Survey Results and Video from the February 16 Forum on Public Education Funding:

On Wednesday, February 16 the Piedmont League of Voters, the Piedmont Educational Foundation, and the Piedmont Civic Association co-sponsored an educational funding forum, “Make Resources Count.”

A panel composed of Oakland School Superintendent Tony Smith, Piedmont Education Board Members Ray Gadbois and June Monach, together with Pedro Rosado from State Senator Loni Hancock’s Oakland office discussed the topic of public school funding and how to make resources count in the current budget crisis.  (Since Senator Hancock was delayed in a State budget hearing in Sacramento, her district representative, Pedro Rosado, took her place on the panel.)

The Forum addressed the potential impacts of the Governor’s budget proposal and a possible tax ballot measure on the Oakland and Piedmont school districts funding.   > Click to read more…

Highlights from the March 3, 2011 Special Board Meeting submitted by June Monach, Board of Education Trustee

Key Agenda Topic: Tentative Contract Agreement > Click to read more…

Highlights from the February 23, 2011 Board of Education Meeting by June Monach, Board Member

> Click to read more…

A summary of the highlights provided by June Monach, Piedmont Board of Education Member.

> Click to read more…

The Piedmont Civic Association is pleased to announce its first pubic forum and looks forward to sponsoring more forums focusing on civic topics in the future.  The Piedmont Civic Association will be co-sponsoring a forum on public school funding with the League of Women Voters and the Piedmont Educational Foundation on public school finances.

The forum, to be held on Wednesday, February 16, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Piedmont Community Center, 711 Highland Avenue, is free and open to the public.  Audience members will have the opportunity to ask questions about the financial situation facing California public schools and to provide input by completing a survey.

State Senator Loni Hancock, Tony Smith, Superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District, and Ray Gadbois, board member of the Piedmont Unified School District will be offering their insights and perspectives on school budget challenges, including how two diverse local school districts, Oakland and Piedmont, deploy their financial resources.

On February 9, 2011 , the Citizens’ Advisory Committee will recommend to the Board of Education that the parcel tax be increased by the maximum possible amount of 5% for the year 2011-12 – but with 2 caveats.  > Click to read more…

New committee members are now being solicited for the Citizens’ Advisory Committee on School Parcel Taxes.  The Charter of the Committee along with an Application are on the District website.  All applications must be received by no later than 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 10, 2011.

On February 9, 2011, the School Board will be presented with a powerpoint presentation on the use of bridge financing options to complete the final phase of school remodeling and seismic retrofitting.  Due to a delay in $4.9 million in State funding, the Board has a choice between delaying its final phase of work at Beach School or utilizing bridge financing > Click to read more…

Learn the facts and ask questions about the financial situation facing California public schools at a forum on Wednesday, Feb. 16, 2011, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Piedmont Community Center, 711 Highland Avenue.

Three knowledgeable panelists — State Senator Loni Hancock, Tony Smith, Superintendent of the Oakland Unified School District, and Ray Gadbois, board memberof the Piedmont Unified School District — will offer insights and perspectives on school budget challenges, from the state viewpoint down to how two diverse local school districts, Oakland and Piedmont, are deploying their financial resources.

The program, “Making Resources Count: School Funding 101,” is sponsored by the Piedmont League of Women Voters, the Piedmont Educational Foundation, and the Piedmont Civic Association. > Click to read more…

On January 14 the District learned it “won the lottery”:  it has been awarded the right to issue $10 million in low-cost school construction bonds known as QSCBs.  As a result, Piedmont taxpayers will pay almost $40 million less in interest costs than would have been required if the District had issued regular bonds to complete the final phase of its $56 million construction and remodeling project.  (The federal government subsidizes QSCBs, paying a portion of the required interest, resulting in savings to Piedmont taxpayers.) See PowerPoint presentation.

The District had applied for these special QSCBs last year, but did not “win”.  This, together with delays in State matching funds, led to uncertainty about funding sources to finish construction, and led to the School District obtaining a $10 million bridge loan from the County of Alameda in 2010.

The School District will be receiving almost $5 million in state matching funds in just a few weeks.  Receipt of an additional $6 million, anticipated this Fall, will allow the District to proceed with the final phase of its project, Beach School.

More details: School Board News – January 25.