Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Follow FHUSD on Twitter
In a continued effort to communicate on our FHUSD activities, awards and events I have established a Twitter account "bfmyhr5454" to provide quick texts on our efforts. You can also access directly on our FHUSD district website found at www.fhusd.org. Scroll down and simply click on the Twitter logo.
Immediate ED Funding Future Cloudy
FHUSD has studied many different scenarios in order to do their share of cost cutting measures greatly supported by our local overrides. We have saved thousands in electrical costs with our updated facilities in terms of chillers, HVAC systems and lights. We are prepared to go the 2010-11 school year without full-day KG funding (maintaining full-day program using K-3 override dollars) and without soft capital funding (textbooks, software and low level maintenance). Over the past two years we have cut classified, secretarial, administrative and teaching positions. Last year we also raised athletic and club fees to help mitigate the cost of having a broad extracurricular program to enrich student lives. The state has also took facility renewal dollars that we have overcome with local capital override support.
Currently, we have asked our building principals to work with staff to cut up to 10% based on the uncertainity of our future funding. That would result in another $1.2 million in cuts above and beyond the loss of the full day KG funds and soft capital. This would have to come from personnel and programs directly affecting our students' academic experience. As the Legislature makes budget decisions we will have building specific meetings to discuss the proposed cuts in personnel and program. It is our hope that the $287 million statewide that has been "swept" back over the past three years, not including full-day KG and soft capital amounts, will be enough to help our state through this crisis.
On possible solution may rest with the 1% Sales Tax measure in May 2010. This "temporary" 1 cent per $1 spent will go 2/3 toward state education and 1/3 toward state health/safety programs.
As a district we are lucky to have the continued support of our three local overrides that have helped to this point to protect our staff and programs.
Currently, we have asked our building principals to work with staff to cut up to 10% based on the uncertainity of our future funding. That would result in another $1.2 million in cuts above and beyond the loss of the full day KG funds and soft capital. This would have to come from personnel and programs directly affecting our students' academic experience. As the Legislature makes budget decisions we will have building specific meetings to discuss the proposed cuts in personnel and program. It is our hope that the $287 million statewide that has been "swept" back over the past three years, not including full-day KG and soft capital amounts, will be enough to help our state through this crisis.
On possible solution may rest with the 1% Sales Tax measure in May 2010. This "temporary" 1 cent per $1 spent will go 2/3 toward state education and 1/3 toward state health/safety programs.
As a district we are lucky to have the continued support of our three local overrides that have helped to this point to protect our staff and programs.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
FH Drug Abuse Coalition Offers Culture Change
The recent development of the FH Drug Abuse Coalition led by FHHS parent, Carol Groux, offers an opportunity for various stakeholder groups to make a difference with the FH adult community "cultural acceptance" of teen use of alcohol and drugs. Having been the school superintendent for three years and the co-HS principal last year, I have direct knowledge on how this behavior is promoted and supported by adults.
This adult behavior includes adult sponsored pre-functions for school Junior/Senior Prom, Homecoming and other major high school events. It includes the purchase and distribution of alcohol to groups of students without their parents knowledge. It includes not holding their children to agreed to school codes As a school district we have always forwarded information on harmful behavior directly to parents and when appropriate the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. In the case of athletic and leadership codes of conduct, we have sought to enforce student and parent agreements to not partake in this behavior in order to hold office or to participate in excurricular activities.
It has been difficult with school officials and myself facing resistance especially when loss of leadership titles or loss of playing time is involved. I have seen many young lives lost during my 30 plus years as an educator. In most cases adult indifference, denial or outright support led to the loss of teenagers' lives or major dysfunction to their educational careers.
The local schoolhouse cannot do this alone. It must involve all the community stakeholders seeking to promote education and responsibility toward the use of alcohol and drugs. It must involve adults holding adults responsible as a parent, an educator, a coach and a community member. The newly formed FH Drug Abuse Coalition offers our community a great opportunity to make a difference.
This adult behavior includes adult sponsored pre-functions for school Junior/Senior Prom, Homecoming and other major high school events. It includes the purchase and distribution of alcohol to groups of students without their parents knowledge. It includes not holding their children to agreed to school codes As a school district we have always forwarded information on harmful behavior directly to parents and when appropriate the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office. In the case of athletic and leadership codes of conduct, we have sought to enforce student and parent agreements to not partake in this behavior in order to hold office or to participate in excurricular activities.
It has been difficult with school officials and myself facing resistance especially when loss of leadership titles or loss of playing time is involved. I have seen many young lives lost during my 30 plus years as an educator. In most cases adult indifference, denial or outright support led to the loss of teenagers' lives or major dysfunction to their educational careers.
The local schoolhouse cannot do this alone. It must involve all the community stakeholders seeking to promote education and responsibility toward the use of alcohol and drugs. It must involve adults holding adults responsible as a parent, an educator, a coach and a community member. The newly formed FH Drug Abuse Coalition offers our community a great opportunity to make a difference.
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