Principal's Update: July 2010

Dear Peninsula Families,

For the last several months our school district has been struggling with how to prepare for a budget shortfall of four million dollars in 2010-11 and another shortfall of three million dollars in 2011-12.  All district and site administrators agree that core academic programs must be protected.  At the high school level, this means keeping class sizes as small as possible while still offering quality instructional programs and services to our students.

In an effort to save as many teacher and counselor jobs as possible, the District reduced funding in the area of athletics and extra-curricular programs by approximately $300,000 at each site.  To ensure that these programs remain at the same level, both Palos Verdes and Peninsula High Schools will be implementing a “participation donation” for athletic teams and extra-curricular programs.  The participation donation amounts will include what has in the past been referred to as the “transportation donation.”  These donations will help make up for the $300,000 reduction in athletics and extra-curricular programs we are facing for the 2010-11 school year. 

Athletic participation donations will help fund equipment, bus transportation, coaching stipends, tournament entry fees, officials, security, athletic trainer expenses and other miscellaneous expenses.  The extra-curricular participation donation funding will help fund the salaries for the advisor(s) and/or bus transportation.

In reality, if there are not enough participation donations for a specific sport or extra-curricular activity, there will be cuts – fewer teams, programs, coaches, buses, tournaments, concerts, competitions, etc.

The participation donations for each sport and/or extra-curricular activity are attached to this letter and posted on Edline.  The donation amounts for athletics are the same at both Palos Verdes and Peninsula High Schools.  The donation amounts for extra-curricular activities vary at each high school due to differences in the extra-curricular programs offered, funding sources, number of student participants and advisors. 

Please make checks payable to PVPUSD and turn them in to the Student Store when requested by the coach or advisor for each specific sport and/or extra-curricular activity.

Thank you for your continued support of Palos Verdes Peninsula High School!

Mitzi Cress

Principal