Ducking disaster
Measure CC will provide reliable and consistent funding in areas of greatest need
By Edwin Diaz 04/01/2010
Pasadena Unified School District students are performing at record-high levels, and more of our schools are surpassing state standards. Our district is earning local, state and national recognition for academic excellence, closing achievement gaps and innovative reforms. But all this could end abruptly because the state has stopped investing in public education.
The governor’s budget proposal for 2010-11 offers no relief to struggling school districts. In fact, K-12 education funding will decline by approximately $1,000 per student statewide this year, increasing PUSD’s deficit to more than $23 million. This catastrophic reduction of funding for public schools will have dire consequences here at PUSD and throughout the state.
Over the past five years, PUSD has endured more than $33 million in cuts from the state. During that time, we’ve been able to protect classrooms and teachers by streamlining central office operations, eliminating 26 percent of senior administrative positions, cutting clerical and custodial staff, and reducing maintenance and other support service expenses.
Now, state budget cuts have forced us to dig even deeper. In December, the Board of Education acted on a fiscal stabilization plan that included more than $21 million in reductions to the general fund over the next two years. To remain solvent, we’ve had to issue layoff notices to 200 teachers, counselors, nurses, administrators and psychologists, reduce some of our most cherished programs, such as arts, health, and guidance and counseling services, and raise class sizes. We also plan to close some schools in 2011.
What concerns me most about the list of reductions and eliminations on the table is the fact that it’s still not enough.
Lack of adequate funding is the biggest equity issue in PUSD and statewide. The needs of the students we serve are much greater than those of students in surrounding communities. Budget cuts to public education have a disproportionate impact in districts like Pasadena that serve a diverse student population.
Specialized instruction and intervention is needed to close the achievement gap between students and schools, but these are the very programs threatened by the loss of stable and consistent revenue from the state. This is why we need a local source of funding that is reliable, consistent and targeted at areas of greatest need for our students.
To reduce the impact of future cuts to education by the state, the Board of Education has placed a $120 parcel tax on the May 4 mail-in ballot election. If approved by voters, the Quality Education Preservation Act — Measure CC on the ballot — would ensure a consistent and stable source of local funding and decrease the impact of state budget cuts on educational programs over the next five years.
This parcel tax is absolutely essential because without it, budget cuts will devastate our schools. We as a community must invest locally to support public education and help close the $23 million budget gap, or class sizes, counselors and the arts will be decimated.
We will continue to manage resources efficiently and keep costs low, but we can’t continue to accelerate student achievement and improve our schools without the community’s help. To learn more, visit yesoncc.org.
Edwin Diaz is superintendent of the Pasadena Unified School District.
DIGG | del.icio.us | REDDIT
Other Stories by Edwin Diaz
Related Articles
Comments
Let's see if I get this right: PUSD's income has dropped by 15% over the past five years, while its enrollment has dropped 25% over the past ten years.
What's not computing in this editorial? Oh yeah. Why can't you make the books balance like my employer had to when our income dropped 22% last year? We cut expenses by 25% and righted the company to keep the doors open.
Why doesn't PUSD do the same thing instead of hitting my checkbook?
How about closing those extra schools? How about dumping the dead weight at 351 S. Hudson? How about stop paying "consultants" to be your friends? Why doesn't your own teachers' union believe you?
How about get your hand off my wallet you pickpocket!
NO ON CC!
D.
posted by Dormitas on 4/06/10 @ 10:29 p.m.
Read about the success stories of PUSD at: http://yesonmeasurecc.com