Understanding the Reserve: Frequently Asked Questions

By Debbie Sandland

What the reserve is, how the Simi Valley Unified School District Board has used it to manage a state education budget reduction, and how we can rebuild it intelligently.

A. Under normal circumstances, the state requires school districts to maintain a reserve equal to 3% of budget. But over the past four years, the state has cut its own funding for education by $9.4 billion. School districts have struggled to make up this shortfall from their own resources. As a result, the state has allowed school districts to reduce their reserves to 1.5% temporarily. By law, school districts are required to return the reserve to its 3% level during the 2005-2006 school year.

For the Simi Valley Unified School District, the budget crisis forced many painful cuts in programs. But by taking advantage of this temporary reduction in the state-mandated reserve, the Board was able to preserve important programs and maintain the quality of the core eduction we offer our students.

Q. Can we build up the reserve and restore programs at the same time?

A. Funds permitting, yes. But it will require a careful balancing act and a true commitment to maintaining quality of education for our students.

Q. Why do some people say they want to increase the reserves beyond 3%?

A. The thinking goes that if we increase funding well beyond 3%, we will be less vulnerable to state budget crises like this one in the future. In order to do that, we would have to significantly reduce spending - delay restoring important programs, perhaps cut funding for existing educational programs and needs, and spend very little in the next few years.

Q. Why is that a bad idea?

A. Putting the breaks on spending for a few years would be fine if public education was a business. But it's not. An eight-year-old doesn't have a second chance to learn third-grade science. A high-school student can't prepare for college a second time. Nor can you tell students that they'll have to make do with a second-class education, but that we'll be able to give their younger siblings a good one a few years down the road.

If students and teachers need up-to-date textbooks, current computers, or even the basics that support eduction, like bathrooms in good repair and a class size that facilitates learning, we need to deliver it to that student at that time.

The job of public education is to do the best job we can to prepare every student that comes through our schools, every year.

I'm committed to rebuilding the reserve to its state-mandated rate. But I'm committed to building it responsibly, while keeping in mind that our primary job as Board members is to educate the children of our community.