New board tackles budget crunch

Newly elected Ramona Unified School District trustees Dawn Perfect and Dan Lopez were sworn in by Supt. Dr. Robert Graeff at the school board’s December meeting.

Trustee Rodger Dohm was elected board president for 2009, beating Trustee Luan Rivera by a small margin. Budgets were reviewed and goals shared.

During board member affirmation speeches, Perfect stated it would be both an “honor and pleasure to serve the community and district.” Lopez indicated enthusiasm toward the coming year of service but spent time acknowledging others in the district for dedication and service. Both were elected to four-year terms on the board in the November election.

Rivera congratulated Mountain Valley Academy for being recognized by national magazine U.S. News and World Reports as one of the top schools in the nation for the second consecutive year.

Ramona Teacher’s Association President Donna Brae-Romero, a kindergarten teacher at Ramona Community School, addressed the board, stressing a willingness from the teachers in the district to help RUSD better meet budgetary requirements. A retirement incentive package for the teachers in the district, proposed by the executive board of RTA, offers the higher-salary teachers retirement packages to make way for newer teachers, who would be paid less. The plan would help the district meet budgetary requirements through the school year.

The school board unanimously accepted the retirement incentive package. A follow-up conversation with Brae-Romero confirmed that letters have been sent to eligible teachers in the district.