PSD Superintendent Wendy Tukloff's March Update: Preparing Students for an Evolving World

We hope that families and employees have had a wonderful ski-week break and are energized to continue on as we complete our second and move into our third trimester. During your break the District Office continued the work in preparing to support our efforts in moving forward and going deeper in educating our students. 

As shared at the Annual Joint Meeting held on February 7, 2011, the fiscal crisis facing the State of California has taken its toll on K-12 education. Without the tax extension measure on the June Ballot and its passage, the district along with all other revenue limit districts stand to have a loss of $350 per student average daily attendance (ADA), with current information from the Legislative Analyst Office (LAO) indicating a potential loss of approximately $825 per student ADA.  Additionally, the district was informed that although the Schneider family will continue their support of the music program, the Rob Schneider Music Foundation (RSMF) will no longer be able to support Pacifica School District as they have over the last 15 years by providing two music teachers for the district. Thus, we take on the challenge of leveraging funding sources and collaborating with our labor partners and stakeholders to develop a plan to continue our level of excellence. 

First and foremost I would like to take this opportunity to share our sincere appreciation to the Schneider Family. Without their vision of music in the schools, Pacifica students would not have had the opportunity to experience such an important part of education, visual and performing arts. Additionally, we have received wonderful input during our scheduled meetings with our band families and community. Big ideas that surfaced include:  1) Importance of music in Pacifica School District; 2) The music program in Pacifica School District provides a strong foundation for the Jefferson Union High School District programs; 3) Willingness of the Pacifica families to assist with developing long term solutions for supporting the music program. 

During our March 2, 2011 Board of Education meeting, several items were approved by the Trustees and shared by District staff. The Trustees approved the Public Disclosure of Collective Bargaining Agreements, the certification of the Second Interim Financial Report and the ratified agreement with the Laguna Salada Employee Association that among other concessions supports keeping the current class sizes.  Based on these actions, and due to the leveraging of funding sources:  Parcel tax; Categorical; Foundation (Pacifica Education Foundation); Grants (Silicon Valley Mathematics Initiative); and one-time federal funds; our proposed staffing projections does not currently necessitate a lay off process and includes the two music teachers. 

We are not out of the woods yet. We will be watchful regarding the measure for tax extensions to be placed on the June ballot and the outcome of the election.  We will keep you informed of the progress and hope that you will all engage in keeping education for our children a priority!

As a reminder of the affects of the fiscal issues facing public education, March 15, 2011 is our third of five furlough days.  All employees of Pacifica School District will be taking that as a non-pay day and a loss of an instructional day for our students.

Sincerely,

Wendy S. Tukloff, Ed.D.