AUSD Develops Master Plan

AUSD Develops Master Plan
Written by Miguel Gamalinda
From the October 2009 edition of the Island High School Tiki Times

In these trying times of financial and economic collapse, monetary cutbacks are becoming more and more prevalent in every aspect of our society, and the school system is no exception, with projected budget cuts expected to reach up to $5 Million.

In response to the recent cuts by the State of California to the school systems across the state, the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) has developed a Master Plan to help them spend their remaining funding more wisely while trying to minimize negative impacts on the district's students. The Master Plan will address the following questions:

* What are the optimum educational resources that each child should have?

* What is the gap between what they need and what we currently provide?

* What strategies, resources, and innovations will we employ to fill those gaps?

The Master Plan was adopted by the AUSD Board of Education and Superintendent Kirsten Vital last March to help the district be more wise with spending matters and such. The plan will most likely take effect in late 2009 or early 2010.

However, the effect on AUSD students as a result of the Master plan has not been determined as of yet due to, "the choices and decisions made by the Board of Eduation and the Alameda community," according to AUSD Board President Mike McMahon.* In regard to student input, McMahon states that there has been minimal input from students as of September 2009.

According to McMahon, there will be educational funding cuts that will take place due to the fact that the State of California has cut state funding for Alameda schools by $5 Million per year. McMahon stated that cuts will have to take place.

McMahon states that if you want to five your input to the school board , you can do that by attending Board of Education meetings and Master Plan Workshops**, all of which can be found on the Alameda Unified School District's website. (http://www.alameda.k12.ca.us)

*Ron Mooney replaced Mike McMahon on December 8, 2009 as Board President. McMahon is now the Board Vice President.

**The last Master Plan Workshop was held in late November 2009.