Mt Tabor Middle School
SUN School Budget Reduction Info
Subject: Information On Portland Parks & Recreation SUN Sites
To our partners at Alice Ott, Arleta, Beaumont, Centennial, Faubion, Roseway Heights, Grout, Lane, Mt. Tabor, Parkrose, Sitton:
Greetings and best wishes for the New Year. Portland Parks & Recreation deeply values the partnership we have had over many years serving the youth and families of Portland through community schools. The system of SUN Community Schools here in our city and county has grown into a national model thanks to people like you and your commitment to collaboration and innovation.
Like many public agencies, we have been experiencing tremendous budget pressures associated with the recession as well as the scope of ongoing – and increasing – needs. For FY 2012-13, all Portland bureaus have been directed to prepare a budget request which describes 4%, 6%, and 8% reductions to our General Fund ongoing budget. PP&R worked with a Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) to identify ways to meet this requirement. There are many significant changes under consideration, as detailed at this website [http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=40431]. There are two specific recommendations related to SUN Community School funding that I wanted to make sure you were aware of.
One proposed change is to transition PP&R’s role from that of SUN Lead Agency at 11 SUN Community School sites, including your school, to solely one of collaborative funder and sponsor. What this would mean is that the Parks funding for SUN CS would be passed through Multnomah County and contracted to non-profit organizations The basic SUN model would not change but the specific services and supports that a non-profit has as part of its organization may be different than Parks.
The second change is a reduction in pass through funding for SUN Community Schools of approximately $272,000. If taken, a decision about how to make this cut would be made by the SUN Service System Coordinating Council.
We will not be able to confirm whether these changes will occur until later in this fiscal year. We are still early in our budget process. This proposal is one of many included in the recommendations of our Budget Advisory Committee to PP&R’s Director Mike Abbate and Commissioner of Parks Nick Fish. The Director and Commissioner are reviewing and refining these recommendations prior to transmitting the bureau’s Requested Budget on January 31st.
After all bureaus have submitted requested budgets, the Mayor develops a city-wide Proposed Budget, typically in April. Following that, the full Council must act to first approve and then adopt a balanced budget for FY 12/13.
There will be ongoing public involvement during each of these phases, beginning with a public meeting on PP&R’s budget January 9th. Attached is a flyer with the meeting details. Please join us if you have thoughts you would like to share with Commissioner Nick Fish and Parks Director Mike Abbate on the recommended SUN CS budget changes or other budget recommendations.
We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition if the proposal does move forward. Already, we’re working with our County partners to plan for continuation of existing programs at your sites through the summer, thus allowing for more time to finalize and implement any changes at the beginning of the 12-13 school year.
We know that excellent coordination and communication are essential in order for us to do right by the kids and their families. We will do everything we can to keep you posted as things become clearer.
The SUN CS Site Manager at each of your schools will continue to be your partner throughout the year. We are all working together to anticipate and mitigate any impacts associated with communicating to students and families or with implementation of changes if they come to pass. I know they are very concerned about making sure each of you receives timely and relevant information. Please feel free to talk with them about any concerns you have, or to contact me directly.
Thanks again for your work with us. Eileen Argentina.
Eileen Argentina
Parks & Recreation Services Manager
Portland Parks and Recreation
City of Portland
1120 SW Fifth Ave, Room 1302
Portland, OR 97204
503-823-5103
www.portlandparks.org
Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland
Nick Fish, Commissioner | Mike Abbate, Director
eileen.argentina@portlandoregon.gov
To our partners at Alice Ott, Arleta, Beaumont, Centennial, Faubion, Roseway Heights, Grout, Lane, Mt. Tabor, Parkrose, Sitton:
Greetings and best wishes for the New Year. Portland Parks & Recreation deeply values the partnership we have had over many years serving the youth and families of Portland through community schools. The system of SUN Community Schools here in our city and county has grown into a national model thanks to people like you and your commitment to collaboration and innovation.
Like many public agencies, we have been experiencing tremendous budget pressures associated with the recession as well as the scope of ongoing – and increasing – needs. For FY 2012-13, all Portland bureaus have been directed to prepare a budget request which describes 4%, 6%, and 8% reductions to our General Fund ongoing budget. PP&R worked with a Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) to identify ways to meet this requirement. There are many significant changes under consideration, as detailed at this website [http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=40431]. There are two specific recommendations related to SUN Community School funding that I wanted to make sure you were aware of.
One proposed change is to transition PP&R’s role from that of SUN Lead Agency at 11 SUN Community School sites, including your school, to solely one of collaborative funder and sponsor. What this would mean is that the Parks funding for SUN CS would be passed through Multnomah County and contracted to non-profit organizations The basic SUN model would not change but the specific services and supports that a non-profit has as part of its organization may be different than Parks.
The second change is a reduction in pass through funding for SUN Community Schools of approximately $272,000. If taken, a decision about how to make this cut would be made by the SUN Service System Coordinating Council.
We will not be able to confirm whether these changes will occur until later in this fiscal year. We are still early in our budget process. This proposal is one of many included in the recommendations of our Budget Advisory Committee to PP&R’s Director Mike Abbate and Commissioner of Parks Nick Fish. The Director and Commissioner are reviewing and refining these recommendations prior to transmitting the bureau’s Requested Budget on January 31st.
After all bureaus have submitted requested budgets, the Mayor develops a city-wide Proposed Budget, typically in April. Following that, the full Council must act to first approve and then adopt a balanced budget for FY 12/13.
There will be ongoing public involvement during each of these phases, beginning with a public meeting on PP&R’s budget January 9th. Attached is a flyer with the meeting details. Please join us if you have thoughts you would like to share with Commissioner Nick Fish and Parks Director Mike Abbate on the recommended SUN CS budget changes or other budget recommendations.
We are committed to ensuring a smooth transition if the proposal does move forward. Already, we’re working with our County partners to plan for continuation of existing programs at your sites through the summer, thus allowing for more time to finalize and implement any changes at the beginning of the 12-13 school year.
We know that excellent coordination and communication are essential in order for us to do right by the kids and their families. We will do everything we can to keep you posted as things become clearer.
The SUN CS Site Manager at each of your schools will continue to be your partner throughout the year. We are all working together to anticipate and mitigate any impacts associated with communicating to students and families or with implementation of changes if they come to pass. I know they are very concerned about making sure each of you receives timely and relevant information. Please feel free to talk with them about any concerns you have, or to contact me directly.
Thanks again for your work with us. Eileen Argentina.
Eileen Argentina
Parks & Recreation Services Manager
Portland Parks and Recreation
City of Portland
1120 SW Fifth Ave, Room 1302
Portland, OR 97204
503-823-5103
www.portlandparks.org
Healthy Parks, Healthy Portland
Nick Fish, Commissioner | Mike Abbate, Director
eileen.argentina@portlandoregon.gov
