DJUSD’s Budget Problems: A Primer

DJUSD Budget History 101A: Take a Seat

Our People’s Republic prides itself on being a well educated city.  As is often the case with university towns, the public education system for our community’s children is above par.   But with declining enrollment (see not enough housing for young families), a state budget crisis and shady dealings and/or incompetence by past administrators, DJUSD is facing one of its worst fiscal crises in recent history.

When we started the Davis Voice in January, we thought that people would be clamoring to get up on our soapbox to comment on all things DJUSD.  Perhaps we haven’t dialed the right phone number yet, but if you know of anyone who wants to keep us all current of DJUSD happenings in a fair, civil, and semi-regular column, email us at tips@davisvoice.com.

We’ve only reported twice on DJUSD happenings: once on the 7/11 Nugget Fields Committee and once on proposed long-term solutions for DJUSD’s budget.  After the jump, find your editor’s hazy recollection of DJUSD’s budget mess over the past few years.  This attempt will be a novel approach relying solely on memory of past events.  We’re hoping that some enlightened citizen will read this attempt, stare aghast at its inaccuracies, and set forth on a quest to enlighten us all on the challenges that face our local schools.

In early 2003, construction of Montgomery Elementary School was completed.  The funds to build this school were from a local bond measure and the expectation of matching funding from the state.  Many people have argued that this school should never have been built, as there were indications at the time that enrollment was beginning a long period of decline.  Then, the first major bombshell exploded: the State of California denied the district $4.5 million in matching funding because a paperwork deadline was missed.

Who was at fault for the missed deadline?  Obviously, everyone is still pointing fingers but it was most likely a combination of murky new requirements (DJUSD was not the only district to miss the filing deadlines) and administrative incompetence.

In 2005, construction of another elementary school, Korematsu was begun.  Again, state matching funding was over $2 million less than budgeted because of declining enrollment.  Apparently, the district learned its lesson this time and completed their state forms on time.  Korematsu has only hosted K-2 over the past few years.  With the closing of Valley Oak Elementary, it will finally begin operation at capacity for K-6 in the 2008/09 school year.

In November 2005, a new school board was elected.  Then, the confusion over the districts fiscal health got serious.  King High, a continuation high school for kids with a diverse array of needs, was in the midst of construction when it became unclear if the project was funded.  At one point, it looked as if there was $10 million dollars missing.  Months of construction delays, accusations, and consultants’ reports later, the money was found.

Many people in the community have laid blame for most of this fiscal malarkey at the doorstep of Tahir Ahad, former Deputy Superintendent.  Mr. Ahad’s involvement in these problems is extensively probed elsewhere on the interwebs.

So, by the summer of 2007, the community was obviously upset about the ongoing fiscal mismanagement at DJUSD.  Then, our knights in white armor rode to the rescue.  As the new DJUSD administration and board were literally begging the State Allocation Board (SAB) to give us the $4.5 in matching funds for the construction of Montgomery, Supervisor (and former Assemblywoman Helen Thomson), Assemblywoman Lois Wolk, and Senator Mike Machado brought their political weight to bear.  They stated unequivocally that mistakes were made by former employees, but that the children of Davis should not suffer for those mistakes.  The SAB gave DJUSD the $4.5 million.

In 2008, DJUSD, along with every other district in the state, faces the possibility of losing millions of dollars of state funding because our beloved Governor apparently does not believe in priority budgeting.  Combined with the already precarious status of the DJUSD budget, the current school board is in the midst of making some very difficult spending decisions.

Thus, in the face of acrimonious and vociferous opposition, the school district has voted to close Valley Oak Elementary School and restructure the middle and high schools.  Over 100 teachers and librarians may lose their jobs and a host of popular programs are at risk of being cut to put the district on sound financial footing.

Want to help close the budget shortfall?  Donate a $1 a day to the Davis Schools Foundation.

Well, that is just scratching the surface.  Did this editor’s memory fail him?  Do some of these issues deserve more in depth coverage?  Did we miss something that could truly elucidate the issue?  Comment below or email tips@davisvoice.com to have a regular or guest post.