Tag Archives: Denair Unified School District

Proposed 2016-17 DUSD Budget Includes Pay Hikes, Investments in Tech and New Programs

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DUSD Recognition

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair Unified School District trustees signaled support Thursday night for a 2016-17 budget that includes small salary increases for all employees and one-time investments in technology and academic programs.

The proposed budget envisions spending $13.5 million in the next school year as compared to about $13.3 million in 2015-16. The difference, explained Chief Business Officer Linda Covello, mostly is due to the 1% pay raises previously approved for all employees plus state-mandated additional contributions to their retirement funds.

There will be two teaching positions added at Denair Elementary Charter Academy to expand the dual-immersion Spanish language program to the first grade.

Extra money received from the state the past few years will be used to buy new 31 new computers for the Denair High School lab as well as innovative Spanish programs for all campuses and a new math curriculum for the elementary campus. Covello said committees composed of staff members are in the process of identifying additional needs across the district. Because the money comes from one-time reimbursements from the state, Covello said it is best invested in equipment, programs or maintenance upgrades that are not ongoing and do not need to be funded each year.

The 2016-17 budget remains lean because the district still projects a slight decline in enrollment. Each student is worth about $8,000 in state funding based on average daily attendance (ADA). In the past five years, ADA has fallen from 1,535 students to 1,275. Continue reading “Proposed 2016-17 DUSD Budget Includes Pay Hikes, Investments in Tech and New Programs” »

Free Summer Feeding Program Features Breakfast and Lunch

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DUSD Lunch program

Submitted by Denair Unified School District

All children 18 and under who live within driving distance of Denair Middle School are invited to participate in a free breakfast and lunch program beginning Monday. Children do not have to attend Denair schools to participate and there is no income or other eligibility restrictions.

The program is a collaboration of the Denair Unified School District and the California Department of Education,using federal grant money.

“Just show up and we’ll feed you a delicious, nutritional meal,” said Billy Reid, Denair’s food services director.

The program will be run from June 6 to July 1 and again from July 11-22. Breakfast – including plenty of locally grown fresh fruit and milk – will be served from 9 to 10 a.m. Lunch – featuring fresh vegetables, more milk and healthy juices, plus favorites such as hamburgers, burritos, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and pizza – will be served from noon to 1 p.m. The menu will change daily.

Reid expects up to 30 youngsters for breakfast and 60 or more for lunch, but said there is room for hundreds more interested children. He emphasized that all children are welcome – a convenience for busy moms and dads who don’t always have time to juggle making breakfast or lunch with their jobs or running kids to other activities

“I’d love to see more participation,” he said. “You know there are people out there who need the help.” Continue reading “Free Summer Feeding Program Features Breakfast and Lunch” »

Denair Unified Trustees Thank Staff for Patience, Approve 1% Salary Increases for All Employees

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Denair Unified School District trustees approved 1% salary raises for all employees Thursday night, the first step in what they hope will be additional moves to restore across-the-board pay cuts imposed three years ago.

Even as trustees passed the motion 4-0 (board member Ray Prock Jr. was absent), they acknowledged that would like to do more as financial conditions improve.

“I look at this as we’re finally able to give something back,” Trustee Robert Hodges said. “This is a good-faith effort that we’re going to (restore salaries) as soon as possible.”

Salaries for every Denair employee were reduced by 8% in 2013 as one part of an effort to bring the district’s expenses and revenue into alignment. The lingering effects of the recession and declining enrollment combined to push the district into financial crisis, which required a short-term loan from the Stanislaus County Office of Education and intervention by the state.

Those dark days are well in the past now, district officials stressed Thursday, but enrollment remains an issue. Denair Elementary Charter Academy and Denair Charter Academy have consistently added students, but that growth has been offset by continued declines at Denair High School.

Enrollment provides the biggest chunk of income for any district in California, with the state paying about $8,000 per student per year based on what is known as Average Daily Attendance. In Denair, ADA has fallen the past five years from 1,535 students to 1,275.

“Our major goal is to not just restore salaries to where they were, but to go beyond,” Superintendent Aaron Rosander said. “We want our employees to have the salaries that they rightfully deserve.”

The pay raises take effect July 1 for the 2016-17 school year. Collectively, they will add $98,499 to the district’s budget next year.

The district remains in contract negotiations with the two bargaining units representing its 60 teachers and 63 classified staff. Continue reading “Denair Unified Trustees Thank Staff for Patience, Approve 1% Salary Increases for All Employees” »

Update From DUSD Superintendent Aaron Rosander

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Submitted by Denair Unified School District

Businesses and organizations are dynamic places that experience seasons of change. Denair Unified School District is no exception. Below are some the confirmed key changes occurring across our District.

Denair High School

Administration: We have recently learned that Principal Alecia Myers will be leaving our District and will not return to DHS this year. We thank Ms. Myers for her service and wish her well.

Interim Principal Joe Galindo will continue to fill in at the high school, teaming up with our talented faculty and staff to ensure that the school year ends smoothly and successfully.

Principal interviews will be held Monday, May 9th.

Teachers: We are currently recruiting for three teacher positions at DHS in the areas of Science, English and Mathematics.

Leaving DHS at the end of this school year are Breanna Vaughn (science) and Carrie Coldicutt (English). We thank both individuals for their terrific service and wish them well in their future endeavors. The talented Cristina Rojas (mathematics) will transfer to Denair Charter Academy next year where she will work full time.

Sandra Cisneros will move from DECA to DHS to teach Spanish. Ms. Cisneros will fill the vacancy of Maria Olivas who next year will serve as DUSD’s full-time Coordinator of English Language Development/English Learner Instructional Coach

Teacher recruitment and interviews are currently in progress.

Continue reading “Update From DUSD Superintendent Aaron Rosander” »