02.01.2012
| From the Superintendent: Budget Issues
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| Once again, SCOE and our local school districts have a challenging year ahead. The Governor’s 2012-13 budget proposal includes a mid-year trigger, conditioned on a tax vote and the restructuring of categorical programs into a “weighted” block grant for program services.
This month, I will hold my second annual “state of the county” financial outlook presentation and outline the implications that the Governor’s proposal would have on Sonoma County schools and SCOE operations. All employees are invited to attend.
The presentation will be on February 14 at 4:00pm, in Redwood Rooms A-B at the Skylane office. For those of you who can’t attend, a video will be posted on our website late in February.
As many of you know, state funding for education has declined by over 25 percent since 2007. This reduced funding coupled with the ongoing deferral of payments owed to public education has forced local districts to make severe cuts and obtain cash flow loans. Today, SCOE’s reserves are helping fulfill district cash flow needs, cover payroll, and fund routine operating expenses.
As we enter budget development season here at SCOE, my direction to management staff is to proceed cautiously, while being as proactive as possible. This was the approach we used last year and it put us in a positive position. We were able to restore previous reductions, modify furlough requirements, and comply with the mandates of the Health Care Reform Act while still maintaining the financial reserves our districts are relying on.
Governor Brown’s weighted formula proposal will be SCOE’s greatest challenge; it could significantly reduce the budgets of some of our key programs. Please join me on February 14 so I can explain the details to you and outline our proposal for moving forward.
I believe it is critically important for all employees, and all bargaining groups, to understand the financial circumstances that we are grappling with today.
Steven D. Herrington, Ph.D.
Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools
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| Spotlight on the Child Care Planning Council |
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| The Child Care Planning Council (CCPC) of Sonoma County
is a unique part of our Educational Support Services department. It is a
countywide membership organization established by state law to identify
local priorities for child care. Its mission is to convene and inspire
the community through collaboration, leadership, and advocacy and to
promote and plan for quality child care and child development in Sonoma
County.
One of CCPC’s most visible activities is the Sonoma CARES Plus
program, which provides advising and financial incentives so that early
childhood education workers can further their education. During the
last five years, over 1,500 individuals have been supported in
completing some 5,000 academic units in early childhood education. This
has helped strengthen the quality of early childhood programs
countywide.
CCPC also administers a program to improve child care
environments, conducts child care needs assessments, sets priority
areas for state child care subsidy funds, leads long-range planning
activities, and facilitates the development of local partnerships. The Sonoma County Partnership for Children is a recent CCPC initiative that is promoting “children first” in politics, policies, and investments. |
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| The CCPC has 28 voting members, seven advisory members,
and a three-person staff that includes coordinator Carol Simmons, R.N.,
program administrator Gislene Mertle, and program assistant Kathy
Parnay. There have been state-legislated “local child care planning
councils” in every county since 1991, with the superintendent of schools
and board of supervisors mandated as the appointing and approving
bodies.
Pictured, left to right: CCPC staff members Gislene Mertle, Carol Simmons, and Kathy Parnay |
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| It is an exciting time for early care and education, as
public awareness of the importance of nurturing and supporting children,
especially in their first five years, is growing. Early care and
education is a critical economic keystone that enables parents to earn,
businesses to have and retain employees, and communities to benefit from
a well-prepared future workforce.
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| Announcements |
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| Special Ed to host Transition Fair
The
Special Education department is joining with the North Bay Regional
Center, Department of Rehabilitation, and others to host the fourth
annual Transition Fair on February 15 at SCOE. This free event is for
families of middle/high school students with special needs. It gives
them the opportunity to learn about and connect with the agencies that
provide programs and services for students when they age out of the
school system. Teachers and assistants who work with students/families
that might be interested in this event are asked to distribute the Transition Fair flier (pdf).
Nominate a Team Player – Deadline March 2
The
Personnel Commission is seeking nominations of classified employees for
their 2012 Team Player Award. Anyone may recommend a candidate for this
award by submitting a nomination form by March 2. The employee chosen for the award will receive a $300 gift card. Please see the nomination form and selection criteria (pdf) for complete details.
Completed
nomination forms should be forwarded to Patti Springer,
pspringer@scoe.org. If you have questions, contact Patti at 524-2634.
Nominations will be reviewed by Human Resources and the nominee’s
supervisor to ensure that all criteria are met, then forwarded to the
Personnel Commission for consideration.
Health Fair planned for April 12
Save
the date! SCOE will host a Health Fair for employees on Thursday, April
12, from 2:00 to 5:00pm, in the Redwood Rooms. This event is a joint
effort of the Wellness Committee and Health & Safety Committee. More
information will be available soon.
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| On the calendar
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| Feb 8 – Science Fair | Link
Grade 6-12 students present science projects to teams of scientists, engineers, and others acting as judges at this countywide academic event. The awards presentation is scheduled for 3:00pm.
Feb 13 – Lincoln Day Observed
Skylane office closed, but employees assigned to classrooms may observe the holiday on a different date.
Feb 14 – Dr. Herrington’s Budget Presentation
All staff are invited to attend the County Superintendent’s presentation on the state budget for education and its impact on SCOE and Sonoma County schools. This event takes place at 4:00pm in Redwood Rooms A-B at our Skylane site.
Feb 15 – Transition Fair | Link
The Transition Fair for special education students and their families is from 3:00 to 6:00pm at SCOE.
Feb 20 – Presidents Day
SCOE offices and classrooms closed.
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