School Board Public Hearing & Workshop on Funding Priorities

The board of the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) will hold a public hearing and workshop Wednesday on what the district's limited revenues should be spent on and potential revenue opportunities.

Most of the meeting will be set aside to hear public comment, the school district said.

The session will be held from 6-8 p.m. at Lovonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Ave., in Richmond. The five-member board acquired two members in the Nov. 6 election, Randall Enos and Todd Groves, who were sworn in on Dec. 12.

Even though the school district benefits financially from the recent passage of Measure G, an extension of the current West Contra Costa parcel tax for academic programs, and state Proposition 30, which is expected to channel more funding for schools, the district says its funding is still below what it was in 2005-06.

A notice for the Wednesday meeting sent by Marin Trujillo, WCCUSD Community Engagement Coordinator, said:

Dear WCCUSD Families,

The passage of Prop 30 and Measure G only provide the resources to prevent even worse budget cuts than the District experienced over the last four years.  With no additional revenues, the question before the community and Board is how to set priorities and look for funding sources when state revenues have not yet reached the level of funding the District received in 2005-06. The West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education will hold a special workshop on setting priorities and identifying funding sources and opportunities on Wednesday, December 19, 2012 from 6:00 to 8:00 PM at Lovonya DeJean Middle School, 3400 Macdonald Avenue in Richmond. The majority of the meeting will be set aside to hear from members of the public. 

The meeting agenda is attached to this article.