informschool district finance 101 .............................. 4honoring retirees & recruiting top talent ... 5no shots - no school .......................................... 3parcel tax dollars at Work .............................. 2stay informed of school district neWs ......... 3

innovatekindergarten registration fair ...................... 1unique & innovative educational programs 5schools are safe, clean, and going green .... 3

includeparent involvement ........................................... 2ensuring all student needs met ..................... 5

inspirecelebrating staff ................................................ 2student athletes honored ............................... 2

newslettervol. 01 num. 01 June 2011 community connections

livermore valley Joint unified school district end-of-year newsletter, highlighting your investment in education!

Kindergarten registration fair Boosts enrollment!

reflections on the academic Year: 2010-2011 The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District Continues to Thrive, Not Just Survive!

Kelly Bowers, Superintendent of Schools

as i look back on my first year as superintendent of the livermore school district, i can say with confidence and a sense of pride that our board of trustees and 1,200+ staff members are 100% committed to and living up to our mission, of ensuring “all students graduate with the skills needed to contribute and thrive in a changing world.” this commitment is evident in everything we do and say, and every decision we make.

vital to our success, and that of our students, is the support of our families and local community. We simply cannot accomplish our goals in isolation. With this in mind, we have made community outreach, communication and connections a priority. in response, the outpouring of positive support, in the form of volunteerism, donations and partnerships, has been tremendous, with our 13,000+ students as direct beneficiaries.

our district leadership team began the year with a data gallery walk to establish measurable achievement goals for all students at all schools and levels. We left the workshop rejuvenated, inspired and ready to go beyond the status quo to push ourselves, our staff, and our students to true excellence. by modeling, developing and demanding a culture of high achievement and expectations for student and staff performance, we are cultivating a district where synergy, transparency, integrity,

and high energy, are the norm. We acknowledged that we cannot continue “business as usual” if we expect to remain competitive and viable as a premier public service organization. We re-emphasized the importance of teamwork, open lines of communication, individual contribution, and collaboration.

on september 29th, we hosted our first annual district-wide back to school kickoff, featuring bob borchers, livermore high school alumnus class of 1984, who is an extremely successful entrepreneur and venture capitalist in the hi-tech industry. he emphasized the importance of adapting, taking risks and stretching out of our comfort zones to excel and meet 21st century demands. during both events, we reinforced the importance of working together as a unified district, with the understanding that we are stronger and more effective united as one in our purpose of meeting all student needs. “none of

us is as smart as all of us” was our way of affirming the power of collective thought and action, both within and outside of our organization. Whether we are combating negative media images of public education, actively challenging state funding inequities, or confronting and tackling the achievement gap, we are united, proactive and resolute in our purpose and focus. We established a clear direction for the year around four key thematic concepts: inform, inspire, include and innovate. With this quarterly newsletter, we strive to capture elements of all four themes, and showcase in brief some of the year’s highlights. clearly, one newsletter cannot do justice to our myriad of accomplishments and achievements, but it is our hope, that by sharing a glimpse of what our district and schools are all about, you will go one step further and access our website; sign up for our community connection updates; become a facebook fan; visit one of our schools; initiate contact via email or phone; volunteer; or otherwise get involved. the livermore community is an extraordinary place to work, play, raise a family, and educate young people. i couldn’t ask for or imagine a better place to serve as superintendent of schools. our students are so full of promise, and so deserving of the best we have to offer. thanks to your unwavering support, even in the midst of a major economic crisis and downturn, lvJusd students are not being short-changed.....in fact they are increasingly educated, enriched and empowered.

HiGHliGHts inside...

685 East Jack London Blvd, Livermore, CA • www.livermoreschools.com • 925-606-3200 • Published Quarterly

lvJusd Board of trusteeschuck rogge, board presidentbill dunlop, clerk of the boardstewart gary, board memberkate runyon, board memberanne White, board member

lvJusd Board meetings:board room685 east Jack london blvd.

tuesdays, 7:00 pmJune 28thaugust 17 september 7 september 21

meetings televised on cable channel 28:Wednesdays, 7:00 pmsaturdays, 9:00 am

upcoming dates:June 9, thursdaylast day of school

June 10, fridayhigh school graduations

august 23, tuesdayfirst day of school

nominate Your favorite teacHer & Win a trip to nYcnominate your favorite teacher, a teacher who has made a profound difference in your or your child’s life - someone who inspired you to read, made you think more deeply, and helped you reach your goals.

the winning family and the nominated teach-er will each win a trip (up to four people) to the 2011 macy’s thanksgiving day parade.

visit the website below to enter by July 29, 2011:http://opinio.scholastic.com/opinio/s?s=5797

livermore valley education foundation (lvef)a non-profit, tax-exempt public foundation established in 1991 and dedicated to restor-ing and enhancing academic and extra-cur-ricular programs in the livermore valley Joint unified school district.

visit their website for more information:www.lvef.org

to donate directly, visit the first giving website:http://www.firstgiving.com/lvef

ThiS newSleTTer iS diSTriBuTed elecTronically. go To The lvjuSd weBSiTe To SuBScriBe To receive ThiS and oTher diSTricT newS via email. www.livermoreSchoolS.com

On March 17th and 18th the District hosted its first Kindergarten Registration Fair. This year’s event, which was held at the Robert Livermore Community Center, included representatives from eight elementary and two K-8 schools, as well as sup-port staff. During the two-day event, over 820 new kindergarten students registered online and parents had an opportunity to meet and greet their student’s principal and receive a personalized welcome to their site of choice. Since the Fair, our kindergarten enrollment is at the highest it has been since 2003-2004, boasting over 1,000 students. The District and school sites are actively preparing for our new students and eager to welcome additional families to our schools. To schedule a personal visit or tour and/or register, contact Student Services at 925-606-3206.

chris van Schaack, executive director of Student Services

plan aHead: 2011 - 2012 school Year calendar The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District calendar is now available on the District website: www.livermoreschools.com. Consult the calendar for key dates. The first day of school is Tuesday, August 23, 2011, and our goal is 100% attendance.

Superintendent shares the first day of the 2010-2011 school year with Croce Elementary students.

2 CommUNiTy CoNNeCTioNS June 2011

Parent involvement has a positive effect on student success. When parents are involved in their children’s education: students achieve at higher levels; schools perform better; and teacher morale improves. Ultimately, communities are stronger when parents and community members become involved.

“When schools, families, and community groups work together to support learning, children tend to do better in school, stay in school longer, and like school more.” That’s the conclusion of a report from the Southwest Educational Development Laboratory. The report goes on to find that, regardless of family income or background, “students with involved parents are more likely to:• Earn higher grades and test scores, and enroll in higher-level programs;• Be promoted, pass their classes, and earn credits;• Attend school regularly;• Have better social skills, show improved behavior, and adapt well to school; and• Graduate and go on to postsecondary education., (Henderson & Mapp, 2002)

Many Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District parents and parent groups are exem-plary models of the power of active involvement in our schools.

Rancho Las Positas elementary School parents, Bret Dupuis and Dave Hinds initiated the premier Running Club for their childrens’ school, only to have every other elementary school join this fitness craze with their own customized versions.

Smith elementary School parent, Jean O-Neil Opipari implemented her vision for Latino Outreach which gives all parents an opportunity to become more connected and involved at school.

Lunch time recycling made record-setting strides in reducing the carbon footprint, thanks to the initiative of Arroyo Seco elementary School parent Susan Ragatz.

marylin Avenue elementary School parents, led by Don McAlister, work with the Project Roadrunner program to provide food to students in need.

Danielle Corbitt, an LVJUSD parent and strong supporter for the arts, had the vision and inspiration to produce the highly successful first annual “Reach for the Stars” event, showcasing over 400 students from all District schools.

student success!

2009 California Governor’s Challenge State Champion

The Livermore-Granada Boosters have been celebrating the accomplishments of scholar-athletes in Livermore since 1949. For information go to http://www.livermoregranadaboosters.org/Congratulations to the 62nd annual scholarship finalists from Livermore High School (LHS) and Granada High School (GHS).

Skylar Jones

LHS

Melissa Parker

GHS

Wesley Otrowski

LHS

Celeste Rietveld

LHS

Caleb Knight

GHS

Kelly Shaver

GHS

Brooke Betts

LHS

Evan Carlo

GHS

Veronica Garza

LHS

Jacob Boyd

LHS

Amanda Bakker

GHS

Brandon Chandler

GHS

Honors aWarded to student atHletes

rotarY cluB celeBrates staffCongratulations to the Rotary educators of the year:

Dyann Crittenden, First Grade, Altamont Creek Elementary

Burlyne Wilson, Second Grade, Arroyo Seco Elementary

Erin Lockhart, Fourth Grade, Croce Elementary

Meg Swant, Title I Teacher, Jackson Avenue Elementary

Sharon Abri, Third Grade, Marylin Avenue Elementary

Donna Swenson, Fifth Grade, Rancho Las Positas Elementary

Monica Tracey, Second Grade, Smith Elementary

Leslie Montgomery, First Grade, Sunset Elementary

Jan Bennett, Seventh Grade Science and Life Skills, Junction K-8

Cindy Grigory, Title I Reading Specialist, Michell K-8

Linda Evans, 6th Grade Core, Christensen Middle School

Rick Eckles, Middle School Physical Education, East Avenue Middle School

Kim Callon, Special Education Teacher, Mendenhall Middle School

Jennifer Burgin, High School English, Del Valle/Phoenix Continuation School

Bryan Hahn, High School Math, Granada High School

Susan Johnston, High School Math and Science, Livermore High School

Susan Pfiefer, Independent Study Teacher and High School Honors and AP English Teacher, Vineyard Alternative School

Recognizing Retiring Staff membersAt its May 3rd meeting, the Board of Education adopted Resolution No. 085-10/11 urging all residents of the community to join in thanking teachers and classified

employees and to honor these dedicated employees who shoulder the tremendous responsibility of nurturing and educating Livermore students.

The District hosted a Retirement Tea on May 18th at the Robert Livermore Community Center to honor retirees representing 841 years of service.

communitY parcel tax dollars at WorK!

The Livermore Community approved the Measure M parcel tax in November 2008. It is a continuation of and slight increase to the prior Measure D parcel tax of $120 to $138 per parcel. Senior citizen exceptions are available. The income from this tax retains vital programs and services that were in jeopardy due to lack of sufficient State funding. Begin-ning in 2010-11 and continuing through 2014-15, the parcel tax is providing:

• Smaller class sizes in grades K, 2, & 3 (District funds 1st grade)• Additional class sections at middle and high schools • Counselors at the high school level• Two periods of science per week taught by a Science Specialist in grades 1-5• Four class sections of electives at each middle school• Funding for instructional technology and infrastructure

The Parcel Tax Citizens’ Oversight Committee is charged with reviewing and validating the District’s use of the Measure M Parcel Tax funds. On June 7th, the Committee con-firmed with confidence that all funds collected in conjunction with Measure M have been earmarked or expended appropriately as described in the text of the ballot and voted on by the constituents of the City of Livermore. The committee is currently made up of 5 community members and the District encourages anyone who may be interested in participating to apply for service next year. The application is under Community at the top of our webpage at www.livermoreschools.com and can be submitted at any time.

Susan Kinder, chief Business official

parent involvement increases

June 2011 CommUNiTy CoNNeCTioNS 3

In keeping with our theme of “innovation,” our District formed a new Energy Conservation Committee this year to research, review and implement strategic ways to save energy, resources and reduce expenses. The Committee is made up of a Board member, District and site administrators, teachers and students, along with our partners from PG&E. One program offered by PG&E is called Peak Day Pricing (PDP). This is a program that offers substantial cost savings during normal use and requires reduction in use on certain “event” days. The PDP period began May 1st and runs through October 31st. There will be nine events scheduled during this period in which our sites will be asked to reduce their energy use between the hours of 2:00-6:00pm. Last year, our district participated in a pilot program with four schools and saved over $33,000. We will certainly surpass that mark this year by expanding the program district-wide.

The Maintenance and Operations Department is also working with PG&E on a number of rebate programs. This past winter, the swimming pool cover at Liver-more High School was replaced. The District received a rebate of $5,600 which covered 90% of the cost! During this same time frame, the main heater for the large gymnasium and pool was replaced by the Main-

lvJusd students recycle! Energy conservation efforts are evident across the District. Our students are environmentally conscious and aware, and taking action to make a positive difference. One example of a school-wide effort is Arroyo Seco Elementary’s pilot of a new green waste recycling program during the lunch hour. The new program involves separating food scraps and recy-clable materials to help reduce the amount of trash that goes into the landfill. Students follow new recycling guidelines and sort their lunch trays in recycling containers in the cafeteria. Over an average 9-month period, the program will reduce the amount of trash that goes into the landfill by 14 tons. In addition, approximately 20 tons of food scrap materials will be converted to garden ready compost and save the school approximately $5,000 a year in waste management services. We are proud that our LVJUSD students at all levels are making a difference every day!

tenance Department. The new units qualified for $2,400 in rebates.

The District is also working with PG&E on an energy audit. Resource Solutions Group, a third party company for PG&E, performed the energy audit in March. Results are being compiled and recommendations will be made on a number of energy saving projects, including light-ing retrofit, boiler replacement, insulation, and energy management systems.

This summer, the District will participate in the AirCare Plus program. The AirCare Plus program provides no-cost comprehensive diagnostic tune-up and audit ser-vices for Heating, Venting and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems for PG&E commercial customers. The program is designed to help save money, optimize HVAC system performance, reduce the impact on the environment and improve building occupant comfort with efficient HVAC equipment. This program is funded by the California utility customers and administered by PG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. With each new program or idea, we are finding unique ways to make a positive environmental and economic difference.

energy conservation committee takes off

our scHools are safe, clean and GoinG Green!mike nagel, executive director maintenance & operations

The Maintenance and Operations Department performs extensive cleaning and restoration of classroom, rest-room and support areas during the summer months. Much of the work focuses on deep cleaning and sani-tizing carpet, tile, fixtures, windows, doors, walls, ceil-ings, desks and chairs. Custodians are divided into five teams in order to clean over 800 classrooms and 300 restrooms at eighteen school sites. Other areas of focus include the administration building, library, multi-purpose, locker room and gymnasium.

The Summer Team Cleaning approach is an effort to pool our resources for better results. The goal is to create a healthier and safer environment for our stu-

dents and staff by improving and sharing the processes, methods and techniques used in site cleaning.

The program brings together staff with all levels of experi-ence and backgrounds. Mentoring naturally occurs and everyone benefits from working together as a team. The program is designed to develop leadership, communica-tion and organizational skills, as well as team building among our custodial staff and reinforces the importance of team work, flexibility and cooperation.

Since 2003, the LVJUSD team approach has served as a model for other districts, as it brings out the best in everyone and combines efforts to serve our students and ensure safe and clean schools.

schools Benefit from deep cleaning during summer months

partnering for asthma safe schools (class) Our District was selected to partici-pate in the Cleaning for Asthma-Safe Schools (CLASS) mini-grant proj-ect. We will receive a $500 grant to help review cleaning guidelines using “green” cleaning products. The Phase II part of the grant gives us the chance to receive $2,000 and partici-pate in the testing of green cleaning products.

The Cleaning for Asthma-Safe Schools program is a joint partnership between the Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program in the Califor-nia Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Green Schools ini-tiative. CLASS helps schools adopt safer cleaning methods to provide the healthiest possible working and learning environment for our staff and students.

Want to stay informed?geoff warner, chief Technology officerTo receive email updates as we post new information on our District website, subscribe under the “Stay Informed” section: www.livermoreschools.com

Become an LVJUSD Facebook Fan and Connect Via Social Media. If you would like updates on school and District activities, just click on the “Find us on Facebook” located at the bottom of the District web site.

Online Registration is Available: We have successfully launched a new stu-dent on-line pre-registration process for the next school year.

If you have a student in middle or high school make sure you are staying in the “loop” with their grades, atten-dance, assignments and school bul-letins by subscribing to SchoolLoop. Register on your school’s web page: www.livermoreschools.com/schools

no shots - no school ! New State law requires proof of Tdap immunization!

Due to a Statewide increase in the num-ber of whooping cough cases, a new California law (AB 354) now requires all students entering 7th-12th grades for the 2011-2012 school year to show proof of a Tetanus, Diphtheria and Per-tussis (Tdap) vaccine before they will be allowed to attend school.

Contact your child’s physician now to make sure his/her vaccines meet the new standards. This requirement may be met if your child has received a Tdap dose on or after his/her 7th birthday.

Current 6th – 11th Graders: Verification of the immunization must be received by Student Services, (925) 606-3206. Nursing staff may be reached directly for more informa-tion:

Joe Michell / Granada High School: Shelley Casey, RNscasey@lvjusd.k12.ca.us

Mendenhall / Vineyard / Del Valle / Phoenix: Laura Curran, RNlcurran@lvjusd.k12.ca.us

Christensen / Junction: Julie Howard, RNjhoward@lvjusd.k12.ca.us

East Avenue / Livermore High School: Carolyn Reggiardo, RNcreggiardo@lvjusd.k12.ca.us

Getting a booster shot now will protect your child against the disease and will meet the new requirement (AB 354).

Students who have not submitted records will not be able to pick up their schedules at fall orientation or participate in summer time school sports related activities until proof is provided.

4 CommUNiTy CoNNeCTioNS June 2011

Financing schools in the State of California is the most complex among the nation. The state of education financing has occurred through a series of court cases, legislative ac-tions, initiatives, and economic factors. To understand why the local school districts and boards make the financial decisions they do, it is important to understand how school districts are funded.

This article details how California school districts receive funding, and how that directly impacts the LVJUSD budget. Prior to 1978, financing education throughout California was provided at the local level through property taxes. Property taxes were apportioned to local agencies (school, city, parks, etc.) based on the level of services those agencies provided. Though there were positive aspects of this funding model, there were a large number of inequities due to varied property values between districts.

The first of two major developments that would change educational funding was a court case (Serrano vs. Priest). This case sought to alleviate the inequities by creating a revenue limit so all school districts received the same base funding.

However, shortly after this legal win, Proposition 13 was approved by California voters on June 6, 1978. It limited the property tax to 1% of the property value. This reduced the taxes by 57% on average, freezing the limit to that reduced level, and severely cut-ting the amount of revenue to local school districts. Proposition 13 also mandated a 2/3 majority vote for parcel taxes.

The combination resulted in Basic Aid District funding (a flat rate funding based on State revenue) and Revenue Limit District funding (a per pupil funding based on attendance). Even within Revenue Limit District funding, inequities remain between high and low-wealth funded districts. In 1988, the California voters approved Proposition 98 which required a minimum funding to education from the State’s general fund. However, Prop 98 has so many loopholes that the State is not always funding at the minimum required. Within the past 4 years, the Prop 98 funding has decreased by 20% to school districts.

School districts receive funds from various sources:State General Fund (school district general fund or restricted, categorical fund)• Federal Categorical Fund• State/Federal Mandated Programs (not fully funded by State/Federal government •

which requires school districts to use general funds to provide required programs)Local Sources (parcel taxes, bond measures, education foundations, grants)•

Education is the largest budget line item in California’s budget. The State’s revenue source is reliant on income and sales taxes. As the State’s budget fluctuates based on the economy, so does the education funding. This method of financing has California at the bottom of per pupil spending in the nation with the one of the highest standards and level of need for our increasingly diverse student population.

scHool district finance 101lvjuSd weathers the State’s Fiscal StormSusan Kinder, chief Business official Payments from the State to school districts are not on a regularly scheduled pay cycle.

To take advantage of “floats,” the State at times will defer payments to school districts by months, leaving school districts to take short-term loans or dip into reserves to meet monthly obligations. School districts are required to pass a budget by June 30th each year even without an approved State budget in place.

School districts must rely on the State’s cyclical revenue stream, are somewhat held hos-tage by the State’s cash flow deferrals of payments, are mandated to pass a budget by June 30th and are required to keep schools open in the midst of all the uncertainty.

School Districts consider three areas when trying to balance their budget:1. Increase Revenue (some are limited, one-time funds)

Parcel Tax or local bond measure (LVJUSD receives $3.8m annually)• Education Foundation Donations (LVEF)• Grants (LVJUSD has $21.5m in grant funds)• Revenue Enhancement Initiatives (e.g. energy conservation, improved attendance, •

targeted outreach resulting in enrollment increases)Fee-Based Programs•

Preschool »Summer Camps »Adult Education »Afterschool Programs »

2. Reduce Costs # of People (layoffs resulting in lost programs and services)• $ / Person (salary cuts, furlough days, etc.)• Other Expenses not related to people, such as:•

Textbooks - reduce adoptions »Professional Development »Deferred Maintenance »

3. Reduce ReservesThe State requires school districts to maintain a 3% reserve, however most school districts try to maintain a larger reserve for economic uncertainty and to withstand the State’s mid-year cuts and deferrals which often occur after school district obliga-tions have already been made.

Many districts increasingly rely on private funding and donations to help with supple-mental programs. They have reverted to the pre-Prop 13 and Serrano vs. Priest era of the “haves” and the “have nots” with everyone receiving a disproportionate level of funding.

Seth Rosenblatt, a San Carlos School Board Member, has developed a 30-minute presen-tation which outlines California’s complex education finance model in a very comprehen-sive and concise method so parents and community members can fully understand. To view the presentation in its entirety, visit the following web link:http://www.rosenblatt.org/video/ca-ed-finance.html

Continued on page 5

ensuring all student needs are metgeorge anich, director of Special educationThe Special Education Department continues to improve programming for our students in need and training for staff that support them. Recently, we have expanded our Language and Social Skills (LASS) program for our youngest students with autism. With consultation from Dr. Mark Sundberg, a local resident and a nationally renowned expert on autism curriculum, we have created a preschool program to serve this population of special needs students. The aim is to prepare these stu-dents and their peers for success in kindergarten and beyond.

We are also increasing our expertise to serve all elementary students in need as we create effective pilot “Response to Intervention” (RTI) programs at several sites. RTI matches timely interventions for reading and writing problems to specific breakdowns in learning the components of these skills. When targeted help is delivered to struggling students by general education teachers, all students receive the appropriate level of support. If special education services are needed, we will have better intervention information to make referrals.

Throughout the District, we are increasing the amount of time students with Individual Education Program (IEP) plans spend in general education settings in accordance with mandates that we serve students in the “least restrictive environment.” Formal Inclusion programs at Croce Elementary, Altamont Creek Elementary and Christensen Middle School have been duplicated at Sunset Elementary and Michell K-8 with expansion to Jackson Elementary and other sites next year. At every site in the District, IEP Teams for students are making decisions about placement that fully embrace the social and academic benefits of more fully including students with disabilities.

June 2011 CommUNiTy CoNNeCTioNS 5

finance 101...Continued from page 4

district Honors retirees and recruits new talentmike martinez, assistant Superintendent ~ yolonda holmes, executive director of human resourcesRetirement Enhancement PackageThe Board of Education approved a Retirement Enhancement Package (REP) for all eligible employees from all employee groups in response to the budget crisis facing the State and the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District. The REP was designed to avoid layoffs, to reduce staffing costs and to address the District’s structural deficit which arises from the State’s deficit funding of 80 cents on the dollar. The REP saves the District precious funds. Employees who took advantage of the REP were at the higher end of the salary schedule. Replacement costs for this group are considerably less, which results in a substantial savings to the District. The REP is funded by the American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA), restricted federal funds intended to create, restore and save jobs. To date, twenty (20) certificated employees and twenty eight (28) classified employees have taken advantage of the REP, generating a savings of approximately $800,000 to the general fund for the 2011-2012 school year. The estimated savings for certificated employees is a conservative estimate because the savings is based upon the highest initial placement of new hires on the salary schedule. The District is grateful to our retir-ees for the many years of service and dedication to the students of the Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District, and is fortunate that the implementation of the REP allowed us to avoid mass layoffs like many California districts have faced.

Employee RecruitmentThis is a difficult time to be a teacher in California. Approximately 26,000 teachers received layoff notices last spring and the California Teachers Association reported that more than half, 14,000, had not been rehired at the beginning of school in Au-gust 2010. As the budget crisis widens, many Districts will continue to lay off teachers. The Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District’s Board of Education has been fiscally prudent during these difficult economic times and, as a result, staff layoffs have been kept to a minimum. In fact, due to the implementation of the Retirement Enhancement Package (REP) and the Board and Superintendent’s fiscally responsible management of the District’s resources, the District is in an active hiring mode for the 2011-2012 school year.

District representatives have been attending recruitment fairs throughout California seeking the very best teaching can-didates to meet the diverse needs of our students. Representatives have attended fairs at California State University, Monterey, University of California, Davis, California State University, San Jose and the Northern California Teacher Recruit-ment Fair in Dublin, CA.

The District also has the unique opportunity to recruit new talent in our clerical and maintenance and operations depart-ments with the retirement of twenty eight (28) classified employees. Classified employees support the schools in a variety of ways; they support the schools’ daily operations, they support instruction in the classrooms, they maintain our grounds and the appearance of our buildings, and they feed our students. Our classified employees make a major difference in the lives of students attending Livermore Schools. The District will continue to recruit internally and externally, seeking the very best candidates available.

All children in our District deserve the best quality education possible each year that they are enrolled. What can our parents and communities do to provide a lasting and positive impact on the school finance system? Remember that in the end, this is about our children who have no voice in politics. Parents, the community, and the educational community need to advocate on behalf of the children!

Get involved with your time and talents or donations:

Local schoolsLivermore Valley Education FoundationParcel Tax InitiativesSchool Board electionsAdvocate to RepresentativesWork toward a structural solution

As the African Proverb states, it does “take a village” to educate our children!

WHAT iS THe FiNANCiAL STATUS oF LVJUSD?The budget issues for LVJUSD are com-pounded because our district is a low-wealth formula funded district receiving fewer funds per year per student than neighboring districts and the majority of districts in the State. While competing for the same labor force with the same pro-gram and high performance expectations, this unequalized funding creates a hard-ship for the District.

With the hard work of District staff, prudent decisions by the School Board members, and overwhelming commu-nity support for the parcel tax, our school district remains fiscally solvent during the State’s budget crisis. However, reserves and one-time funds are keeping us sol-vent while we work to reverse a structural deficit resulting from the State’s failure to meet the Prop 98 minimum guarantee and reimburse us over $8m in mandated costs.

The multi-year projections have been computed based on various State budget scenarios and the District’s required re-serves of 3% or $3m.

Like all districts in California, we are still in limbo awaiting a final State approved bud-get. Like the majority of districts in Califor-nia, we have suffered from years of drastic budget cuts totaling $34.8m. Unlike most districts in California, we avoided massive layoffs this year to keep a stable work force and environment for our students. Yet, we cannot continue to do so without the State honoring its Prop 98 commitment and some form of tax extension.

As the District and Board members evaluate how to navigate through this financial crisis, they are conscious of the long-term ramifications from decisions they make today. The LVJUSD is committed to providing transparent, user-friendly and timely budget reports that parents and the community can understand. We will con-tinue to update the budget portion of the website with pertinent information in order to keep our community and stakeholders fully informed.

unique and innovative educational programs cindy alba, assistant Superintendent ~ melinda hall, director of curriculum & Special ProjectsIn addition to its core curriculum, the District continues to seek ways to enhance program offerings for students and cultivate their skills and talents. This year, all seventh grade students participated in grant-funded training through Alameda County CPR-7 Program and received their own CPR Anytime Kits developed by the American Heart Association. The kit provided students with hands–on experience with administering CPR and the skill set to train family and friends. Students were en-couraged to share their knowledge and skill with others in order to increase the community capacity for bystander CPR and ultimately save more lives. Junction K-8 school received recognition for its high participation rate in Alameda County. Science Technology Engineer and Math (STEM) remains central to education of our students, as evidenced, by the dramatic increase in the number of students entering quality projects in the annual LVJUSD Science Odyssey event. A total of 655 kindergarten through grade twelve students conducted 431 research projects and applied scientific methodology to explore an inquiry or hypothesis around a topic of their choice. In addition, 48 middle and high school students entered projects in the annual Tri-Valley Science and Engineering Fair, winning a total of 30 awards! Many of these budding scientists are students in Livermore High School’s new Engineering Green Solutions Academy. Students in this grant-supported program experience rigorous academics and career technical education with an applied industry focus. Real-life applications are enhanced with support from business partnerships. The Green Solutions Academy is structured in a similar manner as the Granada High School Biotechnology Pathway, a rigorous program with many students who received top honors in the District’s Science Odyssey event. East Avenue and Christensen Middle Schools are gearing up for a new grant-supported, hands-on STEM exploration course in the fall. The Project Lead the Way Gateway to Technology curriculum lessons help students develop creative problem solving and apply critical thinking to the learning process. At the elementary level, our team of parcel-tax funded Science Specialists continues to play a major role in raising our students’ test scores in science well beyond the State and county averages. The highly dedicated, skilled and motivated retired TOPS (Teaching Opportunities for Partners in Science) scientists maintain an involvement with our elementary stu-dents bringing the real-life and practical applications of science to our students. Livermore is home to two National Labora-tories which help to create a science-rich environment for our students and schools.

The visual and performing arts have been showcased throughout this school year. At Livermore’s annual community Art-Walk, artwork from charcoal and pastel drawings, to painting and ceramics, to digital photography displays were on display representing students at all grade levels. The Drama department at both comprehensive high schools delivered top notch performances such as Godspell and Pride and Prejudice. Instrumental and vocal music students shared their talents at several venues; the most recent were the Livermore Valley Education Foundation (LVEF) sponsored spring concerts and the first annual Reach for the Stars event at the Bankhead Theatre. The elementary music program took on a new focus this year thanks to LVEF and community support. The current State fiscal crisis threatened the existence of specialized music education at the elementary level. However, this year, all fifth grade students are participating in a weekly course, Exploring Music, in which students sing, participate in musical games, listening activities and play the recorder. Our community values the arts and our students continue to thrive in their creative pursuits and artistic expression.

2009/2010 REVENUE PER STUDENT

www.ed-data.k12.ca.us

Tri-Valley Districts compete for same labor force with same program & performance expectations

$$ PER STUDENT

DIFFERENCE PER STUDENT PER YEAR

Livermore Valley JUSD $5,125

Tracy Joint Unified $5,270 $145Pleasanton Unified $5,513 $388Dublin Unified $5,812 $687