Why not delay these levies until the economy improves?
Both these levies are due to expire, one in 2010 and the other in 2011. The Educational Programs and Operations Levy will expire in 2010. Its replacement is for 2011-2014 and represents about 21% of Bellevue School District’s annual operating budget. Without this levy, the district may have to lay off at least 100 teachers in the next two years, because the levy provides more teachers than the state funds. By providing funding for more teachers the levy helps keep class sizes smaller.
This levy also helps fund textbooks, extracurricular activities, and core courses, plus it gives students strong elective choices in middle and high school in the arts, technology, business, vocational, science and math, or music. The levy helps fund gifted and special education programs, and general operating expenses such as utilities and fuel.
The Technology/Capital Projects levy expires in 2011. This levy would fund periodic upgrades of computers and other classroom technology, large maintenance projects, for example, roof repairs or replacements, and sports field upgrades or replacements. It would continue to support curriculum development for the curriculum website.
Have you done any cost cutting measures that would keep you from having to ask voters for more money?
Yes. We cut $10 million in the past two years. This was accomplished through the elimination of 85 full or part-time positions, including administrators, teachers, and classified staff. We are working to conserve energy and save on utilities costs. The savings from this, however, are relatively small in the overall budget. We expect to make more budget reductions for the coming school year.
Why don’t you cut administrators?
The number of certificated administrators we employ (including principals) is relatively small and certainly on par with other school districts. In addition, we have administrators who oversee areas such as capital construction, IT, school breakfast and lunch programs, Human Resources, accounting and payroll. It’s hard to see how we could keep the system going without anyone to hire staff, negotiate with employee unions, feed children, pay bills, schedule the bus routes, train and supervise the drivers, and manage all our school construction and maintenance projects.
We have 2,049 employees, 1,128 of whom are teachers, counselors, librarians, speech and hearing specialists, psychologists, and occupational therapists. The rest are classified staff and administrators. We do not have layers of administrators. The Superintendent supervises all the principals. Under her are four executive directors, each of whom are each assigned to some of our 28 schools to support as well as to manage a particular program, e.g., special education, gifted programs, state and federal programs for low income students and homeless children, Career-Tech programs, and curriculum. We have three assistant superintendents, who also support schools and in addition handle curriculum and instruction; finance, purchasing, payroll, IT and facilities; Human Resources, legal affairs, and labor relations with our 11 different bargaining groups.
What can you tell us to demonstrate that students are learning?
· In the December 10 US News and World Report’s Best High Schools List (based on their examination of 21,786 public high schools); International School, Newport and Bellevue High ranked in the top 100, with International School in the 10th spot, Newport in the 72nd spot and Bellevue High in the 78th spot. These were called Gold Medal schools. Interlake High School received a Silver Medal. The district had 3 of the 4 schools in Washington State that were awarded Gold Medals.
More information can be found at:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2009/12/09/virginia-high-school-is-best-in-the-nation.html
· Our high schools have been on Newsweek’s top US schools lists since 2003.
· 37 National Merit Semifinalists and 64 Commended Students in 2009, for a total of 101. Ten years ago our total number of National Merit Semifinalists and Commended students was 40.
· This year, Newport High was named one of three model schools, out of a pool of 75, for a significant national study, because it is a school that has “figured out how to provide all students with a rigorous and relevant education that prepares them for postsecondary education, work and life.”
I voted in a school election two years ago. What was that for?
In 2008 a bond measure was on the ballot. Bonds can only be legally used for school construction. With voter-approved bond funds we have rebuilt eight elementary schools and two high schools and are in the process of rebuilding a ninth elementary school. Bellevue HS, Tyee MS, and Spiritridge Elementary School construction will begin in June 2010. New schools have opened on-time and total costs have come in within the overall budget projected for these projects.
Why not delay these levies until the economy improves?
Both these levies are due to expire, one in 2010 and the other in 2011. The Educational Programs and Operations Levy will expire in 2010. Its replacement is for 2011-2014 and represents about 21% of Bellevue School District’s annual operating budget. Without this levy, the district may have to lay off at least 100 teachers in the next two years, because the levy provides more teachers than the state funds. By providing funding for more teachers the levy helps keep class sizes smaller.
This levy also helps fund textbooks, extracurricular activities, and core courses, plus it gives students strong elective choices in middle and high school in the arts, technology, business, vocational, science and math, or music. The levy helps fund gifted and special education programs, and general operating expenses such as utilities and fuel.
The Technology/Capital Projects levy expires in 2011. This levy would fund periodic upgrades of computers and other classroom technology, large maintenance projects, for example, roof repairs or replacements, and sports field upgrades or replacements. It would continue to support curriculum development for the curriculum website.
Have you done any cost cutting measures that would keep you from having to ask voters for more money?
Yes. We cut $10 million in the past two years. This was accomplished through the elimination of 85 full or part-time positions, including administrators, teachers, and classified staff. We are working to conserve energy and save on utilities costs. The savings from this, however, are relatively small in the overall budget. We expect to make more budget reductions for the coming school year.
Why don’t you cut administrators?
The number of certificated administrators we employ (including principals) is relatively small and certainly on par with other school districts. In addition, we have administrators who oversee areas such as capital construction, IT, school breakfast and lunch programs, Human Resources, accounting and payroll. It’s hard to see how we could keep the system going without anyone to hire staff, negotiate with employee unions, feed children, pay bills, schedule the bus routes, train and supervise the drivers, and manage all our school construction and maintenance projects.
We have 2,049 employees, 1,128 of whom are teachers, counselors, librarians, speech and hearing specialists, psychologists, and occupational therapists. The rest are classified staff and administrators. We do not have layers of administrators. The Superintendent supervises all the principals. Under her are four executive directors, each of whom are each assigned to some of our 28 schools to support as well as to manage a particular program, e.g., special education, gifted programs, state and federal programs for low income students and homeless children, Career-Tech programs, and curriculum. We have three assistant superintendents, who also support schools and in addition handle curriculum and instruction; finance, purchasing, payroll, IT and facilities; Human Resources, legal affairs, and labor relations with our 11 different bargaining groups.
What can you tell us to demonstrate that students are learning?
· In the December 10 US News and World Report’s Best High Schools List (based on their examination of 21,786 public high schools); International School, Newport and Bellevue High ranked in the top 100, with International School in the 10th spot, Newport in the 72nd spot and Bellevue High in the 78th spot. These were called Gold Medal schools. Interlake High School received a Silver Medal. The district had 3 of the 4 schools in Washington State that were awarded Gold Medals.
More information can be found at:
http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/high-schools/2009/12/09/virginia-high-school-is-best-in-the-nation.html
· Our high schools have been on Newsweek’s top US schools lists since 2003.
· 37 National Merit Semifinalists and 64 Commended Students in 2009, for a total of 101. Ten years ago our total number of National Merit Semifinalists and Commended students was 40.
· This year, Newport High was named one of three model schools, out of a pool of 75, for a significant national study, because it is a school that has “figured out how to provide all students with a rigorous and relevant education that prepares them for postsecondary education, work and life.”
I voted in a school election two years ago. What was that for?
In 2008 a bond measure was on the ballot. Bonds can only be legally used for school construction. With voter-approved bond funds we have rebuilt eight elementary schools and two high schools and are in the process of rebuilding a ninth elementary school. Bellevue HS, Tyee MS, and Spiritridge Elementary School construction will begin in June 2010. New schools have opened on-time and total costs have come in within the overall budget projected for these projects.