Education California | The official newspaper of the Association of California School Administrators Volume 46 | Number 31 | May 30 , 2016
Legislature ’ s plans for budget emerge
As the Legislature begins to move toward the June 15 constitutional deadline to produce a 2016-17 state budget , committees in both the Assembly and Senate are wrapping up their hearings on various spending plans . ACSA Legislative Advocate Martha Alvarez provided the following updates on some key budget proposals that have emerged since Gov . Jerry Brown released his May Revision .
In response to the governor ’ s budget and as part of the relatively short process to finalize the 2016-17 Budget Act , the Senate Budget and Fiscal Review Committee adopted its Proposition 98 budget package on May 24 , while the Assembly Budget Committee took major actions on May 26 .
• Local Control Funding Formula : The governor increased his January figure for LCFF funding by $ 154 million for a new total of $ 2.979 billion for school districts and charters , thus getting local education agencies to 95.7 percent of their full funding targets . The Assembly approved LCFF
Students learn specific skills in vehicle maintenance , as well as valuable workforce lessons in a program led by classified leaders at the Shasta County Office of Education .
Mentoring program enriches student skills in Shasta County
When people are interested in entering a particular job field , the recommendation often is to find a mentor , someone experienced in the field who can show you the ins and outs .
ACSA runs a mentoring program for new principals and superintendents , featuring a group of mentors who have extensive experience in the field . But mentorship can also apply to high school students . Dan Coyne , vehicle maintenance coordinator for the Shasta County Office of Education oversees a mentorship program for students that has operated in the county office for almost 20 years .
“ Dan is an excellent example of our classified leaders at the Shasta County Office of Education . He goes out of his way to provide opportunities for at-risk students ,” said ACSA President and Shasta COE Superintendent Tom Armelino . “ We consider ourselves fortunate to be able to offer some real , handson career educational opportunities to help students experience the work world .
“ Even if students do not choose to go
Periodicals
Dated Material on to a career in the field of mechanics , they have an opportunity to learn valuable lessons – such as working with others , showing up on time , planning and providing quality work – that will serve them in whatever field they ultimately go into .”
Coyne said the numbers of students the county works with can ebb and flow each year , the programs students are interested in can change , as well as the time mentors are available , but the program keeps moving on .
“ I would say we have seen 40 to 50 students go through the shop ,” Coyne said . “ I am sure it may be more than that if I were to really dig through history .”
Coyne said the culture at Shasta COE and the personnel who work there make mentoring students something that comes naturally .
“ As technology changes , we are constantly learning and evolving here in the shop , and our mechanics love to pass that learning on ,” he said . “ We have a group of mechanics who see the value
See SHASTA , page 5 gap funding at $ 3.054 billion and the Senate increased LCFF funding to $ 3.085 billion in 2016-17 .
• Mandate Reimbursement Payments : The governor increased one-time discretionary Prop . 98 mandate repayments for school districts , charter schools and county offices of education to $ 1.416 billion – $ 237 per ADA . The Assembly decreased one-time mandate payments to $ 1.25 billion , and the Senate decreased payments to
See BUDGET , page 2
Negotiators Retreat adds key speaker
ACSA Educational Services announced the addition of Ryan Smith of the Education Trust-West as a keynote speaker for the upcoming Negotiators Planning Retreat in La Quinta .
Smith , who has served as EdTrust executive director since October 2014 , is expected to address the equity and meaningful engagement issues inherent in the new Local Control Funding Formula .
The Negotiators Planning Retreat is designed to offer successful strategies to negotiators for California school district collective bargaining . This hands-on event helps
Smith
participants develop plans for accomplishing such Local Control and Accountability Plan goals as communications , negotiating and accountability .
At EdTrust-West , the recently released report “ Black Minds Matter : Supporting the Educational Success of Black Children in California ” examines the disparities in achievement at all levels of their educational journey . The report also highlights the groundbreaking efforts under way to reverse these trends in California and close achievement and opportunity gaps for African American students .
Smith is dedicated to closing opportunity and achievement gaps for students of color and students living in poverty . He was named by Education Week as one of 10 Education Leaders to Watch nationally and also received the Families in Schools ’ Parent Engagement Leader of the Year Award .
The Negotiators Planning Retreat features experts in essential areas , including audits ; communication and outreach ; labor ,
See NEGOTIATORS , page 4
ACSA is pleased to announce statewide leadership changes for 2016-17 .
Incoming members of the Board of Directors include ACSA officers : President Ralph Gómez Porras , superintendent , Pacific Grove USD ; President-elect Lisa Gonzales , interim superintendent , Lakeside Joint SD ; and Vice President Holly Edds , assistant superintendent of educational services , Orcutt UESD .
Vice President for Legislative Action Linda Kaminski , superintendent of Azusa USD , will continue to fill that two-year position , and current President Tom Armelino , superintendent of Shasta COE , will serve as past president for 2016-17 . All leadership positions start July 1 , according to ACSA bylaws .
Graduation rates . The California Department of Education reports the state ’ s cohort graduation rate climbed for the sixth year in a row in 2015 to a record high , with the biggest jump among English Learners and migrant students . Among students who started high school in 2011-12 , 82.3 percent graduated with their class in 2015 , up 1.3 percentage points from the year before . The state ’ s graduation rate has increased substantially since the class of 2010 posted a 74.7 percent rate .
AASA awards . Any female superintendent , central office staff , school principal , classroom teacher or schoolbased specialist may be nominated or apply for the AASA Women in School Leadership Awards online at http :// womensleadership . aasa . org . The application deadline is June 15 . Awardees are recognized at the Women in School Leadership Forum , Sept . 28-30 in Newport Beach . Register for that conference at www . acsa . org / Educational- Services / Conferences / womensforum .
Charter authorizers . The 2016 California Charter Authorizers Conference is set for Sept . 11-13 in Oakland . Learn about quality charter school authorizing practices and take away valuable tools you can use ; get the latest information on developments in charter school law and policy ; and hear about authorizer supports . There is an early registration discount of $ 125 through July 1 . Register at http :// tinyurl . com / gtbbq6q .
Spotlight leaders . Education Week is seeking school district leaders whose strategies or innovations would inspire colleagues nationwide . Leaders to Learn From spotlights forwardthinking district leaders who seize on good ideas and execute them well . Next year ’ s honorees will be profiled in a 2017 special report in February and will be recognized in Washington , D . C . in March . The deadline for nominations is Aug . 1 . Visit http :// goo . gl / UmMCDD .
ACSA recognizes outgoing and incoming leaders in many roles
Approximately a third of the ACSA Board is new for 2016 , including : Elsbeth Prigmore , principal in Shasta UHSD , Region 1 ; Denise Wickham , assistant superintendent-personnel , Ceres USD , Region 7 ; Eric Andrew , superintendent , Campbell UESD , Region 8 ; Ana Boyenga , assistant superintendent , Atwater ESD , Region 9 ; Craig Helmstedter , superintendent , Ocean View SD , Region 13 ; and Angel Barrett , executive director C & I , Los Angeles USD , Region 16 .
Sue Kaiser , assistant superintendent for educational services , Monrovia USD , has been reappointed to serve as director for Region 15 . Region-appointed directors generally serve three-year terms . Kaiser
See LEADERS , page 8