Funding changes may alter schools’ ROP program
A change in public school funding is creating challenges for Laguna Beach Unified and Capistrano Unified school district administrators as they set the future course of the South Coast Regional Occupational Program.
Laguna Beach and Capistrano Unified entered into a partnership to provide the afterschool program in 1970 that offers a variety of classes such as audio and music production, forensic science, sports medicine and automotive repair.
But money previously earmarked specifically for ROP could be spent in other ways with the Local Control Funding Formula going into effect. The funding switch means school districts such as Capistrano Unified receive a certain amount to use as they see fit.
The Local Control Funding Formula does not apply to Laguna Beach Unified since the district is primarily funded through property taxes.
Still, Laguna Beach Unified and Capistrano Unified must amend their current ROP agreement, taking into account the funding change’s impacts, by June 30.
Laguna Beach Unified is spending $139,000 this year on ROP, with 322 students enrolled, human resources and communications director Leisa Winston wrote in an email. Laguna Beach High’s total enrollment this year is 1,147, according to district records.
Capistrano Unified, which has six high schools offering ROP classes is spending $2.9 million on ROP with 2,100 students enrolled, district spokesman David Cordero said.
Students must be at least 16 years old to take ROP courses, taught by credentialed teachers experienced in their particular field.
In Laguna, money spent on ROP comes out of the district’s general fund and pays for staff and courses the students attend outside of those offered during the school day, Winston said.
“We have some Laguna Beach Unified staff who teach ROP courses specifically for Laguna Beach High students during the school day, and ROP reimburses us a portion of those teachers’ salary,” she added.
South Coast ROP board members, which include two trustees each from Laguna Beach Unified and Capistrano Unified, discussed the matter at a study session last week.
The only consensus they seemed to reach was that they didn’t want to eliminate any courses. All ROP courses provide elective graduation credits for students, according to the South Coast ROP website.
Capistrano Unified staff indicated they would like to streamline certain office functions to increase efficiency, but did not provide specific costs. Combining computerized attendance systems is one idea.
“The ROP program has been amazing for students,” Capistrano Unified Assistant Supt. of Secondary Schools Michelle Le Patner said during the meeting. “How do we get better at what we are doing?”
Laguna Beach Unified board President Ketta Brown is worried that Laguna’s interests and priorities may get pushed aside if Capistrano Unified decides to spend money for purposes other than ROP.
“Are we going to become the little peanut to the side that makes it so we have a [Joint Powers Agreement]?” Brown asked during the study session. “Frankly, why? I don’t want that. I want to keep our career guidance specialists. Some of these high school kids can barely find their way to the bathroom half the time.”
Capistrano Unified’s board was set to discuss ROP at its Wednesday night meeting, but not take any action. A power point presentation on the district website mentioned possibly adding 30 counselors and six academic advisors.
Earlier this week, Laguna Beach Unified Supt. Sherine Smith emailed Capistrano Unified Supt. Kirsten Vital with concerns about the Capistrano board discussing ROP without a detailed plan in place.
“It seems to me that the ROP board must make the final decision on the program, not CUSD or LBUSD,” Smith wrote. “Certainly, CUSD can withdraw funding as it sees fit.Going forward, planning needs to be done carefully. I believe we have been trying to move too fast resulting in a facile solution for a complex problem.”