I think it is wonderful that David Mielke, President of the Teachers Union, was able to jump on the revelation that School District reported that it closed its books this year with about $1.5 million over its projected ending balance. He suggested the extra funds could be used to restore furlough days.
As a result, he was able to get the School Board to propose the restoration of two furlough days.
I'd like to bring up a couple of issues regarding the budget process. Do we really need to raise the anxiety of teachers and classified employees about their job security every year when there is money that can be raised and cut elsewhere?
It seems we needlessly threatened to cut 27 employees’ jobs over the past year in haggling over the budget cuts. Proof in the pudding was the extra $1.5 million over the CCUSD's projected ending balance.
I have a Masters in Business Science. I have been trained to read a balance sheet, and I must say the “state-mandated” bookkeeping procedures can be a bit confusing.
Even Supt. Patti Jaffe admitted that she had a hard time fully understanding all the various numbers.
I would like to propose that Noorali Delawalla, Asst. Supt., Business Services, be directed to make an additional user-friendly balance sheet that would enable interested parties — including the unions — to see where the money really is going and make suggested cuts or revenue increases.
For example, in the 2011-2012 Adopted Budget, page 12, under the description, Professional/Consulting Services and Operating Expenses there are $6,170,804 in expenses out of a roughly $53 million budget.
I asked Mr. Delawalla in a meeting with Supt. Jaffe if the District lawyer expenses were in this line item. He responded affirmatively, estimating that the yearly expenses were $450,000.
A few weeks later Mr. Delawalla stated publicly at the last Board meeting that attorney fees for the year were only $325,000.
Which is right? If we had a detailed balance sheet showing a complete breakdown of expenses that would be most helpful.
After all, do we need to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars lawyering up in negotiations with the unions when we could just as easily resolve issues informally over a cup of coffee. That way we would save the District money and not create anxiety about threatening to cut jobs.
Mr. Zirgulis, a School Board candidate, may be contacted at zirgulisr@yahoo.com
