Back to the Weekly Home Page

Classifieds

Palo Alto Online

Ravenswood board cuts voluntary stipend

by Rachel Metz

T he Ravenswood School Board suspended its voluntary monthly stipend and medical benefits Thursday night in an effort to save the financially floundering school district some money.

In a 4-0 decision, board members voted to save the district an estimated $14,400 this year by giving up their $240 per month pay and health coverage. The board's fifth member, Chester Palesoo, was not at the meeting. It is not yet certain whether he, too, will give up his stipend and benefits.

While the savings may be a drop in the bucket for the district, which like PAUSD faces major budget cuts, the effort joins a slew of recent actions taken by a board working to keep Ravenswood financially afloat. Last year the board suspended pay raises for teachers and district staff.

The district faces an estimated $400,000 to $500,000 in mid-year cuts and even more next year.

Board member Jacqueline Greene suggested board members voluntarily give up their health benefits, which dramatically increases funds the board can conserve. Several board members, including president Adam Mitchell, said they do not currently use the health benefits and are willing to sacrifice them for the district.

"I don't think the stipend is inappropriate; I do think the work we do up here is invaluable," Mitchell said, soon adding, "I think it's a symbolic gesture -- we say we stand with our teachers, with our staff."

By July 1, the state requires the district to submit a balanced budget for the '03-'04 school year and have 3 percent of its $31 million budget in reserves. Ravenswood currently has only .38 percent of the state-mandated reserves. The board's pay and benefits suspension will continue until the board adopts a budget that meets the legal reserve.

Board vice president Todd Gaviglio said he wants all expenses associated with the board put on meeting agendas in the future to aid in determining where money can be saved.

In another endeavor to address the district's budget crisis, teachers, administrators and classified staff members will receive warnings in March that their jobs may be cut for the fall.

On Thursday, the board also approved notification of possible reassignment or job termination for 33 district employees, including two assistant superintendents and nine principals.

Ravenswood interim Superintendent Floyd Gonella said notice is provided to employees as a legal protection for the district.

"It's really a sort of archaic legal requirement."

If teachers must be laid off, Gonella said their credentials would be evaluated to decide which employees would continue with Ravenswood next year.

Employees approved for possible termination or re-assignment will find out in mid-summer if they will continue with the district in September

"My assumption is the majority of the individuals will be rehired," Gonella said.

Thursday's meeting included steps toward creating a district budget committee for the 2003-04 school year. Proposed committee members include Greene, Mitchell, Gonella, several district administrators and two district parents.

The measure passed by a 3-1 vote, with Greene voting against it.

Greene took issue with the fiscal committee because she said Gonella showed Mitchell an initial list of proposed committee members before the rest of the board received the information.

"I'm very concerned that all of the board members are not getting the same information at the same time," Greene said.

"Any communication I have with the superintendent is perfectly legitimate," Mitchell said, later adding, "I don't really appreciate your inclination that there was any inappropriate discussion going on."

E-mail Rachel Metz at rmetz@paweekly.com