Superintendent: State budget cuts could drastically affect schools

State Supt. of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell made the following statement in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts:

"California’s fiscal condition is dire and all individuals, families, businesses, and institutions must tighten their belts and make sacrifices during these difficult times. Our public schools already have absorbed $3 billion in cuts that have directly affected students. From Siskiyou County to San Diego, districts have spent reserves, reduced staff, eliminated transportation, or increased class sizes over the past difficult year.

"The governor’s proposed additional $2 billion in cuts to K-12 education would not only create catastrophic disruption in our schools and harm to our students in the middle of the school year, they would damage our future economy. I applaud the Governor’s efforts to stimulate our state’s economy and his willingness to consider new revenues as well as budget cuts. I strongly urge the Republican members of the Legislature to follow his lead so we can protect our schools and the future workforce of our state.

"Nothing is more critical to getting our state back on track than investing in a well-educated workforce. Unless we continue to improve upon our efforts to close the achievement gap, our state’s economic outlook will remain bleak.”

-- Mary MacVean

Comments

[Craig]

Gee, isn't that just too bad. Perhaps the State can explain what happened to all the revenues generated by the lottery that were supposed to go to support the school system throughout sate. What a sham. Now Arnie wants to raise Sales Tax. I have two kids that attend Public Schools. I support the Public School system and appreciate all the hard work that goes into making the system work and that all children are given an opportunity for a quality education.

I purchase my kids school supplies and donate to the schools that each of them attend. With all of the money the lottery generates how come our statewide school system sucks?

Enough is enough already. Can someone please launch an investigation into where all the lottery money goes?

[goodapple]

how about cutting the bloated salaries of school and district administrators? If the public were more aware of the six figure earnings of school prinicpals and other administrators they would see where the waste was going. Instead of cutting the number of teachers, the amount of per pupil spending, and eliminating the positions of much needed support staff, lets start at the top. Time to trim the fat!

[maggie]

I understand we have a serious budget issue. But rather than raise the already exhorbitant sales tax and add a tax to services, which will be counterproductive in the long run, other fund-raising options should be considered. I'd be willing to pay 2.00 per gallon more on gas and pay toll fees for the use of freeways instead agreeing to the proposed taxes. I own a service company. I have a list of California vendors I am currently using. Two have recently moved to Nevada. I'll keep using them since they would not charge me a tax. The remaing California vendors would have to be replaced by out of state vendors so that I can stay competitive while remaining in California. If I cannot stay competitive, I would be forced to move my business out of state. Multiply that by thousands and we got ourseves a worse budget deficit. You can only bleed folks so much.

[ellen]

Gee LAUSD, how about cutting all of those consultants and catered meals? Teachers are struggling just to pay the rent and you guys give administrators the best equipment while teachers go begging. There is no budget problem. There is a spending problem

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