Comments on: A Modest Proposal for Ramona Unified School District & the Citizens of Ramona http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/ Ramona's Community Paper Since 1886 Fri, 24 May 2013 00:00:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.3 By: Brian http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-628844 Brian Tue, 29 Jan 2013 00:24:11 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-628844 I don't have those figures. I wsh I did. Maybe later. I will post if I get access to those them. I don't have those figures. I wsh I did. Maybe later. I will post if I get access to those them.

]]> By: big bird http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-628466 big bird Sun, 27 Jan 2013 22:35:06 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-628466 brian, the budget previously posted on the RUSD website showed almost $41 million for salaries and benefits for the district. it would be great if they broke out individual salary and benefit costs for teachers, staff, and administration, but $16 million may be accurate (i'm guessing i know you, so i tend to trust your figures). can you break out the salary costs for the ALT? must be a few million, right? so 8% of $16 million, and let's shoot for 25% of $3 million (my swag at an appropriate cut to administration) and there's over $2 million in savings. many of the benefit costs (not included in your $16 m or my $3 m) are salary-based, so they'd go down proportionately as well. i know these numbers are very-loose approximations, but i was addressing "Parent" who said it wouldn't come close. i think it does, and moreover, i believe the board/admin is at least heading down the right path. on point 2, understood. i think the district should keep salaries at about 85% of projected income. that's more than a majority; i'd describe it as "most." right now it's "almost all" on track to be "everything and more." on 3, that's what we've got to go on. as you know, the union's argument is that the district keeps projecting deficits that don't materialize. i don't buy into that. there is a budget problem, and the board and administration are addressing it (except for the ALT, of course, which is a disgrace). they need to target a fiscally sound budget, and where we probably differ is that i don't think it's bad policy or unfair for the teachers (along with the staff and admin) to take a cut and still have the district end the year in the black. years of not doing that is how we got here. keeping a small reserve is prudent, not a crime. brian,
the budget previously posted on the RUSD website showed almost $41 million for salaries and benefits for the district. it would be great if they broke out individual salary and benefit costs for teachers, staff, and administration, but $16 million may be accurate (i'm guessing i know you, so i tend to trust your figures). can you break out the salary costs for the ALT? must be a few million, right? so 8% of $16 million, and let's shoot for 25% of $3 million (my swag at an appropriate cut to administration) and there's over $2 million in savings. many of the benefit costs (not included in your $16 m or my $3 m) are salary-based, so they'd go down proportionately as well. i know these numbers are very-loose approximations, but i was addressing "Parent" who said it wouldn't come close. i think it does, and moreover, i believe the board/admin is at least heading down the right path.

on point 2, understood. i think the district should keep salaries at about 85% of projected income. that's more than a majority; i'd describe it as "most." right now it's "almost all" on track to be "everything and more."

on 3, that's what we've got to go on. as you know, the union's argument is that the district keeps projecting deficits that don't materialize. i don't buy into that. there is a budget problem, and the board and administration are addressing it (except for the ALT, of course, which is a disgrace). they need to target a fiscally sound budget, and where we probably differ is that i don't think it's bad policy or unfair for the teachers (along with the staff and admin) to take a cut and still have the district end the year in the black. years of not doing that is how we got here. keeping a small reserve is prudent, not a crime.

]]> By: Brian http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-628425 Brian Sun, 27 Jan 2013 18:05:40 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-628425 Big Bird, 1) The district pays less than $16,000,000 total each year in salaries to teachers. 2) It is expected in a labor intensive industry such as education, that a majority of the budget would be spent on salaries. 3) You are looking at the district's projections not actual figures. Big Bird,
1) The district pays less than $16,000,000 total each year in salaries to teachers.
2) It is expected in a labor intensive industry such as education, that a majority of the budget would be spent on salaries.
3) You are looking at the district's projections not actual figures.

]]> By: big bird http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-628259 big bird Sat, 26 Jan 2013 21:09:53 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-628259 "The gain they get from the proposed reduction in teachers' salaries won't even come close to paying off the loan Anyone with a brain can figure out the simple math." yes, it will. the 12/13 budget spends $41 million (of $42 million projected income) on district salaries and benefits. the loan servicing is $1.6 million per year, rising annually to $3.4 million in (i forget when, 2032 or so?). an 8-9% reduction in salaries and benefits will easily cover that, not to mention covering maintenance and new books. fact is, the loan only amounts to about 4% of income for years and years. that just doesn't seem as unreasonable as spending 99% on payroll. it's really that simple. "The gain they get from the proposed reduction in teachers' salaries won't even come close to paying off the loan Anyone with a brain can figure out the simple math."
yes, it will. the 12/13 budget spends $41 million (of $42 million projected income) on district salaries and benefits. the loan servicing is $1.6 million per year, rising annually to $3.4 million in (i forget when, 2032 or so?). an 8-9% reduction in salaries and benefits will easily cover that, not to mention covering maintenance and new books. fact is, the loan only amounts to about 4% of income for years and years. that just doesn't seem as unreasonable as spending 99% on payroll. it's really that simple.

]]> By: Parent http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-628118 Parent Sat, 26 Jan 2013 08:37:29 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-628118 You are right the board and the administration are desparate. Either that or they don't value the teachers, Why else would the board and administration be willing to make such a devasting hit on the reachers' salaries? The gain they get from the proposed reduction in teachers' salaries won't even come close to paying off the loan Anyone with a brain can figure out the simple math. Why penalize the teachers so heavily if it won't solve the problem (paying for the 2 new schools). You are right the board and the administration are desparate. Either that or they don't value the teachers, Why else would the board and administration be willing to make such a devasting hit on the reachers' salaries? The gain they get from the proposed reduction in teachers' salaries won't even come close to paying off the loan Anyone with a brain can figure out the simple math. Why penalize the teachers so heavily if it won't solve the problem (paying for the 2 new schools).

]]> By: lisa http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-627431 lisa Thu, 24 Jan 2013 05:23:50 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-627431 Because it will sell the fastest and fetch the largest price. Another option would be to put it up for lease and take if back when and if they needed it. I doubt the MVA would like to have some of the MH students there. Better to move MVA to the high school as its own entity...a subdivision if you will. The district should rebuild RE when they get a citizen approved bond passed. That would be a legit reason to pass a bond. The land where MH is would be very difficult to sell...if not impossible. Because it will sell the fastest and fetch the largest price. Another option would be to put it up for lease and take if back when and if they needed it. I doubt the MVA would like to have some of the MH students there. Better to move MVA to the high school as its own entity…a subdivision if you will. The district should rebuild RE when they get a citizen approved bond passed. That would be a legit reason to pass a bond.
The land where MH is would be very difficult to sell…if not impossible.

]]> By: Parent http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-627168 Parent Wed, 23 Jan 2013 04:08:15 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-627168 Lisa...why would the district close a campus that is NOT in dire need of maintenance/repair and hold on to one that's falling apart? Also for the very few montecito hs students, their needs could be met by either RHS or MVA. AGAIN, close RE, Montecito and sell the old RCS campus located on Montecito and salary cuts are unnecessary, the district will be streamlined and much more efficient. Lisa…why would the district close a campus that is NOT in dire need of maintenance/repair and hold on to one that’s falling apart?

Also for the very few montecito hs students, their needs could be met by either RHS or MVA.

AGAIN, close RE, Montecito and sell the old RCS campus located on Montecito and salary cuts are unnecessary, the district will be streamlined and much more efficient.

]]> By: Lisa http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-626852 Lisa Tue, 22 Jan 2013 02:59:15 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-626852 Out for blood? Really? Clearly RUSD has made mistakes and they need to consolidate schools and offload their surplus property whether they "want to" or not. Their bond idea has been turned down by the taxpayers FIVE TIMES already. I don't believe they are out for blood so much as they are desperate. The teachers union really shot themselves in the foot by insisting the district was hiding money and then counting on the voters to pass a bond and I would not count on that Prop 30 money until the check clears the bank. Out for blood? Really? Clearly RUSD has made mistakes and they need to consolidate schools and offload their surplus property whether they "want to" or not. Their bond idea has been turned down by the taxpayers FIVE TIMES already. I don't believe they are out for blood so much as they are desperate. The teachers union really shot themselves in the foot by insisting the district was hiding money and then counting on the voters to pass a bond and I would not count on that Prop 30 money until the check clears the bank.

]]> By: solar1 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-626825 solar1 Tue, 22 Jan 2013 01:18:37 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-626825 Dr. Tanaka, did I see your name on the ballot for the school board last year? Dr. Tanaka, did I see your name on the ballot for the school board last year?

]]> By: lisa http://www.ramonasentinel.com/2013/01/15/a-modest-proposal-for-ramona-unified-school-district-the-citizens-of-ramona/#comment-626554 lisa Mon, 21 Jan 2013 06:15:07 +0000 http://www.ramonasentinel.com/?p=20382#comment-626554 If you know the facts, you know that teachers have offered concessions. The district is the one who is not making any movement. They are out for blood. If the teachers go on strike I am sure it is because they are protecting their family income. I don't blame them. I am sure they don't want to go on strike. I would do the same thing to protect my family if I was pushed against wall. The district should try a smaller bond so Ramona can pay for the two unpaid for schools. That's only right and compared to what the teachers stand to loose. I think we can handle the less than a $1.00 a day to pay for the schools. Its only right. If you know the facts, you know that teachers have offered concessions. The district is the one who is not making any movement. They are out for blood. If the teachers go on strike I am sure it is because they are protecting their family income. I don't blame them. I am sure they don't want to go on strike. I would do the same thing to protect my family if I was pushed against wall.
The district should try a smaller bond so Ramona can pay for the two unpaid for schools. That's only right and compared to what the teachers stand to loose. I think we can handle the less than a $1.00 a day to pay for the schools. Its only right.

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