Budget Reduction Brainstorming

The Folsom Cordova Unified School District has been soliciting ideas for reductions and savings to address a projected $10 million shortfall.

The following ideas have surfaced from a variety of sources.  The suggestions are not in any order of rank or importance.

It is also important to note that when looking for a good idea, there are benefits to getting a lot of ideas.  Some ideas will be worthwhile, and others will not.  At this point, we are not eliminating any ideas or suggestions. 

An analysis of the ideas, including their impact, legality, and their cost/savings will come later.  In some cases, the suggestion has been previously analyzed for cost/savings and legality.  In some cases the cost or legality of an idea cannot be determined until the state adopts a budget along with the guidelines for flexibility that will be included in the adopted budget. 

1.                  Reduce all salaries by some percent (such as 3%).

2.                  Combine and/or reduce administrative positions.

3.                  Redirect the use of categorical funds.

4.                  Go "paperless" for items such as progress reports and newsletters.

• Saves on the cost of paper and postage.

5.                  Reduce athletics.

• Eliminate freshmen athletics.

• Offer only one sport per season.  For example:

a.       Girls volleyball and football in the fall.

b.      Boys and girls basketball in the winter.

c.       Boys and girls track in the spring.

6.                  Reduce clubs and other extra-curricular activities.

7.                  Increase class size at high schools.  (from 35 to 37)

8.                  Increase class size at middle schools.  (from 35 to 37)

9.                  Reduce elementary preparation time.

10.              Eliminate district-paid cell phones.

• Already done with very few exceptions.

11.              Reduce high school electives.

• Courses that do not support core academics.

  • Certain art courses and PE electives, for example.

• Upper level language courses.

  • Available at community colleges.

• Computer Applications

• Others to be determined

12.              Shorten the length of the school year.

13.              Shorten the length of the school day.

14.              Increase class size in grades 3-6.  (From 30 to 32)

15.              Increase class size in grades 1 and 2.  (From 20 to 25-30)

16.              Reduce graduation requirements.  (Eliminate 4th year Eng., and Health/Driver's Ed)

17.              Combine or close elementary schools with enrollments under 350.

18.              Eliminate elementary summer school.

19.              Eliminate home-to-school transportation.

20.              Eliminate athletic and extra-curricular transportation.

21.              Reduce the elementary music and/or PE program.

22.              Combine Kinney High and Folsom Lake High.

23.              Freeze automatic annual salary increase.  (Step)

24.              Freeze salary increase for additional college units.  (Column)

25.              Eliminate stipends for clubs and extra duty assignments.

26.              Reduce or eliminate staff development.

27.              Eliminate district-paid release time for union representatives.  (FCEA and CSEA)

28.              Shorten the school day and course offerings for juniors and seniors.

29.              Eliminate benchmark testing.

30.              Postpone the retiree benefit contribution.

31.              Eliminate or reduce the deferred maintenance contribution.

32.              Eliminate all personal appliances such as portable heaters and microwaves.

33.              Reduce energy costs by reducing lighting, heat, and air conditioning.

34.              Redirect student body funds to pay for student body account clerk time.

35.              Eliminate or reduce lead teacher positions.

36.              Reduce campus monitors and noon supervisors.

37.              Reduce clerical support time at sites and departments.        

38.              Combine and consolidate special education services.

39.              Eliminate electives at the middle schools.

40.              Eliminate the Foreign Language Experience School (FLES) program.

41.              Eliminate staff for libraries.

• Libraries would be available for use by classroom teachers.

• Consider joint library use with city/county libraries.

42.              Encourage students to take advanced courses at the community college.

43.              Reduce counselor services.

44.              Eliminate release time for athletic directors and activities directors.

45.              Increase fees for use of facilities.

• And advertise availability of computer labs, classrooms, etc.

46.              Reduce employee benefit costs.

• Eliminate in-lieu option.

• Increase co-pay or reduce plan services.

• Review dependent coverage.

47.              Eliminate GATE testing in grades 6-8.

48.              Eliminate district support for National Board Certification.

49.              Aggressively improve attendance.

• Truancy Court

• Vacations no longer considered excused absences

50.              Transition high school registration (course enrollment) to an online process.

51.              Eliminate secondary courses with low enrollment.  (Under 27, for example)

52.              Eliminate or reduce department chair stipends.

53.              Seek a waiver for limits on work experience counselor case load.

• Or eliminate OWE as a course offering.

54.              Reduce classroom supplies.

55.              Delay the purchase of newly-adopted textbooks.

56.              Eliminate the School Resource Officer (SRO) in Rancho Cordova.

• Folsom SRO has already been eliminated

57.              Reduce nurses and health assistants.

58.              Reduce secondary preparation time.

59.              Reduce custodial and grounds staff and services.

• One day per week cleaning.

60.              Reduce ETIS personnel.

61.              Eliminate all conferences and travel.

62.              Eliminate all overtime except for safety emergencies.

63.              Institute a furlough program.

• Voluntary or mandatory?

64.              Eliminate kindergarten.

65.              Raise transportation fees.

66.              Charge a fee for athletics and other extra-curricular programs.

67.              Charge for student parking.

68.              Close campuses to all uses after 10:00 p.m.

69.              Propose a parcel tax.

70.              Establish a district foundation for donations and contributions.

71.              Charge categorical programs more for energy, facilities, and services.

72.              Offer an early retirement incentive.

73.             Let all landscape grass die and/or replace it with cost effective ground coverings.

74.              Reduce warehouse staffing.

75.              Institute an "adopt a school" program.

76.              Prohibit printing of email, etc.

77.              Limit food choices to reduce costs.

78.              Consolidate copiers and printers.

79.              Institute Universal Breakfast at all school sites to capture federal dollars.

80.              Request a waiver for mandated scoliosis screening.

81.              Improve employee attendance.

82.              Replace CNG buses with clean diesel.

83.              Better utilize vendor delivery systems.

84.              Use a crew/team approach for summer cleaning.

85.              Discontinue any night practices for athletics or music.

86.              Tighten up use of aides, especially in special education.

87.              Expand the use of cost-effective online learning options.

88.              Expand ROP offerings.

89.              Eliminate option for students to repeat failed courses.

90.              Charge STARBASE for cost of teacher and facilities.

91.              Reduce maintenance and ETIS mileage by scheduling work orders by site

92.              Eliminate resource risk management maintenance tech

93.              Eliminate .5 custodial at CHS

94.              Eliminate one grounds worker position (between FHS and Vista del Lago)

95.              No substitutes for grounds workers

96.              Don't use Hagan Park pool ($30,000 heat)

97.              Raise Transportation fees to $500/student

98.              Eliminate district-paid dues

99.              Eliminate stipends for site tech managers

100.          Eliminate elementary opportunity program

101.          Ask every parent to donate $650 per student

102.          Start school after Labor Day for energy conservation