Volume I, No. 15

February 26, 2009

California school finance is in for a wild ride over the next 18 months; Education’s Bottom Line provides information regarding the State Budget along with other pertinent information on issues affecting school districts.  

State Allocation Board Update

By David Walrath -- dwalrath@m-w-h.com

The State Allocation Board (SAB) met on February 25, to continue discussing how to address the state’s credit crunch which has restricted the ability to provide fund releases for new construction and modernization projects.  The SAB considered establishing priorities for fund releases once funds become available from the PMIB.  The SAB attorney opined that the SAB did not have the authority to establish priorities.  Other speakers indicated that there were ways for the SAB to establish priorities while being consistent with the first-come, first-served apportionment structure of current law.  more ...

Can School Districts Initiate Another Round of Certificated Employee Layoffs after March 15?

By David Walrath -- dwalrath@m-w-h.com

Education Code Section 44955.5 allows school districts to initiate additional certificated employee layoff  if  “ During the time period between five days after the enactment of the Budget Act and August 15 of the fiscal year to which the Budget Act applies, if the governing board of a school district determines that its total revenue limit per unit of average daily attendance for the fiscal year of that Budget Act has not increased by at least 2 percent, and if in the opinion of the governing board it is therefore necessary to decrease the number of permanent employees in the district, the governing board may terminate the services of any permanent or probationary certificated employees of the district, including employees holding a position that requires an administrative or supervisory credential.”    more...

If you have any questions on the articles in this newsletter, please contact the author of the article in question.

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Murdoch, Walrath & Holmes (MWH) has been instrumental in shaping statewide policy and implementing regulations for K-12 schools for more than two decades.  Strategic relationships have been forged with the State Administration through agencies such as the Department of Education, the State Allocation Board, the Department of Finance and the Office of Public School Construction and, on the federal level, with key Congressional Members and the Executive Branch.  MWH prides itself on having some of the best minds in K-12 education in virtually all aspects of school fiscal needs. 

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