Challenges Confronting the Huntington Beach Union High School District

By Duane A. Dishno

Let's turn challenges into opportunities.

Appropriate funding to maintain programs and services is always a critical challenge. Because so much of school funding is provided by the State, California's economic condition will continue to have a direct impact on our ability to fund our programs and services. Just as in past years, future budgets will need to be planned conservatively enough than unforeseen adversities can be handled without major disruption to classrooms and instruction. It will be imperative to maintain open and two-way communications among parents, staff, the school board, and the community about budget issues and decisions.

Last spring, the Legislature enacted a new funding formula for school districts. The full impact is yet to be seen but we are aware school districts will receive different funding levels in the future based on concentrations of students in foster care, students eligible for free and reduced school meals, and students with limited English-speaking skills. We must monitor and be prepared for the impact on our district.

Now that modernization has been successfully completed on all campuses, it becomes necessary to ensure they continue to be maintained in pristine condition. This requires setting aside funding for that purpose. Similarly, we have just finished a complete upgrade of district technology infrastructure (hubs, switches, routers, servers) without the use of General Fund dollars. We must plan for continued acquisition and updating of hardware and software.

We must continue to ensure that all students are well-prepared for college and the workforce. Instruction must be data driven and must fully engage students in the learning process. Access to honors and A-G classes, implementation of appropriate intervention strategies, and provision of quality staff development and training will continue to be a critical component.

Implementation of our clear and specific Strategic Plan greatly assists in effectively meeting the challenges we face. This plan, adopted in 2012 and revised in 2014, includes a focus on student achievement, fiscal stability, safety and wellness, college and career readiness, technology, and visionary leadership. It will continue to guide our actions and decisions.