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This message was sent to our schools and I want to share it with you.
The downward economic crisis California has been experiencing in the last few years shows no sign of stopping. The unemployment rate in California is over 12% and one of the highest in the nation. Though there are signs of improvement, California’s problems are far from over. The one time ARRA federal funds which helped alleviate some of the reductions last year are not available again, yet there are additional cutbacks on the horizon.
Earlier this month the Governor unveiled his 2010-2011 budget proposal which addressed a $19.9 billion dollar deficit. In his “State of the State” he vowed to “protect education funding.” Though the education community appreciates the Governor’s acknowledgement that education in California must be protected, his words ring hollow in the face of reality. Initial analysis of the Governor’s budget shows there are cuts to education. This is due in part to a negative cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) that is applied to school districts and county offices of education and in part to a proposal to cut administrative expenses in school districts and county offices of education by $1.5 billion on an ongoing basis. There are not enough details and too many uncertainties in the Governor’s budget proposal. We are diligently working with the Governor’s staff to determine how this year’s reductions will affect TUSD.
TUSD has already reduced its budget by $35 million in the past two years. The specific programs, services, and staff we have had to cut have been devastating to our community. We have been forced to lay off over 258 full-time positions, which include 160 certificated teaching positions. This translates to 12% of the number of certificated positions, without any loss of students. We have been forced to increase our class size at all K-12 levels. Our K-3 classes are now 24-1; while 4th and 5th grades average 33-1, and the average secondary classroom has the daunting challenge of accommodating over 38 students. We have been forced to eliminate summer school and no longer have our SB 1822 counselors at our middle and high schools. Almost all categorical programs were either eliminated or significantly reduced in funding including deferred maintenance, GATE, instructional materials, and The Arts and Music Block Grant program.
We have the unique challenge and essential responsibility of educating the youth in our community. These young students will one day become the engineers, entrepreneurs, educators, and doctors we need for a healthy economy. It is very difficult to continue to expect such a high quality of education with the current financial support from the state. It is not enough for the Governor to say he will protect education, it is important for him to propose practical solutions to allow local districts to cope with the fiscal challenges they face.
In the coming weeks and months I will continue to provide budgetary updates on the state of education in California and the effects it has on TUSD. We cannot allow Sacramento to compromise the educational futures of our children.
Sincerely,
George W. Mannon, Ed.D.
Superintendent
Sincerely,
Mrs. Edna Schumacher
Principal
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