School Board Candidates Have Their Say

Three candidates are competing for two seats on the Redondo Beach Unified School District Board of Education. All attended a study session of the board of education last week in which administrators the school staff that might be cut in order to balance a budget while state revenues continue diminishing. The district is either facing a $160,000 or a $2.7 million shortfall next year. Patch asked the candidates to write a short commentary on the state of the budget and why they want the job of board of education member. In random order: 

Laura Emdee

As I was listening to the two budget scenarios, I began to feel déjà vu. As a long time PTA child advocate, I have been through this process at least four times in the last ten years.

Every detrimental circumstance gives us an opportunity to accomplish great things. We now have an enormous opportunity to truly educate the next generation more efficiently than ever before. We must find creative solutions to circumvent the state’s obstacles.

We must maintain the integrity of our children’s education regardless of the budget.

I love to work with PTA volunteers. They are passionate, accomplish great things with no money and are always ready to roll up their sleeves. The district can learn a lesson from the volunteers in our school district.

What do we need to learn? First, we need to put aside our egos. Things have to change; it will be hard. Everyone needs to work together and treat each other with respect.

Second, we have to trust each other. At the end of the day, we will include everyone’s ideas on how we can cut our budget yet maintain our education goals. More importantly, we need to listen and not keep giving reasons why we can’t do something. We will start asking ourselves “How can we?” instead of “No, we can’t.”

Third, we need to ask for help not just from our parents but from the entire community. We need to be specific. The community wants to help but how? The answer can’t just be “give us money.” It struck me that no community leaders were at that meeting. Drew Gamet asked, “How are we going to get the word out?” My question is: Why weren’t the key community leaders already invited?

When I become a school board member, I will work to make your ideas part of the solution.

Anita Avrick

I have been attending school board meetings for the last fifteen years and I understand what a difficult process the budget is. All the stakeholders must work together to make sure our students suffer as little as possible.

The study session on the upcoming school budget presented to the school board on Tuesday night was a very good first meeting. I was a little disappointed to see very few people and only a representative from American Federation of Teachers. They presented two scenarios: One where the temporary tax increases are extended and one where they are not.

The difference is if a ballot to extend the tax increases is put on the June ballot and passes, our school district will be around $160,000 short whereas if there is no ballot or if there is one and it doesn’t pass, our school district will lose $2.7 million.

Because we have 33.3 temporary teachers (those hired with a definite ending date), 17.6 first year probationary teachers and 13.2 second year probationary teachers very few permanent teachers would be given layoff notifications.  Teachers and management must have notifications by March 15 in case of the worst scenario. Our classified employees only need a 45-day notice of termination.

One of my goals is better communication. We must reach out to all stakeholders – parents, teachers, administrators and the community.  These are tough times for everyone, but we need to make sure our students are our first priority.

We need to look at alternative sources of funding. I am a member of Redondo Beach Partners in Education, Redondo Beach Round Table, Redondo Beach Coordinating Council and on the Board of Directors for Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP). I would like to continue giving back to this community by serving on the school board. Please remember to mail in your ballot.

Arda Clark

Redondo Beach Unified School District (RBUSD) is challenged by a severe budget crisis. Whether RBUSD faces a shortfall of $160,000 or $2.7 million, it is important to place the decreases in context.

In the academic 2007-2008 year, RBUSD's revenue was $68.4 million. From that peak revenue amount, RBUSD has had funding reductions every year. For the current (2010-2011) year, the revenue is $59.4, which is $9 million less than the revenue in 2007-2008.

In other words, to understand the impact of the shortcuts, $9 million should be added to each projected shortfall, so that the shortfall of $160,000 is understood to be an actual shortfall of $9.16 million and the projected shortfall of $2.7 million is understood to be an actual shortfall of $11.7 million.

RBUSD simply cannot withstand another $2.7 million in reduction (which is really $11.7 million in reduction). I have interviewed the superintendent, every assistant superintendent, and the chief business official for the district, and I am convinced that there are no more places to make cuts without affecting the quality of education.

I believe that a school board member needs to act as a liaison between voters and legislators. I have already spoken to Assembly Member Betsy Butler about two possible changes in law that would enhance revenue in our district. If I'm elected, I will continue to take my concerns to our state legislators Betsy Butler and Ted Lieu.

And, as an advocate for public education, I would urge voters to vote in June to extend the temporary tax increases that are scheduled to expire this year. The deep revenue cuts to our schools and students are real and harmful. We simply cannot abdicate our responsibility to our students who need a rigorous education to be competitive in the 21st century economy.