April 2023 ACCS - Item 2 Public Comment 7

Item 02, Attachment 7, Charter #0763

MEMORANDUM

DATE: Friday, April 14, 2023

From: Stephanie Eggert, Executive Director

SUBJECT: FPCS 2022-2023 Funding Determination

In response to ACCS’s Meeting Notice and Agenda posting for April 18, 2023 with charter funding recommendations, I respectfully request to speak in person at the meeting next Tuesday. First, I want to acknowledge our submission provided inadequate responses for consideration. A 15% reduction in funding will influence current budget decisions and negatively impact program additions and improvements over the next two years at the expense of the students we serve. I am confident more detailed information today will support my request for the Commission to reconsider and recommend 100% funding for Family Partnership Charter School.

Why did the charter not meet the funding criteria in 2021-22?

• Continued in person COVID 19 restrictions impacted normal school year expenditures.
  • professional development and travel, student and family events, field trip costs
• During the pandemic, the Governing Board increased reserves balances for uncertainties.
  • facility acquisition, Special Education litigation, 3 months payroll cash
• Prior year negotiations did not include a certificated salary increase.

Mitigating circumstances:

• Abrupt leadership change in June 2021 required an Interim Executive Director appointment.
• Payments towards a 2020-21 loan to cover payroll was paid off during last year.
• Funds were set aside for possible facility change as the property was in escrow for over a year.
  • lease deposits, upgrades/modifications, moving fees, internet access, furniture

Additional Pertinent Information:

• Enrollment prior to the pandemic for 3 years consistently ranged from 335 to 368 students.
• Historically, enrollment increases each year with lower ADA at P1 Attendance versus P2 and EOY.
• After schools reopened, Census Day pupil counts show a potential declining enrollment trend.
  • 2020-21- 480 2021-22- 405 2022-23- 368
• A 2022 ratified bargaining agreement with FPCTA included a 7% certificated salary increase.
  

Actions and measures to comply to meet funding criteria:

• Two part-time staff were hired to provide high school virtual electives and lab sciences.
• Identify underserved youth for interventions from allowable grant spending as a priority.
• Create a credit recovery program in response to increased student referrals from local districts.
• Plan sustainable grant expenditures for staff training and resources addressing learning loss.
  • K-5 early literacy, NGSS adoption, extra-curricular instruction, add virtual 9-12 electives
• Plan summer sessions for middle and high school with intervention, enrichment, and credit recovery.
• Review reserves and move payroll amount from unappropriated to economic uncertainty.
• WASC Accreditation and LCAP baseline data identified instructional critical areas of need.
  • revised the LCAP to add resources and supports to our program in math and writing
    

Supporting documents provided upon request. (ie loan documents, multi-year budget report, LCAP)

Return to the April ACCS Meeting Agenda