Blog: Carlsbad Unified School District Can Learn From the Business Community

Carlsbad Unified School District is among nine school districts in San Diego County on the state Department of Education's list released in March of those that might have trouble paying their bills in the next few years.

This was disturbing to me and countless other Carlsbad families I have spoken with. Is there another way to reduce the angst students, parents and teachers of Carlsbad Unified School District are experiencing over increased classroom size, reduction in arts and athletic program support, decreased teacher prep time and support, parent pressure to be in the classroom to help teachers? My youngest son graduated from Carlsbad High School 2 years ago and had a fabulous educational experience leading to being on the college Dean’s List 2 years in a row. We join many if not most Carlsbad parents pride in their children’s accomplishments. Thank you CUSD for transmitting the knowledge and skills necessary to perform at college level. 

Over a short two year span classrooms have increased and teacher’s prep time have decreased. Budget cuts have put pressure on parents to contribute and raise money to keep important programs and teachers on the job. I thought private schools had to raise allot of money. CUSD parents are starting to match what is expected from private school parents to supplement tuition. PTAs, Boosters, Rotary, Kiwanis, Junior Women’s Club, Optimist, small and large business are all trying to fill the gap in needed funds. Parents and concerned citizens last year
joined together to help find alternate funding sources and new revenue streams
for Carlsbad Unified School District. Even appealing to the City of Carlsbad
which already provides in-kind services to the District and continues to look
at ways to support the District.

I think there is another way to fill the revenue gap starting with measurement. The City of Carlsbad conducts regular resident surveys grading on satisfaction levels, a reflection how the staff and elected officials are doing their job. Our Mayor, City Council and city staff get graded on how they manage today and plan for Carlsbad’s future. As a resident of Carlsbad this has helped me know they want to communicate and relieve any concerns I have about the direction of the City. Perhaps, to reduce angst among parent, students and teachers, is increasing communication with quantative measurements on how the district is performing. Don’t know of any long term successful public or private, non –profit organization that doesn’t perform annual reviews and satisfaction surveys. The implementation of annual satisfaction surveys to parents of students and even students provides District staff and the Board of Trustees a tool to review the District’s performance.  How does CUSD pay for those surveys with no additional funds or budget? Increase the collaboration with institutes of higher learning partnering with Cal State University San Marcos, Mira Costa Community College and University of Phoenix to provide their students an opportunity to conduct the survey and present the results.

What about shortfalls in revenue. Without going into a long explanation of how CUSD is financed I will address a change in thinking that needs to start at the District and Trustees level. Most public and private organizations now dialogue in terms of revenue and expenses. I have been pleased that the Federal Government now at least converses in the language of business using the word revenue instead of the “t” word.  Now is the time for CUSD Staff and Board of
Trustees to move at hyper speed to bring new ideas on revenue production from
both the private and public sectors of Carlsbad. Sage Creek plans to open in
September 2013 with a freshman only class of approximately 305 students at this
writing. Imagine for a moment Sage Creek High School at night leased to another
educational institution looking for facilities or Company to house training.
Imagine the CUSD Board of Trustees appointing successful Corporate CFOs and
commercial realtors from Carlsbad to provide ideas to monetize unused District
real estate and underutilized facilities to generate new revenues.

In the end, we rely more on ourselves to fund our wonderful CUSD and reduce community angst. Perhaps, this becomes part of a World Class School District definition teaching self reliant and confident students and a financially self reliant school district.