SBHS beats the odds, continues to thrive
On June 22, 2011, the San Benito High School District proposed
and the board approved a budget for 2011-2012 that is essentially a
break-even budget. Of course, the district’s budget is based on a
state budget that is all too tenuous.
The state budget assumes that revenues will increase by $4
billion above projections assumed during the governor’s May
Revision of the state budget. If those new revenues fail to
materialize by the end of December, mid-year cuts, including cuts
to K-12 education, will be enacted beginning in January 2012.
SBHS beats the odds, continues to thrive
On June 22, 2011, the San Benito High School District proposed and the board approved a budget for 2011-2012 that is essentially a break-even budget. Of course, the district’s budget is based on a state budget that is all too tenuous.
The state budget assumes that revenues will increase by $4 billion above projections assumed during the governor’s May Revision of the state budget. If those new revenues fail to materialize by the end of December, mid-year cuts, including cuts to K-12 education, will be enacted beginning in January 2012.
In the meantime, it is important to note that the district’s budget year just ending (2010-2011) projected a $523,000 deficit budget. The 2010-11 budget year is ending. A less gloomy revenue picture than was originally forecasted when the 2010-2011 budget was approved and effective stewardship of funds by the entire San Benito community mean that the projected deficit of 2010-2011 has been eliminated. In fact we are likely to finish the year a little on the positive side.
Furthermore, on the academic front, the high school appears to continue marching in a positive direction for students’ achievement. Our collective grade point average continues to rise, students are enrolled in more honors or advanced courses than ever, and we anticipate overall positive movement on state exams.
Even given the difficult economic environment in which many of our students’ families find themselves, at-risk behaviors resulting in suspensions are way down, while attendance at school is decidedly up.
At the beginning of this year, we completed an addition to our auto shop building, one that supports great career technical education for students. A couple of weeks ago, we completed construction on the George Rajkovich Agricultural Building, a barn facility that is already serving dozens of students and livestock, creating a tremendous career path to our county’s largest industry, agriculture.
When one considers the economic uncertainty that has befallen this county and many of its institutions, it is extremely heartening to know that San Benito High School has not only beaten the odds, it has continued to thrive.
All this is preface to comments that must be made about the budget just passed by the state. On strictly party-line vote, the 2011-2012 state budget passed through the Legislature. While it is true (and continues to be important) that expenditures do not exceed revenues in this budget, the trailer legislation emanating from Assembly Bill (AB) 114 is “arguably some of the worst political actions to affect public policy in a very long time,” according to School Services of California, the leading authority on public education budgets.
School Services argues that stripping the county superintendents of their responsibilities for fiscal oversight and directing school districts to budget potentially unrealistic revenues, while maintaining current programs and staffing levels, is “simply political pandering to special interests who put their own political needs above those of the school districts.”
The budget continues to identify the low priority position that education has occupied in California for many years. Hovering near the bottom nationally in per-student funding for many years, California now occupies the absolute bottom among the 50 states, spending half as much per student as the highest spending states. California now spends $2,680 per student less than the national average, a shocking statistic. At this low point of spending on California education, the legislature goes further to take away fiscal oversight responsibilities — when it needs such oversight most!
By requiring the county superintendents not to measure whether any school districts within its jurisdiction can pay its legal obligations for two succeeding years past the budget year, School Services argues that the California Legislature has “eclipsed all of its previous low standards for ethics and integrity.”
What does this mean for San Benito High School District? It means that we must exercise the same level of prudence and patience that we have been exercising throughout this fiscal downturn and for several years prior. As stated by School Services, “It is the good judgment and prudent planning of local school boards, district administrators, and county offices of education that have kept districts financially solvent during these troubled times.”
I pledge to continue using the same moderate approach to budgeting and spending that we have exercised in the past. Our board and administration will continue to monitor and plan for both the short and long term, irrespective of the state’s direction to set aside such planning processes.
In the end, we have only ourselves to ensure our future success as an academic community. And who can imagine better company?
Stan Rose,
Superintendent, San Benito High School District
