Meet the Superintendent

State of the Central Valley School District

March 19, 2010

Dear Central Valley Families:

As the Washington State Legislature continues to grapple with a $2.8 billion budget deficit, our school district is bracing for a third consecutive year of budget cuts. None of these cuts are easy and all will impact our services to children.

We are anticipating reductions of $2 - $3.3 million from our general fund budget for the 2010/11 school year caused by further cuts in state funding. An additional $1.5 - $2 million in budget reductions the following year are also expected, due to state-mandated doubling of the pension contributions for local school districts and the end of federal stimulus funding.

More than any other message I want you as a Central Valley community member to understand is that this is a state financial problem that continues to be “pushed down” to the local level. Unfunded and partially funded mandates, declining state support for required learning programs and increased legislative requirements have severely strained our local school system. The state has created a situation where locally collected levies are being forced to cover basic state responsibilities.

As a parent and community member, your input is vitally important to our School Board and the budgeting process. I would like to personally invite you to attend one of three Community Budget Workshops to learn more about the financial challenges facing our district and provide your responses to a list of 28 items proposed for reduction or elimination. This list is posted online at www.cvsd.org under “Budget Outlook.” Each workshop will run from 7:00 – 8:45 p.m. in the commons area of the following Central Valley schools:

March 23   University High School         12420 E. 32nd Avenue
March 24   Horizon Middle School         3915 S. Pines Road
March 25   Central Valley High School   821 S. Sullivan Road

If you cannot attend a workshop, please complete a budget input worksheet online at www.cvsd.org from March 26 – April 6. The Central Valley School Board will use the collective input of our community as they make difficult budget reduction decisions for the upcoming school year. The Board is expected to adopt their 2010/11 Budget Reduction Plan in late April.

I truly believe that although we cannot change the magnitude of this challenge, we certainly can control the attitude with which we address it. In my visits to schools and attendance at activities, I see the wonderful employees of Central Valley putting the needs of children first. Our students deserve the very best and I appreciate the great work of each and every staff member as well as the ongoing support of our community.

Parents and community members participate and have key roles in all of the initiatives we’ve taken on this year – capital facilities and strategic planning, the math curriculum adoptions and the budget reduction process. Embedded in these challenges is the fundamental belief that the engagement of our community will bring about the greatest success for our children.

Throughout these difficult economic times, we must continue our commitment to children and the positive spirit that defines the Central Valley community. We will continue to plan for the future of our school system. We will continue to believe excellence is within our grasp. Our attitude and commitment cannot be determined by others. It remains under our control. We are CVSD.

Sincerely,

Ben C. Small