Comments for Budget Blog http://ronrickel.wordpress.com Mammoth-San Manuel Unified School District Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:52:48 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 Comment on November 9, 2009 Update by Dr. Rickel http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/november-9-2009-update/comment-page-1/#comment-182 Dr. Rickel Mon, 09 Nov 2009 20:52:48 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=160#comment-182 The Maintenance of Effort (MOE) is part of the federal stabilization funding. Under the MOE requirement, state funding for schools cannot go below the FY2006 level or Arizona would lose the ability to use federal stabilization funding, which amounts to $472 million for FY2010 K-12 education. There is not agreement on how much the MOE amounts to, but the estimated dollar amounts of additional cuts that will maintain MOE for K-12 in FY2010 are in the range of $25 to $135 million. The problem (from a K-12 education point of view) with the MOE requirement is that the Governor can request a waiver. There are rumors that she already has done so, or will soon do so. If a waiver is asked for and granted, then the MOE requirement becomes a moot point. The Maintenance of Effort (MOE) is part of the federal stabilization funding. Under the MOE requirement, state funding for schools cannot go below the FY2006 level or Arizona would lose the ability to use federal stabilization funding, which amounts to $472 million for FY2010 K-12 education. There is not agreement on how much the MOE amounts to, but the estimated dollar amounts of additional cuts that will maintain MOE for K-12 in FY2010 are in the range of $25 to $135 million. The problem (from a K-12 education point of view) with the MOE requirement is that the Governor can request a waiver. There are rumors that she already has done so, or will soon do so. If a waiver is asked for and granted, then the MOE requirement becomes a moot point.

]]> Comment on November 9, 2009 Update by Mark Wiseley http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/11/09/november-9-2009-update/comment-page-1/#comment-181 Mark Wiseley Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:43:19 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=160#comment-181 How much can the State cut from K-12 before running afoul of the maintenance of effort clause from the stimulus money? Are we already being funded at these levels or can the state take even more. How much can the State cut from K-12 before running afoul of the maintenance of effort clause from the stimulus money? Are we already being funded at these levels or can the state take even more.

]]> Comment on September 28th update by Dr. Rickel http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/september-28th-update/comment-page-1/#comment-178 Dr. Rickel Wed, 14 Oct 2009 14:09:53 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=152#comment-178 This is a good idea and I would welcome you, or anyone else, to lead a committee to identify and implement ways to increase our enrollment. This is a good idea and I would welcome you, or anyone else, to lead a committee to identify and implement ways to increase our enrollment.

]]> Comment on September 28th update by Mark Wiseley http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/09/28/september-28th-update/comment-page-1/#comment-177 Mark Wiseley Fri, 02 Oct 2009 15:47:11 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=152#comment-177 I was wondering if there was any way we could encourage more parents to choose enrolling their children in school rather then home school. There are 38 children being home schooled in our school district. My research on the reason why parents choose home school over public school suggests 3 main reasons. 1. Religion instruction. 2. Belief that the public school is unsafe. 3. Belief that the public school is sub standard in academic rigor. We cannot provide religion instruction but we can attempt to demonstrate that we have safe schools and high academic rigor. Have we done anything to reach out to home school parents to encourage them to choose enrollment in our schools? 38 additional students would be a significant increase in enrollment. I was also wondering if there was any way to entice the Oracle students to choose SMHS over CDO? I was wondering if there was any way we could encourage more parents to choose enrolling their children in school rather then home school. There are 38 children being home schooled in our school district. My research on the reason why parents choose home school over public school suggests 3 main reasons. 1. Religion instruction. 2. Belief that the public school is unsafe. 3. Belief that the public school is sub standard in academic rigor. We cannot provide religion instruction but we can attempt to demonstrate that we have safe schools and high academic rigor. Have we done anything to reach out to home school parents to encourage them to choose enrollment in our schools? 38 additional students would be a significant increase in enrollment. I was also wondering if there was any way to entice the Oracle students to choose SMHS over CDO?

]]> Comment on July 6, 2009 update by Dr. Rickel http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/july-6-2009-update/comment-page-1/#comment-172 Dr. Rickel Wed, 22 Jul 2009 21:22:09 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=119#comment-172 Mary, See my post today regarding an update on the budget. I understand the frustration of being in limbo - I am just as frustrated and probably more!! The State has watched their deadline come and go for adopting a budget, and yet they would not adjust our time lines to submit a budget as specified in statute. This means a tremendous amount of hours have been spent filling out budget worksheets even though we don't have any specific numbers yet. As for full day K, we will continue to offer full day K this school year. Whether we will be able to do so for the 2010-2011 school year will depend on what happens throughout this year. Mary,
See my post today regarding an update on the budget. I understand the frustration of being in limbo – I am just as frustrated and probably more!! The State has watched their deadline come and go for adopting a budget, and yet they would not adjust our time lines to submit a budget as specified in statute. This means a tremendous amount of hours have been spent filling out budget worksheets even though we don’t have any specific numbers yet.

As for full day K, we will continue to offer full day K this school year. Whether we will be able to do so for the 2010-2011 school year will depend on what happens throughout this year.

]]> Comment on July 6, 2009 update by Mary http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/july-6-2009-update/comment-page-1/#comment-171 Mary Wed, 22 Jul 2009 18:36:56 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=119#comment-171 Just wondering if there is any news yet? I know the Governor signed a budget that is still not balanced, but the school portion is taken care of? As a parent, it's tough being in limbo not knowing what is going on. Another question I had, will kindergarten stay all day or go to half day? Thank you. Just wondering if there is any news yet? I know the Governor signed a budget that is still not balanced, but the school portion is taken care of? As a parent, it’s tough being in limbo not knowing what is going on. Another question I had, will kindergarten stay all day or go to half day? Thank you.

]]> Comment on July 6, 2009 update by Dr. Rickel http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/july-6-2009-update/comment-page-1/#comment-169 Dr. Rickel Sat, 18 Jul 2009 03:56:51 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=119#comment-169 Mark, As I stated in my July 6th post, I will let everyone know how we are impacted when I know. The State hasn't even sent out the budget worksheets yet - which are necessary to determine the impact to us. Further, the Governor and legislature are still negotiating items that pertain to education, so nothing is for sure until all negotiations are complete and the entire budget adopted. Mark,
As I stated in my July 6th post, I will let everyone know how we are impacted when I know. The State hasn’t even sent out the budget worksheets yet – which are necessary to determine the impact to us. Further, the Governor and legislature are still negotiating items that pertain to education, so nothing is for sure until all negotiations are complete and the entire budget adopted.

]]> Comment on July 6, 2009 update by Mark C. Wiseley, PhD http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/07/06/july-6-2009-update/comment-page-1/#comment-168 Mark C. Wiseley, PhD Fri, 17 Jul 2009 04:00:43 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=119#comment-168 Ok, so as I understand it the legislature has approved funding to K-12 at least last years levels. I think I heard something about a 2% increase but not so sure I heard correctly. What does that mean to all of us? Ok, so as I understand it the legislature has approved funding to K-12 at least last years levels. I think I heard something about a 2% increase but not so sure I heard correctly. What does that mean to all of us?

]]> Comment on June 22, 2009 by Dr. Rickel http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/june-22-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-166 Dr. Rickel Tue, 07 Jul 2009 04:22:47 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=117#comment-166 Today's special session was a result of the Governor vetoing the K-12 appropriations. Today the House and Senate both adjourned until Monday, July 13th after passing two education bills that basically provided the funding for K-12 that the Governor wanted. It is speculated that the Governor is likely to sign the bills. It is too early to understand how these bills will impact our district, but at first glance it is more favorable than any other proposals to date. Today’s special session was a result of the Governor vetoing the K-12 appropriations. Today the House and Senate both adjourned until Monday, July 13th after passing two education bills that basically provided the funding for K-12 that the Governor wanted. It is speculated that the Governor is likely to sign the bills. It is too early to understand how these bills will impact our district, but at first glance it is more favorable than any other proposals to date.

]]> Comment on June 22, 2009 by Mark C. Wiseley, PhD http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/2009/06/22/june-22-2009/comment-page-1/#comment-165 Mark C. Wiseley, PhD Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:31:08 +0000 http://ronrickel.wordpress.com/?p=117#comment-165 So, now that the appropriations for K-12 was vetoed, what can we expect? So, now that the appropriations for K-12 was vetoed, what can we expect?

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