The Implications of District Budgetary Challenges for Local and State Policy: Lessons from Sacramento and Marin

In this seminar, Pivot Learning will discuss two case studies aimed at better understanding the ways in which California districts’ budget challenges impact their ability to serve students. The cases explore this impact in two unique locations: the Sacramento City Unified School District and Marin County. These reports find that, in Sacramento, increasing health care costs and poor business practices have led to deficit spending and cuts to programs and services. In Marin County, local parcel taxes have begun attracting more organized opposition due to increasing public perception that tax dollars will be used to fund pension liabilities, rather than being used to support students. Arun Ramanathan, Carrie Hahnel, and Hannah Melnicoe will share findings from these case studies and discuss the implications for state and local policy and revenue generation for education. Panelists Liz Guillen, Michelle Giacomini, and Terena Mares will reflect on the findings from different perspectives.

Speakers:

• Michelle Giacomini - Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team (FCMAT)
  
• Liz Guillen - Public Advocates
• Carrie Hahnel - Independent Consultant
• Terena Mares - Marin County Office of Education
• Hannah Melnicoe - Pivot Learning
  
• Arun Ramanathan - Pivot Learning
  

Please note this event starts at 12:00pm with lunch served starting at 11:30am.