The board members made their opinions clear last night: Closing a school is an OK option for them. This makes it all the more important that we stay involved. We have a lot of work ahead of us:
* The district's capital facilities plan will be released this summer.
* Expect the capacity study to re-emerge this summer; be ready to apply to be on the committee.
* We will pursue an inquiry into the district's legal obligations regarding spending bond money (and then keeping the building closed), and keeping children in portables when they have regular classrooms available.
* We will be contacting the city parks department about its agreement with the school district, regarding public access to school properties (we should have access to the Lowell building), and work to get neighborhood associations meeting at their neighborhood schools again.
* The coalition also will be working to support all of Bellingham's PTAs, to work together, cut costs, and help fund raise.
Want to help? Contact us at neighborhoodschoolscoalition@gmail.com
Friday, June 26, 2009
Board refuses to change budget
The School Board refused to make any changes to its 2009-10 budget Thursday night. Several audience members spoke, then board members made statements that we weren't allowed to question, and they moved ahead with their prepared resolution and passed the budget unanimously.
They say we'll thank them next year, because the district will have a fat savings account. And they need the fat savings account because we might have another economic disaster next year that we WOULD use the savings account for. They focused a lot on, what if the state trims another $4.2 million from our district's revenue? What if we don't get another federal stimulus package (followed by Assistant Superintendent Ron Cowan's statement that "The stimulus doesn't really help us. It's so targeted to special ed, remediation and I-728")
The truth is, if we go along with their doomsday planning for another economic disaster (we're actually pulling OUT of this recession, not entering another one ... ) the difference of $450,000 being in the savings account won't make any difference, the whole account would be wiped out.
Board member Ken Gass said, "What if a roof blows off? We can't run a school district on fumes." If school board members allowed a dialogue, we could have pointed out that that would be paid with capital funds, which the district has plenty of, not from the savings account.
Board members insist they support neighborhood schools, but never addressed why Lowell's closure was the first action taken to trim the budget. They never addressed why they think it's acceptable to bus children past their empty school, and stuff them into substandard portables somewhere else.
They think spending money on great teachers is the best way to improve kids' education; but the best teacher can't reach kids who are overcrowded and distracted in substandard conditions, in metal boxes in the parking lot of the school grounds.
KGMI was there. Read their story, and listen to their audio at:
School board approves budget
The Bellingham Herald was NOT at the meeting. The Herald covered a community discussion in Ferndale: The Ferndale School Board has DISCUSSIONS with its community, and RESPONDS to them. Remember, they said NO to closing a school to save money, and they delayed adopting their budget for a month in order to TALK MORE with the community. Read the story at:
Full-time kindergarten no longer an option for Ferndale
Thank you to everyone who spoke Thursday night. One speaker, a Bellingham firefighter/paramedic and a single mom, pointed out how substandard those portables really are: she said she has inspected them, and they are not suitable for children to spend their days in. Another woman spoke, making the point that it was her wedding anniversary, but the loss of her neighborhood school was so important, that she had to be there to speak out.
Two statements were written. Read them at:
Neighborhood Schools Coalition statement
Emily Weiner's statement
And as one speaker noted: This isn't over. We will continue to fight to keep our schools open. Stay tuned.
They say we'll thank them next year, because the district will have a fat savings account. And they need the fat savings account because we might have another economic disaster next year that we WOULD use the savings account for. They focused a lot on, what if the state trims another $4.2 million from our district's revenue? What if we don't get another federal stimulus package (followed by Assistant Superintendent Ron Cowan's statement that "The stimulus doesn't really help us. It's so targeted to special ed, remediation and I-728")
The truth is, if we go along with their doomsday planning for another economic disaster (we're actually pulling OUT of this recession, not entering another one ... ) the difference of $450,000 being in the savings account won't make any difference, the whole account would be wiped out.
Board member Ken Gass said, "What if a roof blows off? We can't run a school district on fumes." If school board members allowed a dialogue, we could have pointed out that that would be paid with capital funds, which the district has plenty of, not from the savings account.
Board members insist they support neighborhood schools, but never addressed why Lowell's closure was the first action taken to trim the budget. They never addressed why they think it's acceptable to bus children past their empty school, and stuff them into substandard portables somewhere else.
They think spending money on great teachers is the best way to improve kids' education; but the best teacher can't reach kids who are overcrowded and distracted in substandard conditions, in metal boxes in the parking lot of the school grounds.
KGMI was there. Read their story, and listen to their audio at:
School board approves budget
The Bellingham Herald was NOT at the meeting. The Herald covered a community discussion in Ferndale: The Ferndale School Board has DISCUSSIONS with its community, and RESPONDS to them. Remember, they said NO to closing a school to save money, and they delayed adopting their budget for a month in order to TALK MORE with the community. Read the story at:
Full-time kindergarten no longer an option for Ferndale
Thank you to everyone who spoke Thursday night. One speaker, a Bellingham firefighter/paramedic and a single mom, pointed out how substandard those portables really are: she said she has inspected them, and they are not suitable for children to spend their days in. Another woman spoke, making the point that it was her wedding anniversary, but the loss of her neighborhood school was so important, that she had to be there to speak out.
Two statements were written. Read them at:
Neighborhood Schools Coalition statement
Emily Weiner's statement
And as one speaker noted: This isn't over. We will continue to fight to keep our schools open. Stay tuned.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Speak up at School Board tonight
June 25, 7:30 p.m., 1306 Dupont St. Roeder Administration Building.
Tonight is the big Bellingham School Board meeting, when public comment will be allowed on the draft budget. The board is scheduled to vote on this budget tonight.
Key points: they've retained 500 of 504.5 basic education teaching positions; they're spending $1 million less than than what they're bringing in, and pumping money into the reserve fund, above the amount needed.
They can choose at any time to use a portion of this reserve fund to keep their schools open, and still maintain a VERY healthy balance, more than enough for coming years. They've dipped into this fund regularly over the years, why are they refusing to use a rainy day fund to help during the budget crisis it was designed for?
Please attend tonight ... it's important that the school board knows that we still care, we're not going away, and that they need to keep their schools open.
Sign up to speak.
Thank you!
Tonight is the big Bellingham School Board meeting, when public comment will be allowed on the draft budget. The board is scheduled to vote on this budget tonight.
Key points: they've retained 500 of 504.5 basic education teaching positions; they're spending $1 million less than than what they're bringing in, and pumping money into the reserve fund, above the amount needed.
They can choose at any time to use a portion of this reserve fund to keep their schools open, and still maintain a VERY healthy balance, more than enough for coming years. They've dipped into this fund regularly over the years, why are they refusing to use a rainy day fund to help during the budget crisis it was designed for?
Please attend tonight ... it's important that the school board knows that we still care, we're not going away, and that they need to keep their schools open.
Sign up to speak.
Thank you!
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Agenda attachments online
The school district posted attachments to its June 25 agenda online. Take a look at
www.bham.wednet.edu/district/district.htm, and click on School Board meeting minutes and agendas, public site, and pick the June 25 meeting.
A resolution to pass the budget is on there.
The public comment period preceding the budget resolution is the only time we can comment on it. Let's make this time count! Let them know Bellingham wants to keep its schools open.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25. 1306 Dupont St. Roeder Administration Building.
www.bham.wednet.edu/district/district.htm, and click on School Board meeting minutes and agendas, public site, and pick the June 25 meeting.
A resolution to pass the budget is on there.
The public comment period preceding the budget resolution is the only time we can comment on it. Let's make this time count! Let them know Bellingham wants to keep its schools open.
7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25. 1306 Dupont St. Roeder Administration Building.
Herald prints guest column on school budget
We had a guest column in The Bellingham Herald today. Check it out:
School district has funds to reopen Lowell school
I also linked to it on the side panel under media links)
School district has funds to reopen Lowell school
I also linked to it on the side panel under media links)
Monday, June 22, 2009
School board June 25 agenda
Here's the agenda for the June 25 School Board meeting. As usual, we have to wait till the day before for the attachments to the agenda to be posted online: the contracts and details of what will be discussed .... stay tuned.
06/25/2009 Regular Meeting 7:30 p.m.
1. OPENING ITEMS
1.01 Meeting Date and Location
1.02 Executive Session
1.03 Roll Call
2. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
2.01 Approval of Minutes of June 11, 2009 Regular Meeting
2.02 Approval of Minutes of June 17, 2009 Study Session
2.03 Approval of Investments
2.04 Personal Services Contracts
2.05 Agreement for Services – Max Higbee Center
2.06 Memorandum of Agreement – Western Washington University
2.07 Summary of Donations
2.08 Out of State Travel – Bellingham High School Staff
2.09 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Basketball Team
2.10 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Cross Country Team
2.11 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Dance Team
2.12 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Dance Team
2.13 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Girl's Basketball Team
2.14 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Wrestling Team
3. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
3.01 School Board Directors' Reports
3.02 Legislative Report
3.03 Superintendent's Announcements and Report
3.04 Shining Stars Recognition
3.05 Audience Comments
5. ACTION ITEMS
5.01 Resolution 10–09, Resolution of Fixing and Adopting the 2009–2010 Budget
5.02 State and Federal I-Grant Applications
5.03 Policy 6890, State Environmental Policy Act Compliance – Second Reading
5.04 Policy 3200, Student Rights & Responsibilities – First Reading
5.05 Policy/Procedure 4200, Safe and Orderly Learning Environment – First Reading
5.06 Personnel Recommendations
6. CLOSING ITEMS
6.01 Adjournment
06/25/2009 Regular Meeting 7:30 p.m.
1. OPENING ITEMS
1.01 Meeting Date and Location
1.02 Executive Session
1.03 Roll Call
2. CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS
2.01 Approval of Minutes of June 11, 2009 Regular Meeting
2.02 Approval of Minutes of June 17, 2009 Study Session
2.03 Approval of Investments
2.04 Personal Services Contracts
2.05 Agreement for Services – Max Higbee Center
2.06 Memorandum of Agreement – Western Washington University
2.07 Summary of Donations
2.08 Out of State Travel – Bellingham High School Staff
2.09 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Basketball Team
2.10 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Cross Country Team
2.11 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Dance Team
2.12 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Dance Team
2.13 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Girl's Basketball Team
2.14 Student Trip – Bellingham High School Wrestling Team
3. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS
3.01 School Board Directors' Reports
3.02 Legislative Report
3.03 Superintendent's Announcements and Report
3.04 Shining Stars Recognition
3.05 Audience Comments
5. ACTION ITEMS
5.01 Resolution 10–09, Resolution of Fixing and Adopting the 2009–2010 Budget
5.02 State and Federal I-Grant Applications
5.03 Policy 6890, State Environmental Policy Act Compliance – Second Reading
5.04 Policy 3200, Student Rights & Responsibilities – First Reading
5.05 Policy/Procedure 4200, Safe and Orderly Learning Environment – First Reading
5.06 Personnel Recommendations
6. CLOSING ITEMS
6.01 Adjournment
Some interesting comments online
The Bellingham Herald published a story today about the Bellingham School District's draft budget, and also posted some information on the School Days blog regarding the issue. Readers have been commenting ... take a look, and add your comments to the fray ....
Bellingham Schools propose $100 million budget; some layoffs may be avoided
http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/schools
And please mark your calendars for Thursday night, June 25, at 7:30 p.m., to be at the Roeder Administration building, 1306 Dupont St.
This is your only opportunity to tell the School Board what you think about this draft budget, and that they should keep their schools open!
Bellingham Schools propose $100 million budget; some layoffs may be avoided
http://blogs.bellinghamherald.com/schools
And please mark your calendars for Thursday night, June 25, at 7:30 p.m., to be at the Roeder Administration building, 1306 Dupont St.
This is your only opportunity to tell the School Board what you think about this draft budget, and that they should keep their schools open!
Draft budget online
The school district posted an update on its budget process sometime over the weekend; here's the link:
Budget update June 19
The draft budget is also finally available online. The link is also on the blog's side panel under school district documents,
Draft budget
The district continues to say it needs to keep reserves high because who knows what will happen next year. And officials insist on closing an elementary school.
Again, if they could dip into reserves every other year to pay for non-essential programs, why can't the district use reserves this year to keep its schools open? Reserves would still be higher than needed, at 4 percent, instead of 4.4 percent.
Their decision equates to a person who's home is being foreclosed on, making sure to keep a high balance in their savings account because they might need it next year.
The district needs to use the savings account now. Be responsible: Keep your schools open.
And if you insist on closing a school, please inform the public how you plan to stuff two student bodies into one school that is meant to house only 280 students!
Budget update June 19
The draft budget is also finally available online. The link is also on the blog's side panel under school district documents,
Draft budget
The district continues to say it needs to keep reserves high because who knows what will happen next year. And officials insist on closing an elementary school.
Again, if they could dip into reserves every other year to pay for non-essential programs, why can't the district use reserves this year to keep its schools open? Reserves would still be higher than needed, at 4 percent, instead of 4.4 percent.
Their decision equates to a person who's home is being foreclosed on, making sure to keep a high balance in their savings account because they might need it next year.
The district needs to use the savings account now. Be responsible: Keep your schools open.
And if you insist on closing a school, please inform the public how you plan to stuff two student bodies into one school that is meant to house only 280 students!
Friday, June 19, 2009
School board work session
Wednesday night, the school board had a work session to discuss the draft 2009-10 draft budget with district officials. The draft is available at the Roeder Administration building, 1306 Dupont St. It's free.
I shared some details of the budget in an earlier post, but want to reiterate a few points:
• Revenue is down $580,000, or 0.6 percent, from 2008-09, not the projected $3 million to $5 million projected.
• It's a $100 million budget, with spending set at $1 million below revenue.
• The district has added to its “rainy day” fund, called the unreserved fund, so it is 4.4 percent of the overall budget. District policy calls for a reserve fund worth between 3 percent and 5 percent of the budget.
• The district is hiring 500 full-time equivalent basic education teachers, cutting only 4.5 FTE positions.
• The district went ahead with $2.5 million in spending cuts.
• In previous years, the district has used the rainy day fund (see media links at right)for discretionary items; you would think that keeping its schools open and running would be worth using the rainy day fund, especially when the fund would remain at a very healthy level.
Why is the school district and board keeping a school closed when it doesn't have to? It's hands are NOT tied --- rainy day funds are for days like this.
I shared some details of the budget in an earlier post, but want to reiterate a few points:
• Revenue is down $580,000, or 0.6 percent, from 2008-09, not the projected $3 million to $5 million projected.
• It's a $100 million budget, with spending set at $1 million below revenue.
• The district has added to its “rainy day” fund, called the unreserved fund, so it is 4.4 percent of the overall budget. District policy calls for a reserve fund worth between 3 percent and 5 percent of the budget.
• The district is hiring 500 full-time equivalent basic education teachers, cutting only 4.5 FTE positions.
• The district went ahead with $2.5 million in spending cuts.
• In previous years, the district has used the rainy day fund (see media links at right)for discretionary items; you would think that keeping its schools open and running would be worth using the rainy day fund, especially when the fund would remain at a very healthy level.
Why is the school district and board keeping a school closed when it doesn't have to? It's hands are NOT tied --- rainy day funds are for days like this.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Archived news articles show school district pattern
I've added some media links, on the blog's side panel, to archived newspaper articles, which show that the Bellingham School District routinely uses money from its rainy day fund to shore up holes in its budget ... if they can do this during good economic times, why are they refusing to use any of their rainy day funds during our economic crisis?
They would not be bankrupting the district if they kept their schools open. Their fund would still be in the mid-range of what the district requires of itself .... 3 percent to 5 percent of its total $100 million budget.
(it's through the Bellingham Public Library web site, so if you have a library card, you can search the archives yourself!)
They would not be bankrupting the district if they kept their schools open. Their fund would still be in the mid-range of what the district requires of itself .... 3 percent to 5 percent of its total $100 million budget.
(it's through the Bellingham Public Library web site, so if you have a library card, you can search the archives yourself!)
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