Creatively Focused’s Post

#ESSER funds are going away, but students’ needs are not. Many districts need more funding to continue supporting students, particularly those that are facing the steepest fiscal cliffs. This guide offers equity centered actions for states & districts to take beyond #ESSER: https://edtru.st/3uKEdVj

The budget picture is ROUGH for most school districts and county offices of education, so want to share resources CSBA developed to engage with community on the state budget and implications for public schools. We'll update this CSBA budget resources page regularly throughout the year. Of particular benefit to leaders and communicators is "PowerPoint Template: The Forecast is for Storms: Considerations for LEA budgeting in an uncertain fiscal climate." This PowerPoint deck provides background on: *The state budget development timeline *Key components of the state budget *History of state funding *Major factors influencing district-level budgeting *The state budget deficit *The Governor’s approach to bridging the deficit per the January proposal *The expiring impact of ESSER (COVID-19 relief) funds *Statewide enrollment trends The deck also leaves space for data and issues that impact the budget on a local level. Hope this is useful in communicating with students, staff, families, and the public. Good luck out there!

New York Library Association as provided by Jim Belair: The NYS Senate and Assembly have released their budgets (known as One House Budget) The next step is for the One House Budget to come to agreement with the Governor’s budget.   Proposed budget highlights regarding school libraries: One House Budget Library Operational Aid is $104.6 million, which is $2.5 million over the governor’s proposed budget One House Budget increases Library Materials Aid (Book Budget) increase from $6.25 per student to $11.00 per student. This is not the governor’s budget NOVELny funding is in both the One House and the governor’s budget. There s not clarification on what this will look like beyond next year.   Below is a link where you can email your elected officials in NY and let them know your thoughts regarding library funding. I want to stress this is completely optional and it is your opportunity to share with Albany what you feel is budgetarily important.    NYLA Link: Take Action

As ESSER funding ends, schools face budget cuts that jeopardize the support roles established for students in the wake of COVID-19. "How do we replace all of the scaffolding that we've put around our kids since we returned from the pandemic?" asks Dr. Marlaina Palmeri. Budget challenges force school leaders to identify the most valuable positions in a school's ecosystem, a tricky position without a simple-fix solution. Listen to the full conversation about creative post-ESSER budgeting at the link. https://hubs.la/Q02vcCzj0

Will Chicago’s School Budget problems happen in Cincinnati? Years ago, Cincinnati was blessed when Clem Buenger led a commission to reorganize our schools. (https://lnkd.in/gDvwx-VY) “Cincinnati’s schools superintendent last week unveiled a drastic reorganization of the district’s bureaucracy that slashes the number of central-office administrators by more than half and transfers control of day-to-day business operations to a business-trained “vice president.’' The organizational structure presented by Superintendent J. Michael Brandt for the 50,000-student district reduces the number of central-office administrators from 127 to 62. In addition, 27 non-administrative support-staff positions have been eliminated, as have 50 clerical jobs.” The key questions, that we are all afraid to ask: Did the recommended changes remain in place or did the bureaucracy take root and grow out of control again? For perspective Cincinnati schools invest roughly $25,000 in each of our children annually? Assuming 30 children per classroom, approximately $75,000 or 10% goes to the teacher. 😳 Where does the remaining $675,000 or 90% go? 😬 There is no doubt, we will need to invest more in education in the coming years. Are we financially sound today? Do CPS schools have a track record to support this increased investment? 🤔

There are wonderful schools, both public and private, committed to offering the best experiences and quality education for our children across the country. In some cases, private schools may align better with your family’s personal values, learning needs, religious affiliations or belief systems. When exploring the options, choosing the right school for your child is a big decision! But let's be real: the tuition can be a bit of a sticker shock! Affording private school can be challenging, but you can make it work. So, get ready to roll up your sleeves and dive headfirst into the world of private school finances. Read the blog on Affording Private School: A Guide to Financial Planning and Managing Education Costs https://bit.ly/4dBDFlM

🙌💡🌱 I need three extraordinary people who are ready to give it all up for the next 10 hours and 59 minutes. People who are willing to Ask what they can do — and do it. Today. 0️⃣ Confirm you are registered to vote in San Francisco. 1️⃣ Go down to City Hall (rm 48) and take the candidacy oath (required so you can start campaigning). 2️⃣Explain that you are running for SFUSD Board of Education because you think the best city in the world deserves the best schools in the world. 3️⃣ Request and receive signature pages. Find the first 30 residents who don’t like the plan to add another $100 million to the $400 million debt. The people who think competent citizens of the city - not people appointed by somebody in Sacramento due to the current Board of Education’s near-perfect track record of financial mismanagement - should run the $1 billion budget and give the 65,000 kids (and shrinking) a solid foundation - no - an excellent education. Now. The first 30 people who also want Excellence Now. Then go back to room 48. Submit your form. Pay the $500 filing fee. Give me a call (719) 337-5711 and take a break until November 1st (or whenever there’s a debate). Work hard now, play hard until the election on the 5th, and then play hard again until January 1st. Because in 2025 for SFUSD there will be work to do. And we - the four-person new majority of the San Francisco Unified School District Board of Education - we will be doing the work. Ask what you can do. Then go do it. Excellence Now. 🙌💡🌱

Education Funding Dilemma: Juneau School District Faces Budget Uncertainty Juneau School District is grappling with a substantial budget deficit of $10 million for the upcoming academic year. In a bid to alleviate the financial strain, the district’s officials recently greenlit a school closure plan that is expected to yield savings of approximately $3 million. The decision to close schools, however, met with mixed reactions as stakeholders weighed the cost-cutting measure against its potential impact on educational services and the community. Read More: https://lnkd.in/dNkwb8de #JuneauEducationCrisis #SaveOurSchools #FundEducationNow #BudgetUncertainty #InvestInOurFuture #SupportJuneauSchools #EducationMatters

Are you ready to respond to the most challenging budget season in more than a decade? Get prepared with a special webinar reviewing the Governor's January Budget Proposal and its implications for schools across California. Join CSBA on Thursday, Jan. 11, at 3 p.m. to learn how California’s $68 billion state budget deficit will impact education funding and the budget planning process for LEAs. During the presentation, CSBA Governmental Relations staff will respond to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s announcement, answer member questions on school funding, and review CSBA advocacy priorities for the 2024–25 state budget cycle including, but not limited to: • Protecting the local flexibility within the LCFF and maintaining LCFF funding levels • Supporting student mental health • Rebenching Prop 98 to support the full rollout of transitional kindergarten • Providing small districts and COEs additional flexibility to address their distinct needs • Helping LEAs address staffing shortages We'll see you there!

Minneapolis Public Schools faces a daunting $110 million budget shortfall, leading to significant proposed cuts which will change the educational landscape, impacting students and staff alike. Larger class sizes, elimination of critical programs like fifth-grade band and language courses, and significant staffing reductions are all on the table. These cuts aim to address shortfalls exacerbated by the end of federal COVID funds and years of underfunding. "We knew that this was coming, so setting money aside allowed us to use more than $30 million to close the gap as much as we can." — Ibrahima Diop, Minneapolis Public Schools finance and operations officer. How will these changes impact the educational landscape as well as our children's future? Let us know what you think in the comments. Click the link below to read the full article https://lnkd.in/g6EYMuRi