Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop

2 Monday, December 2, 2024 Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Fremont Unified School District Education Center Board Room 4210 Technology Drive, Fremont CA 94538 Special Meeting, Closed Session 5:00 PM ~ Regular Meeting 6:00 PM ------- PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: This board meeting will be held in person, but members of the public can observe it via FUSD's website live stream. The public live-stream link is on this page and will be posted online at https://fremontunified.org/about/board/board-meeting-live-stream-video/. PUBLIC COMMENT: (Public Comments for Non-agendized items are not accepted during Special Board Meetings) Written public comments will continue to be accepted in advance of the meeting from those attending in person and from individuals participating remotely during the live meeting. Public Comment will only be accepted for Agendized Items. If you wish to provide public comment, please complete a speaker card at the entrance of the meeting room. Speaker cards for public comment on any agendized item will be accepted before the item is called by the Board President and as indicated on the agenda. Although the Board President may seek additional information, participation in debate on any item before the Board shall be limited to the Board and staff. For further information on providing public comment from a remote location, please look at Guidelines for Public Comment during Agendized Items under the Library tab. SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS: In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, Fremont Unified School District may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require appropriate alternative modification of the agenda in order to participate in Board meetings are invited to contact Patty Sandoval at (510) 659-2542 by noon on the Monday preceding the schedule Regular Board Meeting or 24-hours in advance of a Special Board Meeting. 1. OPENING ACTIVITIES - 5:00 P.M. Subject 1.1 Call Meeting to Order Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 1. OPENING ACTIVITIES - 5:00 P.M. Type Procedural Guidelines for Public Comment during Open Communication, Closed Session and Agendized Items for Board Meetings. BOARD FOCUS GOALS Goal 1: Reduce the achievement gap Goal 2: Ensure Measure E is implemented as planned and develop a Facilities Master Plan Goal 3: Support personnel development to assist student learning Goal 4: Improve communications across the district Goal 5: Demonstrate responsible fiscal stewardship Goal 6: Develop Government Handbook BOARD COMMITMENTS Start meetings on-time and keep breaks on-time; Scheduling items for effective flow; Complete research, preparation and reading before the meeting; Keep comments and questions succinct; Have board president offer thanks (to presenters) for the entire board; Give presenters a set amount of time to speak, remind them and enforce respectful limits. File Attachments 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Subject 2.1 Approval of the Board Agenda for December 2, 2024 Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA Type Action/Vote Recommended Action Approve the Board of Education Agenda. File Attachments Motion & Voting Approve the Board of Education Agenda. Motion by Dianne Jones, second by Sharon Coco. Final Resolution: Motion Carries Yea: Vivek Prasad, Rachel Zhang, Larry Sweeney, Dianne Jones, Sharon Coco 3. PUBLIC COMMENT - ITEMS LISTED FOR CLOSED SESSION Subject 3.1 Public Comment will be Accepted only for Closed Session Items listed on the agenda. Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 3. PUBLIC COMMENT - ITEMS LISTED FOR CLOSED SESSION Type Procedural Public Comment will be accepted only for Agenda Items listed under Closed Session; No Public Comment on Non-Agendized Matters will be accepted File Attachments 4. CLOSED SESSION - 5:00 P.M. Subject 4.1 Closed Session Agenda Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 4. CLOSED SESSION - 5:00 P.M. Type Action/Vote Recommended Action Action(s) taken in Closed Session will be reported out in Open Session. The Board of Education will meet in Closed Session prior to the regular meeting to consider items listed in this agenda. If a Second Closed Session is necessary, the Board will adjourn following the open meeting. Any action taken in the Second Closed Session will be reported at the end of the Second Closed Session. 4.1.A Public Employee Performance Evaluation: Superintendent, (Government Code Section 54957) File Attachments 5. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION - 6:00 P.M. Subject 5.1 Pledge of Allegiance Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 5. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION - 6:00 P.M. Type Procedural File Attachments Subject 5.2 Roll Call - Board Trustees Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 5. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION - 6:00 P.M. Type Procedural Roll Call: Trustee Zhang, President Trustee Sweeney, Vice President Trustee Jones, Clerk Trustee Coco, Member Trustee Prasad, Member Student Member Sriya Neti File Attachments Subject 5.3 Introduction of Staff Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 5. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION - 6:00 P.M. Type Procedural Administrative Staff Erik Burmeister, Superintendent TBD, Associate Superintendent Leticia Salinas, Assistant Superintendent, Instruction Zack Larsen, Assistant Superintendent, Human Resources Michael Milliken, Interim Executive Director of Special & Inclusive Education Services Patty Sandoval, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent and Board of Education File Attachments 6. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION Subject 6.1 Report on Action taken in Closed Session Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 6. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION Type File Attachments 7. REGULAR AGENDA ITEM(S) - PRESENTATION BY STAFF Subject 7.1 A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 7. REGULAR AGENDA ITEM(S) - PRESENTATION BY STAFF Type Information, Presentation INTRODUCED BY SUPERINTENDENT ERIK BURMEISTER Background The Fremont Unified School District Governing Board is committed to ensuring the district's continuing fiscal viability and solvency. During past budgetary uncertainty, the district took several actions, including employee layoffs and furlough days. During the Great Recession, the district worked closely with employee groups and the community to implement reduction measures and solicit buy-in. The district again faced difficult choices during the 2020-2021 fiscal year, exacerbated by the global pandemic's economic impact. The pandemic enormously impacted national and state economies, passed on to K-12 school districts. In addition to the pandemic, the district continued to experience the effects of declining enrollment, over-projections, and increased pensions and special education costs. The district is once again confronting challenging financial decisions, exacerbated by declining enrollment and the "fiscal cliff" resulting from the conclusion of pandemic-related funding. In addition to the pandemic's lingering effects, the district grapples with rising operational costs that outpace revenue growth. Fremont Unified School District is projecting a deficit of $30.3 million in the Unrestricted General Fund for the subsequent year. As a result, the district must identify $20 million in ongoing reductions to meet the 3% reserves requirement in the two subsequent years or $34 million in reductions to eliminate deficit spending and balance the books. On September 18, 2024 , the Board held its first of several engagements with the community to gather input and provide initial direction on addressing the financial challenges. The district must reduce its budget by approximately $34 million to prevent continued deficit spending. The Board is expected to take final action on these reductions at the January 8, 2025, Board Meeting. At it's November 20, 2024 Board Meeting, the Board was provided an initial review of draft budget reduction scenarios. They were p resented with potential areas for reductions, innovative restructuring ideas, redefinitions of core elements, and possible funding opportunities. The Board was invited to clarify proposed scenarios and give direction on any additional scenarios they wanted to prepare for further discussion at the Special Meeting on December 2. Current Status This evening's meeting will provide the Board an opportunity to discuss, seek clarification, deliberate, and make initial recommendations regarding the proposed budget cuts. The Board will have another opportunity at the December 18, 2024, meeting to review the budget and provide their final recommendations, which will be presented at the January 8, 2025, Board Meeting. Policy Implications This proposed action is consistent with existing Board of Education Policy 3110. Prepared by: Erik Burmeister, Superintendent File Attachments Budget Balancing Scenarios 11.20.24.pdf (1,451 KB) Leveled Reduction Scenarios 12.02.24.pdf (236 KB) 8. BOARD QUESTIONS Subject 8.1 The Board will be provided an opportunity to seek clarification and ask pertinent questions regarding Agenda Item 7.1: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability. Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 8. BOARD QUESTIONS Type Procedural File Attachments 9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 7.1 ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME Subject 9.1 Public Comment for Agendized Items Only; Public Comments for Non-agendized items are not accepted during Special Board Meetings Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 9. PUBLIC COMMENT ON ITEM 7.1 ACCEPTED AT THIS TIME Type Procedural Public Comments will be accepted only for Agenda Items listed under Closed Session; No Public Comments on Non-Agendized Matters will be accepted . File Attachments 10. BOARD DISCUSSION Subject 10.1 Board Discussion on Agenda Item 7.1: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 10. BOARD DISCUSSION Type Procedural File Attachments 11. ADJOURNMENT Subject 11.1 Adjourn Meeting Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 11. ADJOURNMENT Type Procedural File Attachments Subject 11.2 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Information Meeting Dec 2, 2024 - Special Meeting of the Board of Education: A Balanced Budget for Fiscal Sustainability Workshop Category 11. ADJOURNMENT Type Information In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and upon request, Fremont Unified School District may furnish reasonable auxiliary aids and services to qualified individuals with disabilities. Individuals who require appropriate alternative modification of the agenda in order to participate in Board meetings are invited to contact Patty Sandoval at (510) 659-2542 by noon on the Monday preceding a regularly scheduled board meeting or as soon as possible for a Special Board meeting. File Attachments