Timeline of Events Leading to 2007 Budget Cuts

January, 2007

Without crossing any lines regarding confidentiality, I will attempt to lay out a timeline of events leading up January, 2007. This is not an official representation of the District and/or the Board of Education:

December, 2002: Governnor Davis "finds" a $30 billion deficit after reelection, takes back the 2% COLA in the 02/03 budget

March 2003: Board approves $1.7 million in budget reductions

March, 2003: AEA submits openers for new three year contract starting July, 2003

January, 2004: After 8 negotiation sessions, AEA requests an impasse declaration from PERB, request is denied

April, 2004: Impasse is declared after the District and AEA can not agree on salary increases, AEA is requesting over $2 million

June, 2004: After 4 sessions of meditation, a settlement is reached. Teachers receive $0 in the first year (03/04), $270,000 the second year, and $540,000 plus a salary formula in the third year (05/06)

September, 2004: Enrollment drops over 200 students

February, 2005: Superintendent recommends $2.4 million in cuts and the Board approves $1.6 million and approves the placement of a new parcel tax on the June ballot

April, 2005: Superintendent announces he is leaving the District

June, 2005: By a 52 vote margin, a $189 parcel tax is passed generating $1,200,000 in addition revenue

June, 2005: Reserves are at 1.5% and need to be replenished to 3% by June, 2006

September, 2005: Another drop of enrollment of 200 students

November, 2005: Workshop on Declining Enrollment on school closure options

January/February 2006: Board approves $800,000 in budget reductions including consolidating three schools into one school

June, 2006: Reserves are at 3% with $900,000 set aside for pending salary arbitration outcome

August, 2006: Arbitrator awards 3.9% increase to AEA, retroactive to July, 2005. Annual cost due to “me too” clauses with other bargaining units is $2.1 million in ongoing expense

October/November, 2006: Budget reports were presented at Board of Education meetings on October 24 and November 28, 2006. At that time, the Board approved a $2.1 million budget revision for 2006/07 with the stipulation that budget cuts for 2007-2008 would be necessary.

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Last modified: , 2006

Disclaimer: This website is the sole responsibility of Mike McMahon. It does not represent any official opinions, statement of facts or positions of the Alameda Unified School District. Its sole purpose is to disseminate information to interested individuals in the Alameda community.