On Dec. 6, 2021, Fremont Unified School District Board’s Budget Sub-Committee met to discuss the board agenda for the Dec. 8, 2021 FUSD Board meeting. The meeting began with a public comment regarding the roof at Mattos Elementary School and then transitioned into the agenda which included the implementation of special education assessment programs and reviewing of the first interim budget report.
Carla Cox, a FUSD parent of two and member of the Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC), expressed her concerns about the instability of the roofs at Mattos Elementary School. She explained that the roof has been in dire need of replacement for nearly five years now and yet, no budget has been allocated to repair it.
“There was originally a plan to get the roof addressed in December,” explained Cox. “But, there was recent information that the plan has been changed, likely due to funding adjustments as a result of Prop. 51.”
Trustee Christopher Cammack acknowledged her concerns but admitted that the issue was not on today’s agenda but he would coordinate with Associate Superintendent Nancy Torres Pfeiffer to follow up with Cox on the plans for the roof
On the agenda was the implementation of a program with Varsity Tutors that costs the district $45,000 annually and is being utilized by 37 special education teachers in the district. Varsity Tutors is an independent organization that is funded by FUSD to assess special education students’ needs. This organization aids the district in conducting the 13 areas of psycho educational evaluations such as academic assessments which are used to conclude whether a student qualifies as special needs.
“[There is a] range of [costs for the assessments],” explained Trustee Cammack. “It could be $2,500, $5,000, and sometimes a little bit more expensive than that too. It depends on the scope and type of evaluation that is needed.”
The sub-committee reviewed the first interim budget report which is an analysis of the district’s financials from July 1st to Oct. 1st, 2021 and Associate Superintendent Pfeiffer described that the district was able to utilize one-time federal and state funding to cover costs.
“[The money] helped tremendously with the increase in the ending fund balance,” stated Associate Superintendent Pfeiffer. “The increase in fund balance is necessary as the district has increased obligations starting next year.”
The ending fund balance for this year is at 12% of the district’s reserve, a significant increase from the 7% that the district started at. The additional funding removes the need to discuss budget cuts this year and will be allocated towards textbook adoptions, new programs such as early learning centers, transitional kindergarten requirements including teachers and paraprofessionals.
Additionally, it is anticipated that teaching positions across the district will be eliminated within the next year as there is declining student enrollment. This year, the district chose to utilize categorical program funding but however, those programs will not be available next year so this year is a grace period for certain staff.
The interim budget report discussed the revenue for the 2020-2021 school year which was $432.5 million and the expenditures amounted to $387 million. For the 2021-2022 school year, there is projected to be increased revenue due to federal and state one-time funding and as a result, the expenditure amount is projected to be $438 million.
The next FUSD Board Budget Sub-Committee meeting is scheduled to be on Jan. 10, 2022 and FUSD residents are welcome to attend and observe the livestream or provide a public comment on any budget-related concerns.