The Board has been asked to consider closing two schools within the Cotati-Rohnert Park District. Unfortunately, board members have not been given the correct facts to make its decision. We are asking that the board members take the time to review the information carefully and the best way is to table the matter for one year.
The Board has been told that schools must be closed because although there will be sufficient funds to run the schools, the district will not be able to meet its reserve requirements. You should note that the “FCMAT projection indicates that the district will be able to meet the 3% minimum required reserve level in the current and projection years.” The financial shortfall for funding the reserve is not expected until 2009-10. Therefore, there is just a minimal financial impact fueling the request to close schools.
In addition, money held in Fund 17 may be used to help meet the required reserve level if the funds have not already been committed elsewhere. The district’s 2006-07 unaudited actuals reflect a balance of $1,386,588 in Fund 17, Special Reserve for Other Than Capital Outlay.
Based on the FCMAT Management Review dated October 22, 2007 , the facts we have presented the board, the letters of support, the signed petitions, and the positive commitment from involved parents, it is apparent there is a strong desire to save our schools. The District should do its due diligence and take into account the information we have gathered so far, and to continue questioning the data which was incorrectly provided to it. There is sufficient money to keep La Fiesta and Gold Ridge Elementary schools open one more school year, and the many supporters have volunteered to help raise more funds to keep them open for many years in the future.
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2 comments:
Very well said Kim. I completely agree with all of your statements. I have no doubt that closing these schools will only worsen the financial situation of this district as many parents have contacted neighboring districts to see about transfers in the event that these schools are closed. The retention problem this district already faces will be even harder to combat with a smaller base of students at the elementary school level.
Keep up the faith. Hopefully the Trustee members have reviewed the mountains of information we have provided and will at least see that there is time to wait and review the data for accuracy. Remember - its not too late to email your comments to the board members still. You can always email your letters to the BOT members in care of the district office and it will get to them before tomorrows meeting. We are not asking for miracles, just time to come up with innovative solutions.
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