money is targeting block program money. we are proposing to keep almost $35 million of the $38 million so only about 3 1/3 million will be flex of that money. so i was wondering and actually one of the questions i had just based on a lot of testimony we have got is what cuts we're making in target instructional block grant spending. one of the things that we have heard which i don't know anything about is the cutting of the art and music program for the elementary schools. i don't know what that costs. what else is -- we're proposing to cut. i don't know that we're doing that. i just know that people have said that. it doesn't seem to me in this -- even though this is the hearing, we also of course can scugs discuss this when -- discuss this when we have our budget hearing next week.

and when we vote on the budget. that's my question. when we have this hearing is that i don't have -- there is no narrative that explains what we're flexing or why. what we're keeping or not keeping. we have cut a lot of already -- so i don't know what, all i have are numbers. i don't have anything that tells me this is what these numbers represent. these people, these programs. and in fact, i have a reporter call today and ask me about that and i said well, you know, it is not like we say ok, we're going to take this $1.9 billion and mover it into there. and pull it into the general funds. i need a little flowchart where this money is going for that purpose and how we make that decision. >> my question is very similar. i actually don't -- i don't remember -- maybe i'm just like, i'm in denial or something. i don't remember having these conversations about what we were

going to flex and what we were not going to flex and the amount, you know why we decide that we were going to flex 225,000 of the school safety block grant and not 137 -- you know, what cost the $137,000 that we wanted to keep. i would like a little more information about that, how those decisions were made and what priorities they fund and what things didn't get funded when we decided. how do we come up with these amounts? >> well, actually, i was going to ask -- usually we have the budget committee meeting we go over this kind of thing. i was going to ask actually deputy superintendent to -- at this joint discussion when we look at the total budget because in our budget committee we normally do that and so i

thought that's where we would have sort of a deeper discussion about it. so i think that would probably be the appropriate time to do that, also. joe, do you think that is about right? >> yesings i think so. this was more for a public hearing tonight, to spend more time in the meeting on tuesday to discuss this type of item. >> i think if what she said is correct, we need to look t where not only how much we flex but really who benefited from the flexing and is it going to help us close our achievement and opportunity gap? deputy superintendent lee and i are going to work on the agenda. we'll add that to the agenda for a presentation of that. would that be fine? >> fine. thank you. can i just quickly ask who are -- who is making these decisions? how are these decisions made?

>> these are all part of the recommended budget to the board. i mean the superintendent's recommended budget to the board. in as much as the process for any of the budget adoption, the steps and budget adoption involve the superintendent making a recommendation to the board and then the board having discussions in your meetings based on information that we provide etc. that is -- this is a component, a notable component. it is part of the overall budget adoption process. if i understand the timing that led to this hearing taking place tonight, i think there was a request made or a concern raised by -- i think it was -- actually that last year the public hearing was held on the same evening it is a budget adoption and that raised a concern and so

we were -- we received a request to try take the public hearing on a different evening, earlier than the budget adoption was scheduled for so that is why it is scheduled for tonight opposed to the -- >> one is just more of a basic question in terms of who makes decisions because there are funds from various departments. is each department making a recommendation how much is flex pay? or do we just look at all the categoricals and figure out a formula? there does create the question around what will the impact be for each one of these and the other funding mechanisms that could augment what we're flegsing so that programs don't get dismant. -- dismaptled. >> it is a two-prong thing. the first flexing we did last year because we're really

setting up a to-year budget. the board needs to -- two-year budget. remember? the board needs to keep that in mind. on top of that, we have gone back this year and taken more. so i think what we need to do for the board presentation is show you what was taken last year and because everybody wasn't getting -- just to kind of remind everybody, and then on top of that, what has been added to be taken even more so this year. it refreshes everybody's memory. >> thank you. could you answer my question? >> yes. let me try. i think the -- the best way to describe it is it is sort of a sipt thinks of a number of synthesis of a number of staff

conversations. what the budget involves, each of the department heads or managers basically end up proposing a budget but that the budgets they develop are based on targets that at a level we establish. for example, we'll say every department, every central department office should try to cut 45% of their general fund expenses from the base budget and likewise there is a specific target established for each of the tier 3 programs so each of the administrators were given a mark, a budget mark. it is somewhat similar to the process. those marks are not necessarily across the board. it is based on our collective understanding of how the funds are staffed. priorities underlying the spending plans etc. then there is a discussion,

gathering of information trying to figure out what is the -- how high leverage the expenditures that are currently in place. what would be the impact if expenditures are produced? if we can contemplate a smaller flex than in the prior year if the situation demanded it. so there isn't one -- one across the board approach. we basically in our budget team, which includes myself, on occasion a couple of other people, we're basically the staff team that is interacting with all of our colleagues to bring that information to bear and then synthesize it into the budget. >> thank you. >> to follow up on that, i -- we

talked -- when we work ond this last year and did this big proposal to flex all of this money, we had all the programs listed and the people who kind of controlled the money and then they were asked to make cuts and i am supportive of that and as i said, you know, generally speaking, i'm supportive of the idea that we need to spend the bulk of this desegregation money on our equity-related activities. that is what it is for. that was in mind with our philosophy. which is why we made sure that that funding was protected. but i also think that the process you just described to us, and i raised this issue last year. is still a categorical thinking process that we did not -- we have not considered and i'm not sure i would advocate doing it this year because we did look at

this two-year process but in the future, i think we should at least consider and we should -- when it is not budget crunch time think about whether we could significantly change the budget process particularly related to this flexibility and say suppose we did what some other districts have done and just presume that we put all of this money in the general fund and then say what would we do including our equity-related activities but instead of saying here is the program which as we heard testimony tonight all of the retirements at least temporarily do not exist. yet when we said we're going to flex 50% of that, we're presuming we're going to keep spending the rest of it the way it was intended. will those requirements come back? do we want to entirely erase our ability to operate a categorical program? i don't know but we have not had

this discussion. that is the discussion we need to have at some time. this having a hearing which i appreciate on the tier 3 categoricals makes me think that the time to have that is not -- when it is time to pass the budget but rather to look at the -- whole concept of all the money that we have got, what our goals are, how we would spend budget decisions etc. protect as many jobs as possible. all of those kinds of things. i'm going to suggest that flexibility is an opportunity to look at the resources we have, however meager through a different lens and we may not have maximized that opportunity up until now. >> thank you. any other comments? >> if there is no further

comment, we're not vote on anything so we are ending public hearing and we're going to resume our regular meeting. thank you for that. consent calendar resolutions. item sonch a vote on the consent calendar. it was already moved and seconded under item fmp. so i need to -- item f. i always do this. role call. >> [role call vote] >> item p is the consent calendar resolution sivered for board discussion and immediate

action. k-11. >> thank you. the reason i called this is because i'm wondering since we're going to have some other sales coming up or some issues of our real estate, if this doesn't really this real estate thing we have going on, doesn't warrant a full time position of someone who really works at this, i feel like it is really a huge amount of time, also for mr. golden which -- these are just consultants working with him but perhaps there needs to be a full time staff person dedicated to this with the expertise. if i look at this, it is $75,000, almost the salary of a full time staff person then you could i think have a person full time working for us assisting

you on this. that's why i bring it up. i think the consultant we have been working with for a while, i think we're swell with you but i think i would like to have a larger discussion but because we have a lot of surface property and a lot of real estate issues are going to be coming up that we would have someone on full time under the supervision of mr. golden. >> mr. golden? >> good evening, commissioners. i have had this conversation with the commissioner on several occasions. the history, high cuts at administration levels. the department eliminated a number of high level positions.

one was the director of the environmental health and the other was the director of real estate. that position was worth about $150,000 in salary and benefits. we did not know at the time and probably still don't know what our long-term strategy would be, whether that position in fact needs to resurrect itself at some point. doing surveys and doing negotiations for us. they have a capacity that an in-house staff, even as a whole

unit we don't have. i think the long-term strategy i think is still open for discussion. and i think the team of deputy superintendent lee and general council medina, joe, myself and others are working with that strategy will be. and i think it is clear that that whole group including myself took on the more responsibilities. when the director of real estate left. hopefully it will get more exciting and we'll take it one step at a time. >> commissioner yee? commissioneree: used this for one year now? we're using it presently? >> we have a staff working group which president mendoza is

highly interested in those things. we started this group when we had the director and we're continuing to -- when i say group -- >> so we brought them in a couple of years ago. >> the question is -- for this school year. this 2010-2011. what was the amount of the contract? >> for this school year, i think the contract for not the entire year was $60,000 and they are currently under that. it is an hourly as needed contract. >> this $75,000 is a conservative estimate or -- >> wenl it is a conservative estimate for an entire fiscal year. and it is hard to say, we have some interesting things that are beginning to take shape at

various properties and hopefully they will be working hard to our advantage. some of their contract will in fact be rebated back to us. if actual real estate transaction occur, which is a contract. so it is possible if things are highly successful the net cost to us will be zero. >> thank you. >> i have seen -- come forward with presentations. my concern is that if we don't go forward with this contract there will be further delays in the work of the committee which is ch has come to a point where it is ready to issue an i.s.p. on a property. there has been a lot of history. because the high cost of health care and benefits actually

$75,000 would not cover salary and benefits unless the full time position was something around $45,000 which is really basically a part time position. so i think we need to think long-term about this. but at particular point in time in terms over the workability committee, i feel like it is pretty important to continue with this contract and my understanding based on that, this is a do not exceed am. no more than $75,000 and could be potentially significantly less. >> the funding comes from fund 40 and what has been been used on this is real estate funding that we had when we basically sold the fund and received a small amount of money as went along.

that's what funding we're using now to take care of this. >> ok. so for clarification, david, this is an as-needed basis. so really if you were all of a sudden to say wow, we really need a lot of extra help. we need to hire someone full time that you could and we would not be bound to pay the $75,000 over the one fiscal year. is that correct? >> there is no obligation to pay $745,000. the rates are hourly. they are at our beck and call. we can cancel the contract at any time. >> so i would like to -- for you to continue the conversation amongst your staff and perhaps about is there an increased need to have more i guess attention put to real estate and does it require having a staff person? thank you. >> agreed.

>> commissioner maufas? commissioner maufas: thank you. you just indicated what i was going to say. i think there is a need. i think it is great because of the necessity we have been able to, you know, your department has been able to develop a positive working relationship. that is great. it is convenient. it works but i actually would rather see a dedicated person there. and i think it is -- it is incumbent upon you to be able to figure it out for us. that's what i'm really looking for. i feel hesitant about this. it just feels odd to me that they would come onboard as someone we have been working with and that is really again great. they have been available but i'm not all that pleased with what they presented for myself as a board member. it is not -- looking at the things that i want us to look at and with the lens that i think

our board philosophy reflects. that's what i'm -- i mentioned at the last meeting that i was at when they were all present, the principles and so i want to be clear. we have a vision and a philosophy. i would love to see them start mirroring some of that because i don't see it whern it comes to the board. you may have that opportunity in conversations with them. it is just not evident to me as a board member but i appreciate there is a long-term discussion going on because i think there is a need. thank you very, very much. >> any further congressmens? role call, please. >> thank you. [role call vote]

>> thank you. item q is the superintendent's proposal first reading. item 116-14 s adoption of fiscal year 2011-2012 recommended budget. i need a second, please. the per board policy number five discussion at of the budget is allowed at the first reading. are you presenting something? >> what is your pleasure? we can do some or would you rather come back? it is pretty late. >> why don't we take a look at it and if anybody has any questions, if that is ok with anyone? is that ok? >> i do have one speaker card. i think she already spoke her piece. are you going to speak on the budget also? we're not going to further

discussion on it. it is going to get refered to the augmented budget committee but if you have a comment. >> because my lovely sleepy 8-year-old is watching tv now and very sad i'm not there with her, i love you and i'm sorry i'm not there. i'm here tonight to read to you the sufsd budget for 2012 school year. our members will every year think about base on our campaign platform what are the things that we feel need to be portized in the budget particularly in closing the achievement gap an opportunity gap. so in addition to the embead bedded priorities of the budget as well as the equity report that we're hoping to see a draft

of at the next -- at the budget committee meeting, the five priorities that members identified are number one we need to make sure that sfusd protects access a-g high school course sequences in every high school. number two, we want to protect teacher quality. we want all teachers to have access to and be able to participate in professional development that builds their skills to work with all learning styles and values to student experience. we also want them to invest in a student feedback assessment system as part of a more fair and equitable evaluation system. number three, we want to protect democracy at s sfnch usd. we want parents and students to participate in councils. resources that support parents that speak a language other than

english to have an ability to participate in district-wide decisions about our schools. all of the educational issues especially about access and social justice. we want all school sites that serve populations, specifically african-american, latino to have the ability to provide high quality support services like tutoring, mentors and afterschool programs. and we want them to protect family's access to student information. we want all state of the unions to have clear and consistent information about their academic standing as they move toward college or career. parents too must have access with regular meetings with counselors. develop timely plans for interventions if necessary. these are the things that our parents are prioritized.

they definitely are very specific and we're working through your budget to basically understand how those things are being protected and this goes hand in hand with the categorical 3 program because those programs are literally embedded. how do we know every school has a-g? right now we don't. as a district, you don't. no one those if all courses for ninth grade rs -- that's something that should have been answered before we came to the budget. you don't know if the translation department's budget is adequately capable of meeting the needs of school site councils. you don't know specifics about the budget and it feels like we have gone through this year after year, last year we talked about the equity report and commissioner wynn suggested we do a different process in budget. i really want to continue to urge you that over the next seven days as you all look into

your budget that you really be able to answer some really critical questions and really be able to answer the question that i haven't heard enough discussion about this year in the board. what are we spending money on that does raise the achievement of our lowest achieving students? it is by far shameful that our african-american students do worse than any other students in the state. this is not something that you can just sweep under the table and not talk about. you're spending a lot of time in the board talking about issues but are you talking about the right issues? we spent two hours tonight talking about jrotc. we didn't ever spend two hours talking about african-american achievement in this district this year. not once. and you ask us to be critical of partners but you're not making it easy for the community to be critical partners when you hold

meetings about $50 million at 10:00 at night. how are you being critical and how are you keeping your promises? you are not at this point by our assessment keep your promises and we need to be able to really do some more work to really figure that out but ump sf need to be able to hold yourselves accountable. >> just wraup, please. >> thank you. >> thank you. >> a quick question. >> i just wanted to say thank you to all of the work that goes into that. i appreciate that but what i don't see and hear is anything dimpt than last year that shows last year -- different than last year that shows last year that has a year by year comparison. i know we talked about this last year.