Superintendent’s Message on Proposition 30

From Parvin Ahmadi Superintendent of Schools Pleasanton Unified School District:

The Pleasanton Unified School District is extremely pleased by the passage of Proposition 30. With its passage, the State’s trigger cuts will not go into effect.  In addition to the Board-approved spending reductions, PUSD employees had agreed to a possible shortened school year to mitigate the impact of the ongoing budget challenges and the possible State trigger cuts that would have been in effect had the Proposition not passed. We appreciate our employees’ willingness to work with us and plan ahead. 

The passage of Proposition 30 results in a reduction of revenue deferrals that will improve our cash balances by providing $9M in cash this year that would otherwise have been delayed until the next fiscal year.  Based on our agreement with our bargaining units, our students will not lose four instructional days this school year, nor will there be any additional cuts for this school year.

The Governing Board will receive a report on the impact of Proposition 30 at the November 13th Board Meeting. In order to continue our fiscal prudence, the impact of Proposition 30 must be considered as a part of the ongoing budget challenges we have faced from the last five years. This includes the Governor’s Proposed Budget for next year that will be announced by January 15, 2013.

During the next few months, the Leadership Team and staff will work to make recommendations to the Governing Board for next year’s budget. Restoration of any previous budget cuts will be dependent on information received from the Governor’s Proposed Budget and the needs of the District based on our long term vision and strategic plan. As always, there will be opportunities for community members to hear those recommendations and provide feedback during board meetings before the Governing Board makes its decision on next year’s budget.