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RCSD Corner: News From the Redwood City School District
A Message From Superintendent Jan Christensen About Redwood City Schools
On June 2, the Redwood City School District faced the disappointing loss
of Measure E, a $91 annual parcel tax that would have generated $2.3
million per year for five years to help fill the gaping budget hole created
by California’s fiscal crisis. Since Election Day, I have heard questions and
comments from many community members about what this loss means to the
future of our schools here in Redwood City. Whether or not you have children
in the Redwood City School District, you have a right to understand both the
challenges and opportunities facing our schools at this critical juncture:
CHALLENGES
California is facing its worst budget crisis since the Great Depression.
This crisis was not created by our local school district, but our students in
Redwood City are deeply affected by the severe budget cuts it is causing.
Redwood City must look for local solutions to a statewide problem.
Some suggest addressing the education budget crisis through solutions
such as eliminating unions and tenure, or instituting vouchers for private
schools. Whether or not you agree with these solutions, it is important to
understand that they cannot be carried out on the local level — these are
legal reforms that can only be achieved on a state or national level, not by
an individual school district. Such solutions do not address the urgent crisis
we are facing right now in Redwood City, or the disparity in education
funding between our community and neighboring communities such as
Menlo Park and Woodside, which receive thousands of dollars more per
student than Redwood City.
Redwood City students are at a disadvantage compared to students in
neighboring elementary districts. Of the districts feeding into Sequoia
Union High School District, the amount of basic, non-earmarked funding
per student varies significantly from district to district. For example, in
2007–08 Woodside Elementary — the top-funded district that feeds into
Sequoia Union — spent $15,364 per student, Menlo Park School District
spent $9,201 per student, and Redwood City School District spent $6,752,
dead last among the eight local elementary districts. 1 Over the course
of a K–8 education, that amounts to a total difference in per student
expenditures of $77,508 compared to Woodside and $22,041 compared to
Menlo Park. Despite this large disparity in the amount of money spent on
their educations, our students are expected to compete with these students
in English, math and history classes at Woodside, Sequoia, Menlo-Atherton
and Carlmont high schools, and compete with them for entry into college
and well-paying jobs in our community.
with each school staff at least once a year. I am constantly impressed and
pleased by the high level of creativity and commitment I see among staff at
every school in the district.
Redwood City has a deeply experienced management team that is
working to maximize the resources we do have so that they are used
effectively, efficiently and creatively. We have put a focus in recent years
on frequently measuring our students’ learning, analyzing results critically
and adjusting teaching strategies to make sure students are learning what
they need to thrive in a 21st-century economy. We have also put a strong
emphasis on transparency in our fiscal and academic affairs, and have
made communicating with parents, staff and the community a top priority.
In our disappointment over the loss of Measure E, it is natural for the
community to look back and question whether the campaign could have done
more to increase the strong 63.6 percent majority who voted “Yes” to the
two-thirds supermajority required by California law. As superintendent, I
would like to encourage you instead, however, to look ahead and think about
how the Redwood City community can provide the competitive education
our students deserve. Please join me in coming up with creative solutions for
how we can bring the level of resources for Redwood City students on par
with our neighboring districts. I welcome your comments and suggestions at
jchristensen@rcsd.k12.ca.us.
1
Source: EdSource. Based on the 2007–08 school year, the most recent year
for which figures are available. Funding does not count federal or state funds
earmarked for specific purposes such as English language development,
but does include money from local sources such as local parcel taxes and
foundation contributions.
Due to steady reductions in state funding, the Redwood City School
District has cut nearly $10 million from its budget in the last seven
years alone, and we already expect to have to cut an additional $5
million to $6 million for the 2010–11 school year. After the loss of
Measure E, the Redwood City School Board of Trustees voted to increase
class sizes, lay off many first-year teachers, eliminate several critically
important administrative positions and reduce the hours that school
libraries are open.
OPPORTUNITIES
Redwood City elementary schools have never been better. Since 1999,
test scores have risen dramatically at every school in Redwood City. We
are on an upward trajectory, and if we can keep the momentum going, we
have the opportunity to make our local schools premier in the region and
the state.
Redwood City has outstanding teachers, and it has invested in
providing teacher training and staff development to give teachers
the support and tools they need to provide a rigorous, well-rounded
education. I visit schools every Thursday morning, and I meet for lunch
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