School Board Successes
In 2011, Laura was elected to the RBUSD School Board.
Economically, it was a tough time for the school district. RBUSD was only receiving about 80% of the budget it received in 2008. The reserve dwindled to save class sizes and teacher days. Raises were non-existent. Everyone + employees, the leadership team and the school board + cut healthcare benefits and everyone shouldered healthcare increases.
- Efficiencies were needed + Laura knew there was a community of parents and education supporters that were willing to fundraise and help the school district. Laura advocated for RBUSD to change school site plans to include outside resources such as Redondo Beach Education Foundation (RBEF) and the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Fundraising dollars were now coordinated with the school site plan to efficiently target the district goals of educating the `whole child'.
- Envisioning the 21st Century Classroom + A task force was created to envision the 21st Century Classroom. On August 28, 2012 the vision was presented and it was the beginning of a plan.
- Common Core and Smart Balance Testing + with the new state mandated Common Core Education, new testing requirements were revealed. RBUSD needed to improve the district's technology infrastructure and give every child access to modern technology so they could be comfortable with the technology when they were tested.
o So Laura led the Measure Q Campaign + Measure Q invested in the classroom and infrastructure while improving student access to computers and modern technology. In order to help the budget, Measure Q also provided solar panels throughout the district saving the school district $500,000 per YEAR. This savings would help the district withstand State budget fluctuations.
- Opportunities to save + Interest rates were decreasing and we needed to take advantage of refinancing and grant opportunities. In the meantime, education funding as turned around. Funding levels still have not adjusted to 2008 levels but they are very close. This did not mean the school board authorized rampant spending. Laura and the school board increased our reserves, therefore increasing our credit rating. Then we refinanced our school bonds and looked for grant opportunities. In total we saved Taxpayers close to $20Million.
- Laura Values Employees + The employees had not had a raise in 5 years, by focusing one-time money on reserves and maintenance, we were able to give our employees a raise with the new recurring money.
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