CVESD Parent Budget Committee – Recommendations Lost

During last year’s budget cuts, and with so many of the teachers at my daughter’s school getting pink slips, I realized that I didn’t know much about the school district budget, policies or process ... then I heard about the Chula Vista Elementary School Districts (CVESD) Budget Advisory Committee (BAC).

BAC is a group made up of parent’s from each school that reviews and makes budget recommendations. Like I needed another meeting to attend, right? 

But since I’m always telling my family, friends and neighbors to get involved .... It was time to walk the talk. 

It was an interesting process to say the least. The group was great. Most had been members of the BAC for multiple years.  They had great ideas for budget reductions, even after being given a redunkulous list of options.  

Five meetings later, several liaison meetings with our School Site Councils, and on Mar1 we approved a recommended prioritized list of reductions for the Board’s consideration, including those that would have impacted about 60 teaching positions.

So what happened to our recommendations? Well ... 

In a recent news article it stated the district was sending over 300 pink slips to teachers.  A reduction of 60 teachers (via larger class sizes) was ranked sixth on a list of eight other options to consider by the BAC, so you can see how the discrepancy in numbers raised a red flag immediately.

Here is what I found:

• The BAC approved a recommendation for prioritized reductions at the meeting of Mar 1.

• The CVESD Board approved their personnel reduction plans at their meeting of Feb15. 

• At the Mar8 CVESD Board meeting the BAC is referenced in a budget agenda item - including some bullets that vaguely look like our budget recommendations - but none of the specific language we approved or a list of prioritized options. 

Why where parents asked to vote on priorities if the Board had already taken action? 

Frustrating, to say the least.  I’ll be asking and will keep you updated because this is one of the reasons why the public doesn’t get involved.  Too many times I hear, “why - it’s not like it will matter what I say.” 

Why? Because I don’t think this particular experience is the norm. There are many successful examples like the Nature Center and Norman Park Senior Center where public input made  difference. 

So while I wait for a response from CVESD, I don’t waiver from my stance that volunteer commissions are important and I encourage you to get involved. Just recently the City of Chula Vista’s Growth Management Commission reviewed the impact of our growing population to the school system ... bottom line - we need more schools!  

We also need more every-day citizens, who bring their knowledge, expertise and passion for the community, to give a few hours a month in order to bring fresh eyes and fresh perspective to public policy that can be hampered by the stagnation of bureaucracy and politics .... 

Contact your school to get involved or visit the City's website to apply for a volunteer commission!