“Budget cuts should not punish students and the future of this state,” Kaitlyn Spore, student representative to the district Board of Education and a Mission Viejo High senior, told the crowd. “It is our hope that we can send a strong message to the governor that education must be a priority.”
Last night, some 4,000 people showed up at Mission Viejo High School to protest the state budget education cuts. Students, parents, and educators from all over the Saddleback Valley Unified School District (inland South County) showed up to speak out. Why? Apparently, because they don’t think they deserve to be punished by Arnold & the Legislature.
Under Arnold’s proposed 2008-09 budget, SVUSD would lose $19.3 million in crucial state funds. That would mean larger class sizes in grades 1-3, an end to the International Baccalaureate program in high schools, and 228 teachers losing their jobs. Wow. No wonder why folks all over the district are angry about these budget cuts.
So what can be done to protect our schools from these cuts? What can Sacramento do to stop passing the pain to public schools? What can be done differently to balance the budget while still investing in our kids’ futures?
I want to hear what you have to say about the continued education budget cut controversy. Are you as angry as these folks in South County are? And if so, what do you propose the state do differently? Go ahead and have your say.
The solution is obvious: restore the Vehicle License Fee to 1998 levels, before it was recklessly cut. It would cost only $150 a year per driver and would raise $6.1 billion, eliminating any need for education cuts.
Republicans will fight it, but that’s a good thing. We need to call them out and draw a contrast, between a party that thinks children should suffer so people can have a piddling $150 tax cut and a party that is instead a responsible steward of the state’s finances. Republicans prefer to destroy California’s basic services, and voters won’t stand for it.
Republicans are now WAY out on a limb with their total opposition to tax increases. It’s time we made them pay at the ballot box for it.
i say cut away. a lot of people who voted for arnold are now crying about what a terrible job he’s doing. but yet they bought into this “hasta la vista to higher taxes”! and whatever lame statements he made. a lot of “smart” people and teachers voted for him and bought into his lies and this is the result. vote in another idiot next time too.
How much does it cost for a teacher?
We need to tax the internet. Just a penny per email for the sake of the children. We all learned to read emails thanks to a teacher, now its time to give something back.
Unforunately few Californians understand the funding process. Even more sadly, is how easily they rely on propaganda provided by big ad buys from special interests.
The truth is, and this is fact, the only measurable cuts that will be effective is through staff reductions. You can cut a few books and across the state, cancel a few construction projects, even close a school or ten.
The ongoing costs of staff is crippling.
Further, California has 58 Counties. It also has 999 School districts. That means 999 Superintendents, Secratarys, and support staffs.
Thats the problem