Beaumont Unified's Budget Workshop - My Analysis

I listened to the entire Beaumont Unified “Budget Workshop” so you don’t have to. I’ve put together a collection of what I considered interesting and revealing comments and posted it on my website OurFocusOurKids.com, Here is a link to that post: In Their Own Words.

Also, on my site I’ve posted the documentation provided at the workshop.

Click here for the Transportation and Payroll numbers and click here for the BRC recommendations.

If the administration had provided this documentation to me six weeks ago, we could have skipped the entire “Public Records Gate” and the ensuing website cover-up.

Following is the key information I took away from the workshop.

Superintendent Kayrell sent an email with memorandums important to the budget discussion to all “district users” but excluded the two board members most critical of him.

In response to a question from Board Member Janelle Poulter about a busing survey, Assistant Superintendent Elatar told the board they had provided direction to not complete the survey. As far as the public record is concerned, this isn’t true. In October 2011, the board unanimously instructed Mr. Elatar to provide an analysis of a proposal to increase bus ridership. They didn't hold him accountable when he ignored their request.

In response to a request for details about budget items the board was discussing in their workshop, Assistant Superintendent Latham told the board,  “Tonight we were not expecting that you needed details on all these items.” In regards to the administration’s lack of preparedness for the workshop, Board President Suzie Lara told the board that the Budget Review Committee’s recommendations are “Just a guideline to help us generate conversation…This won’t even be on our next board agenda.” Latham added “It’s not finished work.” Poulter asked “So, when do we make cuts?” and Kayrell responded “We have to finish our process and then we will make our recommendations.”

During a week where many school districts around the nation are recognizing National Public School Volunteer Week, Beaumont Unified is considering passing the cost of background checks and TB tests ($52) on to the volunteers. Board Member Margaret De Longchamp said “I did it for them (her children) to play sports and I would have done it to volunteer in the classroom.”

What is the point in holding a workshop without the details and the administration’s recommendations? This was a calculated move by Kayrell, this is how his administration conducts business. The Superintendent doesn’t want a public discussion on his recommendations, which will be different than the BRC's. He plans to present his proposal to an “up or down” vote in a future board meeting. This workshop was presented to satisfy a request for openness and transparency by Board Members Orozco and Poulter.

Do you want to know what Dr. Kayrell really thinks about the workshop? Listen to the last 5 minutes of the meeting. This was an exchange at the end of the workshop between Board Member Mark Orozco and Superintendent Kayrell and well worth your time to listen to it. Click here to listen

And, Board Member Hackney says these meetings aren’t a show.
Really Mr. Hackney?