The Gilroy Unified School District has a jam-packed lineup slated for its Board of Education meeting Thursday.
Community members and parents alike can get the skinny on a number of current issues facing GUSD, which includes the exploration of a parcel tax option, the impending termination of all funding for home-to-school transportation, the byzantine budget crisis and the possibility of moving the Community Media Access Partnership (CMAP) program to the Christopher High School campus.
Regular session for the meeting will convene at 7 p.m. Thursday in the district board room, located at 7810 Arroyo Circle. The view the entire agenda, visit www.gusd.k12.ca.us and click on “Board of Education.”
Here’s a snapshot of several topics on tap.
Home-to-school transportation: Going away?
Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed state budget for 2012-13 eliminates all funding for home-to-school transportation – though school districts are legally mandated by federal law to provide transportation for special education students. This year, Brown cut 50 percent of GUSD’s transportation funds, resulting in a loss of $543,000 in the current year. If Brown’s budget passes, GUSD will be faced with a decrease in $688,000 from home-to-school transportation and $327,000 in funding for special education transportation. A presentation will be given on this topic.
The parcel tax option
The Board of Education will hear and discuss additional information pertaining to the option of raising revenue through a parcel tax. On Jan. 12, the Gilroy Unified School District explored the possibility of a flat parcel tax that could cost local residents and businesses anywhere from $50 to $300 per year. After the discussion at the public school board meeting, the board decided to talk more Feb. 2.
CMAP: Coming to Christopher?
John Perales, principal of Christopher High School; CHS teacher Eric Kuwada and Kathy Bisbee, executive director of Community Media Access Partnership (CMAP) will present information regarding the possibility of moving CMAP to the CHS campus. CMAP is a nonprofit education and government access media center serving Gilroy, Hollister and San Juan Bautista, but CMAP is losing its facility space at Gavilan College. According to the agenda, having CMAP at CHS would give students access to media training and job skills related to broadcasting, journalism, graphic design and video production.
Budget information and planning strategies
A presentation will be given on ideas for increasing revenue, decreasing costs and finding ways to communicate the district’s budget situation to the community. If Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative doesn’t pass on the November 2012 ballot, GUSD will receive approximately $7 million less in funding in the 2012-13 school year.
Local recognition: SJ 2020 Vision Awards
One elementary and three junior high schools in Gilroy were four schools among 20 in Santa Clara County to be honored as recipients of the inaugural 2020 Vision Awards of the SJ2020 initiative, which is a collaborative community effort to eliminate the achievement gap by the year 2020. Principals Maria Walker of Ascencion Solorsano, Anisha Munshi of South Valley and Greg Camacho-Light of Brownell middle schools, along with Richard Rodriguez of Luigi Aprea Elementary School, received awards Jan. 19 at the Santa Clara County Office of Education in San Jose.
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Regular session for the meeting will convene at 7 p.m. Thursdayin the district board room, located at 7810 Arroyo Circle.
The view the entire agenda, visit www.gusd.k12.ca.us and clickon “Board of Education.”
