Boardof Trustees Jensifer Baker Natémas ee Unified School District ‘Steve M. Farrar, intendent_ Connecting students to their future January 29, 2008 Dear Natomas Community, Governor Schwarzenegger has proposed the largest financial cuts to education in the history of California. I want to share with you the devastating impacts the Governor's proposal will have on the Natomas Unified School District and our Natomas community if this plan proceeds. Since there have never been cuts of this magnitude to California schools it is impossible to predict the exact impacts. However, we do know that school districts across the state are considering mass layoff notices, raising class sizes considerably and reducing or eliminating transportation programs. 1am striving to keep the cuts away from our children and our classrooms, and to protect the hard-working employees of the Natomas Unified School District from layoffs. Not knowing what is ahead of us, I have implemented an immediate hiring and spending freeze as a precautionary measure. The potential impacts for Natomas include: © Losing nearly $5 million in funding for 2008-09, which is equivalent to taking away almost $500 from each of our students and an average of $11,000 out of every classroom. ‘Sending layoff notices to classroom teachers, clerical staff, bus drivers and food workers who daily dedicate themselves to our children and our community. ‘© Increasing class sizes at all grade levels and adding up to 10 more students to each kindergarten, first-grade, second-grade and third-grade classroom. This would mean 30 four- and five-year-old kindergarteners in every class. © Closing our schools to use by community groups, churches, youth organizations and athletic teams. * Eliminating busing, thus increasing traffic and decreasing safety for our students and neighborhoods. © Facing potential bankruptcy by 2009-10 and a complete financial reversal from our current status as one of the most fiscally prudent and responsible school districts in the state. (Unlike many school districts, we have a multi-million-dollar balance right now.) In addition, we would have to consider abandoning these plans: restoring custodial services and salaries still suffering from the 2001 budget cuts; reducing class sizes for core high schoo! English and math classes such as freshman algebra; buying classroom sets of textbooks so that, students don’t have to haul books home in backpacks that sometimes exceed 40 pounds; filling vacant librarian and elementary curriculum positions; and increasing school site budgets for after-school, enrichment, tutoring and safety programs. 1901 Arena Boulevard Sacramento, CA 95834 (10) 567 SA00 + G16 5615214 FAKThe Governor's proposal to cut statewide spending to education by $4.8 billion comes at a time when the Natomas Unified School District is working hard to raise student test scores, lower class sizes, increase high school graduation rates, improve campus safety and purchase new textbooks. Funding for California schools recently dropped from 43rd to 46th in the nation. Even without the Governor’s proposed cuts, California is spending nearly $2,000 less per student this year than the national average — forcing us to do without the counselors, librarians, teaching specialists and support staff our students so desperately need. Time is of the essence for us to fight the Governor's budget proposal. Our district is facing an ear March deadline for submitting a balanced budget to county officials and a March 15 deadline for issuing layoff notices to our teaching staff. Thave attached an information sheet on the Governor’s budget proposal as well as contact information for our legislators and a list of information resources. Please check our school district website at www natomas,k1?.ca.us for frequent updates, budget bulletins and notices of community budget forums. ‘The Natomas Unified School District has joined a statewide Education Coalition of PTAs, employee groups and school trustees to resist this budget plan but your voice also needs to be heard. Please take a moment to contact your statewide elected representatives. Tell them what you would like to see in the state budget for the children and community of Natomas and its legacy of quality education, quality schools and a quality community. Sincerely, Dr. St Farrar, Superin Enclosures (2)IMPACTS of GOVERNOR’S 2008-09 BUDGET PROPOSALS Governor's Proposed 2008-09 Budget Adjustments. Estimated Impacts Projected 2008-09 Funding Per Student ‘ipated Tunding of $8,008 $8100.00 7 —] "before Governor's cuts. ‘$8,000.00 | srscno0 | 3 sracnco Percentages —Bdaia__Acustmont_ mee $7,500.00 | oe mee jr Caters (Ta wil encsosch nes re rags ae edad) rsd Ast Bek Gant San Loss Per Typical Classroom inoncton eras Box Gat : $(11,991.16) Send Urey igre Sk Qt 9 Cass Se Reaeton “wo Carts Rds Meals Rambus Teal cjstments Peart To Gera Fad Reenies $81,100.50 Projected Budgets After Governor's Cuts School Years Descriptions 2008-09 2009-10 Total Revenues & Transfers In $ 76,469,321 $ 78,726,976 Total Expenditures & Transfers Out $ 81,884,457 $ 84,923,157 Net increase/(Decrease) in Fund Balance ~$ (6,416,136) $ (6,196, 181) Beginning Fund Balance $ 7,025,818 $ 1,610,682 Ending Balance 3 1,610,682 $ (4,585,499) (Bankruptcy!) * The District is required by State law to maintain a rinimumof a 3% Ending Balance. $ 2,456,534 $ 2,547,695