What is the “Weighted Student Funding Formula” and how will it affect future budgets for the Orinda Union School District? This happens to be the $3.5 million dollar question.

Beginning with the 2012-13 budget year, the Governor is proposing an entirely new funding method for all school districts throughout the State of California. This proposal is referred to as the Weighted Student Funding Formula. The formula begins with a ‘base grant’ amount of $4,920 per average daily attendance (ADA). Added to the base will be a ‘supplemental grant’ which is based on the district’s English Language Learner count and free and reduced-price meal eligible students. There will be ‘concentration grants’ that will be available for those districts with more than 50% of their student population identified as English Language Learners and free reduced-price meal recipients. The new funding model would be phased in over a six year period with a ‘hold harmless’ clause for the 2012-13 budget year.

Using the most current guidelines regarding this funding model, the Orinda Union School District could be faced with a reduction in funding of an estimated $3,544,787 by the year 2017-18. Fifteeen of the 18 school districts in Contra Costa County stand to lose significant funds under this formula. On March 13th the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education took testimony on the Governor’s Weighted Student Formula. They took no action to approve or disapprove, but agreed that because the proposal is a major change to existing policy, it is an issue that should be heard through the regular legislative process.

In addition, the Governor’s January Budget Proposal for 2012-13, provides virtually no increases in education funding. And, once again, the proposal includes so-called trigger language should a proposed tax initiative not be passed by voters this coming November. The trigger language could automatically be imposed, resulting in another mid-year cut of $370 per student. This loss of funding is estimated to be $861,360 for the Orinda Union School District. This is the situation we find ourselves in this year as OUSD will lose $117,000 in mid-year trigger cuts of state funding.

The next “official” budget update from the Governor’s Office will be presented in the May Revision which is scheduled to be presented in mid-May.

Wine connoisseurs and cheese mongers will be there to offer delicious wine and cheese pairings. Tickets are $35 per person in advance, or $40 at the door. And a substantial portion of the ticket proceeds and sales will be donated to the Educational Foundation of Orinda.

Buy your ticket early and bring a friend! You can purchase tickets at Wine Thieves or online at the Wine Thieves website.

Oh, and if you can’t make the event, you can still buy some of the great wines and EFO will benefit from your purchase. Simply download the Wine Order Form (Word document) and fill in the quantities and email it to Jacquie Guzzo. Instructions are on the form.

And if you’re feeling extra social, let us know you’ll be attending by RSVP’ing on Facebook.

Any Child in Lamorinda Is Welcome

Dancers will participate in a two-afternoon camp on Tuesday, April 24th and Wednesday, April 25th. By the end of the camp the children are ready for a short dance performance prior to tip-off Thursday night. The $95 camp fees include training, performance, and custom-made uniform and accessories (theirs to keep!).

To watch the game, discounted tickets are $22 (Club 200 Corner Baseline), $34 (Club 200 Sideline) or $60 (Lower Level Corner). Tickets need to be purchased by April 16 and there are no taxes or fees. Buy your tickets online – use the special offer code WARRIORS. 

And the best part? A portion of the ticket sales is donated back to LPIE and EFO! Sign your child up for the team, or just come out to the game! For more information please contact Cassandra Montgomery of All That Entertainment for dance camp details at AllThatEntertain@comcast.net or download the flyer.

The multi-faceted program includes all three levels of the Drama program, making it a totally integrated course of study. In February, Drama students attended a new play at Berkeley Rep called Ghost Light, written by Jonothon Moscone about his struggle with the loss of his father, Mayor George Moscone.

From this, they gained inspiration for a writing exercise based on their course level. Drama 1 students wrote monologues, Drama 2 wrote two-person scenes, and Advanced Drama students wrote short plays, involving a full playwriting process, auditions and casting calls, technical rehearsals, and finally, production.

The month of February was an exciting time as the students participated in a month-long festival of interpretation of their original works.  It culminated on February 24, with an evening of dramatic production of a sampling of over a dozen works in progress from all three classes. Students involved in the program showed inspiration, passion and ownership for their final results.

EFO provided funding for this program by sponsoring the field trip to see the play at Berkeley Rep, as well as a three-day workshop with Berkeley Rep artist-in-residence.

photo credit: Heather Cousins 

In April, it’s time for the younger students to display their talents at the 6th Annual Arts Ambassadors Exhibit. The Orinda Union School District Visual and Performing Arts Department has been working hard to showcase the work of over 200 students from grades 1 to 8.

You can see the drawings, paintings and more all month at the Orinda Library Art Gallery. And, we’d love to have you join the fun, as we celebrate all the students at the Artist Reception, Wednesday, April 11 from 4 to 6pm.

Not only will you see great art at the reception, you’ll also be treated to live music with performances by the Del Rey, Glorietta, and Wagner Ranch choruses.

EFO wishes to thank Mechanics Bank, CR Hunt Building and Design, and the Orinda Arts Council for their generous support of the Arts Ambassadors Exhibit.

Our schools are among a very few in the state that provide an arts enrichment program for elementary students taught by highly qualified credentialed teachers. The program is designed to build a sustained appreciation and understanding of arts. Please stop in any time in April and witness expressions of joy, confidence, curiosity, and courage as well as a mastery of a variety of artistic skills, techniques, and abilities.

Want to learn more? See what else EFO funds at Orinda elementary schools and at Orinda Intermediate School. And, if you can, please consider making a donation to ensure the arts are fully funded for years to come.

Your Skills and Time Make a Difference

The Educational Foundation of Orinda Board even has positions available with limited time commitments which don’t require regular attendance at monthly meetings. Some of the open volunteer opportunities include:

• being part of a pool of writers creating website posts (like this one) and the EFO Annual Report
• photographers to capture all the amazing programs funded with EFO donations
• school representatives on larger teams per site, the workload is shared and more manageable
• a caretaker for the many EFO banners
• just to name a few!

Be a Leader

Would you like a larger role in the organization? EFO also has leadership positions available in communications, data management and even as co-president. In each case you will have a mentor to help teach you the ropes.

Be Connected

For all positions you have the chance, each month, to hear directly from the Miramonte principal and superintendents from both OUSD and AUHSD.

Please consider bringing whatever time or skills you have and volunteering for EFO. A small amount of your time will go a long way toward enriching the education of all of Orinda’s students.

For more information, please contact Yosh Neugebauer at yneugebauer@me.com.

EFO is thrilled to announce its proud sponsorship of Grandparents’ Day 2012.

Grandparents of Del Rey and Wager Ranch students are invited to campus on March 16, while grandparents of Sleepy Hollow and Glorietta students will be welcome on campus on March 23.

From 8:00 to 10:30 am, grandparents are invited to visit their grandchild’s school for breakfast and a warm welcome, by the principal, join in interactive classroom lessons with the kids, and tour the campus and some enrichment facilities. Don’t miss out!

Register for Grandparents Day Today

Everyone is welcome and it’s free to attend, but we’d like to know who’s coming. While not required, if you know you’re coming please register for Grandparents’ Day 2012 by March 14.  By registering, the teachers, staff and EFO volunteers can plan for each grandparent’s visit to their classrooms and campus.

We hope to lots of grandparents attend and show support for their grandchildren and Orinda schools.

By planning now for donations in the future, you’ll have a variety of ways to ensure Orinda schools have the community support needed to continue to provide the quality education we all value.

Some examples of planned giving include bequests made through testamentary devices such as wills, retirement plans, and revocable trusts, as well as lifetime gifts that provide income payments to donors and their beneficiaries. Life income gifts such as charitable gift annuities, and the charitable remainder trusts typically involve present-day transfers of gift assets, immediate tax advantages and continuing income streams to the donor, with future distributions to EFO for its specific charitable purposes.

In addition to the philanthropic and potential tax benefits derived from EFO bequests, Legacy Society members receive invitations to special EFO events and are recognized in EFO’s Annual Report. The first 50 members will receive one of these limited edition Legacy Society Founder lapel pins too!

Learn more about the new Legacy Society and how to join today.

The artwork will be on display at the Orinda Library Gallery from March 1 to 28.

All Visual Artists Are Welcome

The competition has three categories and cash prizes of up to $300 will be awarded in each category.

• Photography: manual and all digital arts
• 2D: painting, drawing, printmaking, mixed media and collage
• 3D: ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and construction

Judges will be looking for creativity, originality, content and the degree of expertise in the specific medium.

Cash Prizes

Based on years past, competition will be fierce! The judges will surely have their work cut out for them to find the best of the best. On March 7, at the Artists & Awards Reception, a total of $2,550 in prizes will be handed out.

• 1st Place $300
• 2nd Place $200
• 3rd Place $100
• Honorable Mention $25

Enter by February 17

Applications are due by February 17, and entrants will have to have their work delivered to the Orinda Library Art Gallery on February 29.

To enter online and for all the details, visit the Orinda Arts Council website.

Please share this with your friends, post to Facebook and help get the word out by using the links below.

We want to see all the budding artists from Orinda in the show. After all, funding the arts from kindergarten through high school is a major part of EFO’s commitment to Orinda schools. Without EFO funding, in fact, there would be no arts in the elementary schools or OIS and significantly less available to Miramonte students.

In fact, every month we receive a check from ROC. In less than two years, we’ve received over $4,400 from Republic of Cake!

We asked Peter and Chih why they’ve made community giving an important part of their business and here’s what Peter said:

A solid education is one that includes the arts in addition to academics: such as music, dance, and drama. This solid education should begin in the formative years and be carried through all levels of higher education. It’s not possible to provide such an education if there are not the educators to guide students and the tools on hand for both to use. It’s the responsibility of every adult, regardless if they have children, to provide the means from which a good education is possible.

Chih and I feel we have a civic duty not only to give back to the community, but to ensure those in our society who do not have a voice are at least provided with the basic skills to become effective members of society so that they may change the system whereby education is given a higher priority and better funding.

In addition to EFO, ROC also contributes to Seattle Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital Oakland, POISE (Parents of Orinda Individuals in Special Education), Orinda Arts Council and many others.

Thank you, Republic of Cake, for your delicious, fresh cupcakes and ongoing support for EFO. We ask you, Orinda, to help ROC help us and think of them next time you need a wonderful dessert or afternoon treat.