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Schools

School District Seeking 'Nontraditional' Support

The Las Virgenes Unified School District is asking for community's help in raising funds.

In the wake of dramatic proposed budget cuts to schools on a statewide level, the is fighting back on its own by introducing “nontraditional” methods of fundraising.

At an emergency budget update meeting held Thursday at , schools Superintendent Donald Zimring presented an overview of the district’s budget crisis and outlined ways in which the community can help.  

“Due to another year of severe budget cuts from the state, the district is seeking nontraditional support,” he told the audience.

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Over the past three years, the state of California has reduced its funding to the district by 19 percent, resulting in a loss of over $10 million. Consequently, the district has had to cut back on teacher salaries as well as a variety of vital services by nearly 18 percent, Zimring said. 

Zimring detailed the district’s money-saving strategy. “We’re restructuring programs and looking for ways to be creative,” he said. The strategy will include cutting back on custodial services, further reducing administrative and counseling staff and using high-efficiency printers, he said.

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“We are building a significant relationship with the Las Virgenes Municipal Water District,” Zimring said. He discussed talking to them about sponsoring elementary school science programs.

The district may also offer early-retirement incentives to as many as 28 higher paid, veteran teachers to save money in the long run.

A district-sponsored fundraising effort called Save Our Schools (S.O.S.) has raised over $246,000 toward keeping some of the 51 teachers who have received layoff warning notices for the next school year. Their fate will be decided at a May 10 school board meeting. Zimring said the money raised thus far may help keep as many as six teachers.

“There’s a new norm. Public education is not free,” said Ziona Friedlander, president of Together Helping Education (T.H.E.) Foundation, a coalition of parents and community and business leaders, formed in December to aid the schools.

“We need to pay for it at the local level, and we’re looking for people power," she said.

T.H.E. is seeking nonprofit status from the IRS to maximize its efforts, according to Friedlander. The group plans to partner with the district to raise money from all segments of the community, including small businesses and corporations.

“The philosophy is in the name,” said Friedlander, referring to the collective fundraising effort.

She said the same type of foundation has been used in a number of Southern California communities. “We are not reinventing the wheel,” she said.

“I want to start a revolution,” said third-grader Roxanne Chevalier. Chevalier’s mother, Caryn, spoke out at the meeting about her daughter’s concern that she won't be able to go on field trips the way her older brother did years ago. Chevalier encouraged other parents to contribute funds. “We need to say it’s a given. It’s a mentality we need to start to absorb,” she said.

In addition to 45 community members, in attendance were Sandi Pope, a teacher and co-president of the Las Virgenes Educators’ Association, Dan Stepenosky, assistant superintendent of personnel, and Dave Moorman, a school board member.

Zimring said district cutbacks are being taken very seriously. “These were not done in any kind of arbitrary or capricious manner,” he said. “The only thing the state is going to do is hurt us in the future. The future quality of local schools will depend on a change of culture.”

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