It is clear that the development of a state budget for 2008-2009 will be an extraordinary challenge. The budget deficit has grown to numbers that are difficult to comprehend. The January $14.5 Billion deficit, has grown to $16 Billion in just two months.
What is clear is that the proposed 10% “across the board” cuts by the Governor will have a chilling impact on the momentum of educational progress in our county and around the state. Our students have continued to increase their achievement while teachers and schools have had to do more with less.
Most recently, research studies requested by the Governor, Legislature and the State Superintendent of Schools Jack O” Connell have clearly exposed the underfunding of our public schools. Our state has moved this year from 43rd to 46th in terms of per student expenditures. We are moving in the wrong direction.
Now a proposed education budget cut of over $4 Billion threatens to move us even lower when compared to other states in per student expenditures. California provides schools with only $7,081 dollars per student, 27% less than the national average of $8,973. Those studies also show that states such as Texas $7,687, Illinois $8,621, West Virginia $10,073 and New York $12,215, spend significantly more per student.
In challenging times we must have the courage to stand up for what we know is important. We mortgage the future if we allow such deep cuts to education. Schools in Lake County were guaranteed a minimum funding level by the voters in Proposition 98.
It was designed to provide stability in volatile economic times. Those times are here today. Our students deserve a high quality educational program. We will not be able to provide it if we take the easy way out and accept “across the board cuts” as the way to balance the budget. We should not balance the budget at the expense of our school children.
The proposed budget cuts would result in an overall reduction of nearly $800 per student. Across our county the cuts proposed total up to more than 6 million dollars. Already districts in Lake County are moving forward with layoff notices to more than 80 teachers and administrators.
Soon districts will begin work on layoff notices to key support staff, custodians, secretaries, cafeteria workers, instructional assistants. In the face of the proposed 10% “across the board cuts” districts are being forced to “plan for the worst and hope for the best”.
As a community we have to say no to the dismantling of successful programs like class size reductions in grades K-3, reading coaches, after school intervention programs, music and art programs.
We have to ask our government officials to exhibit the courage to look for balanced solutions, to talk about additional revenues to go with prioritized cuts. If we had this type problem with our personal finances we would prioritize where it made sense to cut and we would look for a temporary second job to help us solve our budget problem.
We have to let our legislators and the governor know that these are unacceptable cuts. The state budget must reflect what our community values.
Let them all know that budget cuts as proposed by the Governor will be a disaster for the children of Lake County.
David Geck is the Superintendent of Lake County Schools.
