Erik Walukiewicz, LASD’s assistant Superintendent of Business Services, said at the Aug. 4 board meeting that the district will have a total revenue of $87,627,241. The majority of the funds will be coming from property tax (74%), parcel tax (12%), followed by state funds (5%), other local funds (4%), the Los Altos Educational Foundation (3%), federal funds (2%) and lottery tickets (2%).
He said that even though the state and federal funds don’t make up a huge percentage of their revenue, both agencies play significant roles in district services and each percentage point is approximately $1 million.
Walukiewicz said 2.3% of the state budget will be going toward the cost-of-living adjustment funds, such as special education, mandated block grants and school nutrition programs. This year, they will also be given an additional state recovery block grant for over a million dollars to support staff and student well-being. He said the school hasn’t received the money yet for the recovery block grant, but that they will be mindful when they receive it.
He also said there will be no state funding for their transitional kindergarten programs this year. He said a few school districts this past year put in claims to state legislators to receive the TK aid, but they were all denied.
“The good thing is we work closely with school services to keep trying to advocate for basic aid in school districts,” he said. “We do benefit from being a basic aid status, but there’s a certain thing – like this – that is an underfunded mandate and we received no funds.”
According to Walukiewicz, the federal budget this year is $1,151,131. $844,898 will be going towards special education entitlement funds and $83,869 is for special education discretionary funds. There will also be a Cafeteria fund of $333,885 that will provide students with free breakfast and lunch.
He said the other funds will support Title I-IV students who are English language learners, economically disadvantaged or from an immigrant family. Most of these funds help the staff members who teach these students. There is a lot of concern that the title funds may go away this year, he said, and the district will need to see how the funds will play out.
“Given the risks of the state and federal budget changes, we should be very cautious of making any long-term commitments within these funds,” he said.
E
rik Walukiewicz, LASD’s assistant Superintendent of Business Services, said at the Aug. 4 board meeting that the district will have a total revenue of $87,627,241. The majority of the funds will be coming from property tax (74%), parcel tax (12%), followed by state funds (5%), other local funds (4%), the Los Altos Educational Foundation (3%), federal funds (2%) and lottery tickets (2%).
He said that even though the state and federal funds don’t make up a huge percentage of their revenue, both agencies play significant roles in district services and each percentage point is approximately $1 million.
Walukiewicz said 2.3% of the state budget will be going toward the cost-of-living adjustment funds, such as special education, mandated block grants and school nutrition programs. This year, they will also be given an additional state recovery block grant for over a million dollars to support staff and student well-being. He said the school hasn’t received the money yet for the recovery block grant, but that they will be mindful when they receive it.
He also said there will be no state funding for their transitional kindergarten programs this year. He said a few school districts this past year put in claims to state legislators to receive the TK aid, but they were all denied.
“The good thing is we work closely with school services to keep trying to advocate for basic aid in school districts,” he said. “We do benefit from being a basic aid status, but there’s a certain thing – like this – that is an underfunded mandate and we received no funds.”
According to Walukiewicz, the federal budget this year is $1,151,131. $844,898 will be going towards special education entitlement funds and $83,869 is for special education discretionary funds. There will also be a Cafeteria fund of $333,885 that will provide students with free breakfast and lunch.
He said the other funds will support Title I-IV students who are English language learners, economically disadvantaged or from an immigrant family. Most of these funds help the staff members who teach these students. There is a lot of concern that the title funds may go away this year, he said, and the district will need to see how the funds will play out.
“Given the risks of the state and federal budget changes, we should be very cautious of making any long-term commitments within these funds,” he said.
