our daughter's school has her head and heart in the right place and does a fantastic, tireless job. I’m sure that (privately at least) she would have advocated for using the money to save teaching jobs, enrichment programs, etc. ____We have given generously to DMESF in years past. However, this latest example of questionable decision-making has caused us to re-consider our priorities. There are plenty of other worthy causes, and we will be re-allocating charitable contributions away from DMESF until the district can can demonstrate it is ready to behave in a way that is responsive the needs of its most important stakeholders, who are the kids.