Winfred Roberson is starting his third academic year as superintendent of the Davis Joint Unified School District. Despite the clouds on the budgetary horizon, Roberson insists he is optimistic about the 2012-13 school year.

Voters will be making some big decisions in the Nov. 6 election that will have a major impact on the Davis school district’s budget. California voters will either approve or reject Gov. Jerry Brown’s Proposition 30 (“Temporary Taxes to Fund Education”), as well as activist Molly Munger’s Proposition 38 (“Tax for Education and Early Childhood Programs”).

Local voters also will consider a proposed school parcel tax measure put on the ballot by the Davis Board of Education. If the two state propositions and the local parcel tax are rejected by voters, Davis could be looking at a $7 million budget shortfall.

But in a mid-July interview, Roberson wanted to focus on the school district’s academic standing.

“Davis is still a high-performing school district,” he said. “Our focus remains on classroom instruction and student achievement. And during the coming school year, we will again continue our emphasis on engaging students in equitable practices … regardless of their cultural background — ‘equitable’ meaning creating a fair and equal opportunity for every student to be successful.”

The superintendent added that the Davis district is preparing to phase in the new Common Core academic standards — a process that will take several years.

“We will begin testing our students on the new standards in the 2014-15 school year,” Roberson said. “So we’ve begun providing our administrators with development and training (on the new standards), and we will begin with our teachers at some point soon. We want to make sure that we are ready as a district as the new standards phase in.”

Roberson noted that carport-style solar panels have been installed in the main parking lot at Davis High School. The new system is generating electricity that is expected to save the school district about $2 million over the next 20 years. The shadows cast by the overhead solar panels also create shady spots for parked cars — a benefit that students and teachers at Davis High already have learned to appreciate.

“We’ll continue to go green wherever we can,” Roberson said. “I’m pleased that our district is leading in this area.”

The Davis school board voted in June to demolish the DHS multipurpose room, which has been closed since October 2010 due to a leaky roof and toxic mold. Roberson said there wasn’t enough time left this summer to process bids and get demolition under way before the new school year begins on Aug. 22.

“The teardown will most likely take place at the end of the school year (in June),” Roberson said. “We will probably begin as soon as our students wrap up the school year.”

Roberson said he is also working with the District Technology Advisory Committee, which is exploring a possible new “BYOD (Bring Your Own Device)” policy that eventually could allow students to use their own smartphones, tablets and laptop computers to link up with district systems while at school.

Roberson said the district also will be saving money when possible “by utilizing our ‘in-house expertise’ to provide staff and professional development,” rather than sending people to attend out-of-town conferences.

“Whenever there’s an opportunity to tap into our teachers’ knowledge to provide in-house training, we want to ask them to help us improve instruction and increase student learning,” Roberson said.

He added that the district is seeking partnerships where appropriate with city and county governments, as well as partnerships with local companies, which has resulted in some businesses offering discounts to teachers and other district employees.

On the labor front, the Davis school district reached a tentative agreement with the California School Employees Association —representing custodians and maintenance staff, food and nutrition workers, secretaries and others — several months ago. But as of July 29, the district and the Davis Teachers Association had yet to announce a tentative agreement on a contract for the coming academic year.

“Those negotiations continue,” Roberson said.

All in all, “I know that 2012-13 will bring us challenges,” the superintendent said. “But I’m confident that our staff is going to step up and continue to serve our students. I’m confident that the Davis community will continue to support the academic success that we’ve had here for many years.”

— Reach Jeff Hudson at [email protected] or (530) 747-8055.

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