With input from the community, management, and employee group leadership, the recommendations of the Spending Reductions Task Force list was revised and expanded. Each reduction has been placed in one of three tiers (Tiers A, B, and C) to assist in evaluating each item. Tier A constitutes the superintendent’s recommendation and provides two alternate choices, one that includes the closing of Longfellow Elementary School, and one that does not.
Tier A1 reflects approximately $510K in on-going savings with spending reductions that impact the district as a whole. Tier A1 is essentially the list that was shared at the February 2nd community meeting, with modifications based on community input concerning athletics, custodial services, and counseling services.
Tier A1 Impact: Counseling services, textbook access, and career tech services to all High School students (AHS, EHS, and IHS) are reduced. 61 students at Paden Elementary School are dispersed to other middle schools where they will receive the same level of service. Health clerk services to the smallest elementary schools will be reduced. Tier A1 spreads the cuts across our District, and in some cases, realigns services with enrollment. However, some District services to students are reduced.
Tier A2 reflects approximately $560K in on-going savings including the closure of Longfellow Elementary School. I prepared Tier A2 as an option in response to multiple communications from community members and employees. The resounding request is that we revisit the closing of an additional school instead of implementing across the board cuts that impact all AUSD students. The concern for the integrity of our District operations is viewed as jeopardized under A1, while A2 supports the continuation of our core District services.
Tier A2 Impact: 166 students at Longfellow Elementary School will be dispersed. 61 students at Paden Elementary School are dispersed to other middle schools where they will receive the same level of service. Career tech services to 180 students at IHS are reduced. Textbook access to AHS and EHS students is reduced.
| Item # |
Suggestion |
Response |
| 1 |
Reduce/Eliminate Middle School Resources Officers |
SROs are paid by the City of Alameda, not by AUSD; thus reducing SROs will not generate savings. |
2 |
Combine Administrator Duties |
Suggestion was reviewed as a means to improve efficiency of AUSD operations; savings cannot be estimated until positions are identified for elimination and/or combination of duties. |
3 |
Reduce Education Services Clerical Staff |
The Spending Reductions Task Force reviewed this item. Given reductions approved last year, additional reductions in clerical staff would require reassignment of work to sites. |
4 |
Close Longfellow Elementary School |
Item has been added to Superintendent's tiered list of spending reductions. |
5 |
Increase Special Education Staffing/ Restructure Special Education |
An increase in staffing will not generate savings in the upcoming fiscal year. The Spending Reductions Task Force reviewed restructuring Special Education. Special Education programs and operations will be reviewed by the state's Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) as per our request by June 2006. We will analyze findings, and plan recommendations at that time to address the encroachment. |
6 |
Eliminate All Athletic Stipends Except Head Coaches |
Partial implementation of this item has been added to Superintendent's tiered list of spending recommendations. |
7 |
Charge Fee for Use of School Facilities |
The Spending Reductions Task Force reviewed this item. The fee schedule was updated in January 2004, and fees are currently maximized and assessed on all eligible users; most users (i.e., school-related groups, community-sponsored youth groups, community-sponsored adult groups) can only be charged for custodial costs per the Civic Center Act. |
8 |
Offer Golden Handshake |
AUSD offered an early retirement incentive program in FY04/05; incentive plans must be spaced out in order to generate savings (i.e., the program must serve as an incentive for retirement as opposed to a bonus for retirement). A recent review of the age of our members does not suggest that the savings would exceed the costs of offering this program at this time. |
9 |
Reduce/Eliminate Professional Services |
Suggestion was reviewed; no significant savings are expected as services are legally required and/or essential to District operations. |
9a |
Health Benefits
|
The health benefits service provider coordinates open enrollment, acts as a liaison between employees and carriers, and provides updates on legislation and compliance procedures; also, seeks competitive alternatives to current benefits providers and new lines of coverage, as directed. These services cannot be absorbed by staff. |
9b |
Mandated Costs |
The mandated costs service provider compiles data on mandated services, prepares claims, and provides training. The total cost for the service provider is reimbursed through the claim process (i.e., 100% of the expenditure for the mandated costs service provider is reimbursed). AUSD is required to provide certain services (regardless of the level of reimbursement from the state), and will continue to submit reimbursement claims for those services. |
9c |
Federal Survey |
The federal survey service provider compiles the data necessary to apply for Impact Aid funds; the application is completed internally. The services of the coordinator cannot be absorbed by staff. |
10 |
Charge Fee for Excessive Absences |
Excessive absences are addressed under the requirements stipulated by truancy law; fines are issued by courts of law, not AUSD. However, AUSD does collect donations from parents who pull their children out of school; these donations are strictly voluntary and cannot be projected as ongoing revenue. |
11 |
Charge Fee for Summer School Non-Remedial Courses |
Due to previous budget cuts, AUSD does not offer non-remedial courses during summer school, thus, we cannot charge a fee. |
12 |
Eliminate Copy Center |
The Copy Center contract expires June 2006, and is under review by a Task Force. Copy/print services will be competitively bid, and a new contract will be negotiated for the upcoming fiscal year. Savings are not expected; the immediate goal is to make the Copy Center self-sustaining; long-term goals include making the Copy Center profitable. Savings cannot be projected for the upcoming fiscal year. |
13 |
Reduce District Office Budgets |
Item has been added to Superintendent's tiered list of spending reductions. |
14 |
Eliminate Assistant Superintendent |
The Assistant Superintendent position is essential to the operations of the District. |
15 |
Cap Non-Teacher Expenses at 15% |
Instruction and instruction-related expenditures constitute 81% of our total general fund budget; Guidance and Counseling - 5%. Maintenance and Operations - 10%; Administration - 4%. (The 14% that is budgeted for Maintenance/Operations and Administration covers unavoidable costs, such as insurance, utilities and debt service.) A 15% cap as suggested would require the elimination of direct services to schools and students. |
16 |
Develop Healthy Worksite Program, including Worker’s Compensation Planning |
Additional information has been requested from the author; savings cannot be projected. |
17 |
Share Administrative Expenses with Other Districts |
Requires negotiation with employee groups; savings cannot be projected. |
18 |
Eliminate Discretionary Funds, Car Allowances, and Non-Classroom Expenses |
All budgets have been severely reduced over the past several years and currently provide only for expenditures that are mandatory and/or essential to core operations. Car allowances for Executive Cabinet have been eliminated. |
19 |
Implement Zero-Base Budgeting |
In progress. Three departments have been selected to undergo zero-base budgeting for FY06/07. Implementation will be staggered so departments undergo the process every three to five years. Savings cannot be projected for the upcoming fiscal year. |
20 |
Negotiate Labor Contracts That Exclude Me-Too Clauses |
Requires negotiation with all employee groups; savings cannot be projected. |
21 |
Establish Employee Cafeteria Benefits Plan |
AUSD currently offers a Section 125 Cafeteria Plan to employees. No savings are expected. |
22 |
Freeze Travel/Conference/Bring Professional Development In-House |
The Spending Reductions Task Force reviewed this item. Travel/conference is primarily funded with categorical dollars; travel/conference budgets have been severely reduced over the past several years and currently provide only for mandatory and essential conferences. Any savings would be one-time, not on-going. |
23 |
Reduce/Eliminate Food Services Encroachment |
The Spending Reductions Task Force reviewed this item. The Cafeteria Fund is currently projected to encroach by $41K. The fund is under review by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) as per our request; report is expected mid-March. We will analyze findings, and plan recommendations at that time to address the encroachment. |
24 |
Reduce/Eliminate Public Information Officer (PIO) |
The Spending Reductions Task Force reviewed this item. The function of the PIO is essential to Superintendent’s goal on communication to staff/community/parents. Other responsibilities include services that are mandated and/or necessary (e.g., AUSD website, SARC); such services cannot be eliminated, and would be replaced with a consultant. |
25 |
Reduce High School Vice Principals |
High School Vice Principals are essential to ensuring the supervision of staff and students. We would reconsider this item in future years based on declining enrollment patterns. |
26 |
Implement District-wide Furlough |
Requires negotiation with employee groups; savings cannot be projected, and would be one-time unless otherwise negotiated. |
27 |
Implement District-wide Reversion of COLA |
Requires negotiation with employee groups; the reversion of the FY03/04 COLA of 2% would generate about $1.3M in on-going savings. |
28 |
Eliminate ASTI |
The Spending Reductions Task Force reviewed this item. Contractual obligations require minimum expenses (e.g., capital leases) that exceed savings that may be generated by breaking the contract. Planned services for ASTI are under review, and will be adjusted to approximate funding level. |
29 |
Reduce Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program |
GATE is funded by state categorical funds, and does not encroach on the general fund; thus, reducing the GATE program will not generate savings. |
30 |
Reduce/Eliminate WCDC Encroachment |
The Spending Reductions Task Force reviewed this item. The Child Development Fund is currently projected to encroach by $63.6K. The fund is under review by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT) as per our request; report is expected mid-March. We will analyze findings, and plan recommendations at that time to address the encroachment. |
31 |
Eliminate Summer Pay Differential for Custodians |
Requires negotiation with employee group. Savings cannot be projected for upcoming fiscal year. |
32 |
Do Not Make Any Cuts/All Cuts Are Unacceptable/Find Another Way |
AUSD has declined in enrollment for several years. Since FY01 our enrollment has dropped by 5% across the district, and by 25% in our West End Elementary Schools. In this fiscal year, we have lost 150 students. As a result, we will lose $0.8M in revenue in the upcoming fiscal year. Over the past five years, we have cut $5.5M from our budget - there are no "easy" cuts left to be made. |
