Natomas District Seeks Input for School Spending Plan

Feedback on Facilities Master Plan Also Sought

SOURCE: School Services of California Inc.

THE NATOMAS BUZZ | @natomasbuzz

The Natomas Unified School District next week will launch a series of public, town hall meetings seeking community input on how it should improve facilities and fund educational programs meant to help those students who need it most.

“The big one, for us, is the (Local Control Accountability Plan) parent input night on Tuesday,” district spokesman Jim Sanders said. “New law, new money, new possibilities and we’re going all out to engage the community in setting priorities.”

The school district has scheduled seven separate meetings to get public feedback which will be used to develop a long-term facilities master plan as well as a separate plan on how to use state education monies to improve student success in the classroom.

Gov. Jerry Brown has promised local school districts an influx of Prop. 30 funds with the caveat the public is involved in planning how the money is used to teach students – requiring each district to create a Local Control Accountability Plan, also referred to as the LCAP.

California’s new funding law addresses eight areas including student achievement, student engagement, other student outcomes, course access, school climate, basic services, parental involvement, and implementation of the common core state standards.

Upcoming public Local Control Accountability Plan town hall meetings include:

• Feb. 4 at Witter Ranch Elementary School, 3790 Poppy Hill Way
• Feb. 11 at Jefferson Elementary School, 2100 Pebblewood Drive
• Feb. 19 at Inderkum High School, 2500 New Market Drive

The district’s facilities master plan is expected to include maintenance of existing school sites as well as future construction of new campuses. Comments at the facilities town halls will be used to prepare the master plan scheduled to be presented to the Natomas Unified school board in June 2014.

Upcoming public Facility Master Plan town hall meetings include:

• Feb. 3 at Jefferson Elementary School, 2100 Pebblewood Drive
• Feb. 5 at Natomas Park Elementary School, 4700 Crest Drive
• Mar. 17 at Natomas High School, 3301 Fong Ranch Road
• Mar. 19 at Natomas Charter School, 4600 Blackrock Road

All meetings are scheduled to take place 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. To RSVP for one of the LCAP meetings, go here.