Out of concern for continued deficit spending, the Board of Education began a process last year to look deeply at the Windsor Unified School District budget. The way we (along with CA public school district) are funded (often with one-time money that cannot be used for ongoing costs) and the increasing costs to school district (largely due to required pension and healthcare cost increases) has us spending more than we are bringing in. Decisions are being made to keep WUSD solvent while continuing to provide quality programs for our students.
California school districts are required to report their budgets at least three times per year. With each budget report, we must include a multi-year budget projections that demonstrates we can meet out financial obligations in 2020-2021 unless we plan for the future now by reducing ongoing costs.
In the spring of 2018, the board was provided with budget information that continued to bring concern about our status in the 202-2021 school year. They were also informed of community input from our budget focus group, which included staff, parents and community members. Specifically, the board was provided with input we complied about our values, hopes and perceived needs for the students of WUSD. District staff has continued to investigate short term and long term options that could reduce ongoing costs and maintain the high quality, innovative programs and services for our students.
AN option that was developed by the focus group’s input (about the value of building community through offering students and families more time at elementary schools) and subsequently explored under board guidance was reconfiguring the elementary program. While we explored a number of ideas, the most feasible was to expand Mattie Washburn into a TK-2 school and Brooks into a 3-5 school, thus moving students off of the Windsor Creek campus. This idea, among others, were brought to a series of community conversations/town hall meetings in November. Parents, staff, students and community members were provided with budget information and opportunities to ask questions.
Then, they were provided with time to discuss the reconfiguration (which they were asked to indicate their level of support and to provide additional questions, comment and/or suggestions). All information from the three meetings was gathered and publicized and provided to the board on an ongoing basis.
At the board meeting held on Dec. 4, 2018, all of the community input was reviewed with a few recommendations, including consideration regarding the reconfiguration of elementary schools. On that evening, board approval was given to staff to take further steps to reconfigure our elementary schools for the 2019-2020 school year as follows: beginning on the first day of school for the 2019-2020 school year, Mattie Washburn will house transitional Kindergarten (TK) though second grade and Brooks Elementary will house third through fifth grade.
Within the next weeks, an Elementary Reconfiguration Task Force will be put together. This group will include representatives (parents, teachers, support staff and administrators) from each of the three current elementary schools. The goal for this group is to make recommendations for a smooth and thoughtful reconfiguration process. More information specific to the Task Force will be sent out from your school’s principal.
If you have any questions, please send them to my***************@wu**.org for our review and response. We appreciate your understanding and your part in making this a smooth transition for our students, staff and families of the Windsor Unified School District.
Brandon Krueger is the superintendent of the Windsor Unified School District.
