MOMS UNITE by Victoria Rierdan Hurley

Superintendent Cortines on Prop. 98 - Stop the Governor

I usually like to write a few paragraphs of commentary based on what I see going on at LAUSD headquarters and in Sacramento and how decisions made affect our schools. In my last post I talked about the Governor's plan to "suspend" Prop 98 and the devastation that would ensue if he's successful. Although he's getting fierce opposition from citizens, it clearly means nothing to him. So much for the People's Governor.  I guess that went the way of the Education Governor.

Yesterday I received a statement from LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines on the subject. I'm reprinting it below because I believe that, regardless of how you might feel about LAUSD, or the job the Superintendent is doing, we, as parents, need to stand together with him and with the Teacher's Union on this one. Please continue calling and writing to your reps in Sacramento. Get together with other parents and send petitions, organize calling parties and do whatever you can think of to get the Legislature's attention on this. Fortunately, there are a number of parent groups across the State mobilizing to make their voices heard, but the Governor needs to hear it from all sides.

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal to suspend Proposition 98 education funding is violating a promise California voters made to the children of this state.

 While LAUSD already has made deep cuts based on the Governor’s May revision guidance, the suspension of minimum funding under Prop. 98 would open a door to additional, and continued, cuts throughout the year as the state’s deficit grows. 

 LAUSD has already laid off teachers, library aides, office workers, building and grounds workers and reduced staff throughout the central office. We have had to make cuts that violate my educational principles such as increasing class size.

 If Prop. 98 is suspended, the California Legislature could make even deeper cuts throughout the year. The future of our state is at risk. If we think this current economic recession is bad, I shudder to think what education will look like after additional cuts. There won’t be any education. Enough is enough.  

Stop the CA Legislature from Suspending Proposition 98!

It shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone that things may be about to get a whole lot worse.  In their inability to pass a budget that makes sense, the California Legislature is about to vote on what educators and education advocates consider to be the unthinkable.  Our “education” Governor is proposing that Proposition 98 be suspended (most likely indefinitely).  The California Teacher’s Union is mounting an offensive against the proposal and I’m with them on this one.

For those who may not remember, Proposition 98 was a ballot initiative passed in 1988 which commits the State to spending 40% of the general fund on education.   Also known as the Classroom Instructional and Improvement Accountability Act, it was passed as a reaction to Proposition 13, which limits California property tax to 1% of a home’s value – and forever limits the amount of revenue the State can collect to pay for schools, roads, and other services.  This, on top of massive tax cuts to the horse-racing industry, oil companies, the Gallo family and many, many others.

To suspend Prop 98 would mean another devastating blow to public schools in California. In LAUSD, it would reduce funding to as little as $500 per student.  This comes on top of the other deep cuts that have caused massive layoffs of teachers and staff, increased class size, shared principals and no assistant principals for smaller schools and other heartbreaking reductions.

Many of the politicians involved in the budget discussions are blaming Prop 98 for “handcuffing” California with respect to budgeting because they’re forced to spend so much on education.  That, in itself, makes me want to scream.  Even more infuriating is that is that thanks to the HUNDREDS of tax cuts they’ve approved over the years, the Legislature has effectively reduced the State’s revenues to the point that it can no longer even function.  And, although it takes a 2/3 majority to raise taxes, tax cuts get voted by a simple majority.  This, my friends, explains a lot about the mess we’re in and at the end of the day, they don’t care if our children pay for it.

CALL TO ACTION

This information comes courtesy of the California Teacher’s Union website, www.cta.org.

Call Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger at 916-445-2841.  Call Your State Senator at Her/His Capitol office number listed below or by using this toll-free number: 1-888-268-4334.  

• Ask to speak to the Senator. If he/she is not available, leave a message with the Senator’s staff or record a message on the answering machine.
• Be sure to identify yourself as a constituent living in the district as well as a classroom teacher/education support professional/ or college instructor.
• Leave your contact information so the Senator or Senate staff can get back to you. 

Make These Important Points!

• Do not suspend Proposition 98!
• The proposed cuts would have a devastating impact on our students and public schools (give local examples).
• The Governor’s call to suspend the state’s minimum school funding guarantee is unacceptable.
• California public schools have already been cut by a record $12 billion!
• Any approach to solving the state budget crisis must include increased revenues.
• It is time to rescind the corporate tax breaks handed out earlier this year!
• Big Oil and Big Tobacco need to pay, too!
• Stop the political games! The partisan politics and gridlock are destroying our state.

State Senate Members:

Elaine Alquist SD13 (916) 651-4013

Ron Calderon SD30 (916) 651-4030

Gilbert Cedillo SD22 (916) 651-4022

Ellen Corbett SD10 (916) 651-4010

Lou Correa SD34 (916) 651-4034

Mark DeSaulnier SD7 (916) 651-4007

Denise Moreno Ducheny SD 40 (916) 651-4040

Dean Florez SD16 (916) 651-4016

Loni Hancock SD9 (916) 651-4009

Christine Kehoe SD39 (916) 651-4039

Mark Leno SD3 (916) 651-4003

Carol Liu SD21 (916) 651-4021

Alan Lowenthal SD27 (916) 651-4027

Gloria Negrete McLeod SD32 (916) 651-4032

Jenny Oropeza SD28 (916) 651-4028

Alex Padilla SD20 (916) 651-4020

Fran Pavley SD23 (916) 651-4023

Curren D. Price, Jr. SD26 (916) 651-4026

Gloria Romero SD24 (916) 651-4024

S. Joseph Simitian SD11 (916) 651-4011

Darrell Steinberg SD6 (916) 651-4006

Patricia Wiggins SD2 (916) 651-4002

Lois Wolk SD5 (916) 651-4005

Rod Wright SD25 (916) 651-4025

Leland Yee SD8 (916) 651-4008

Stay tuned for more developments.

Victoria

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MOMS UNITE is a grassroots parent advocacy group devoted to improving public education in California.

To join, please visit www.moms-unite.org. Join our Facebook group and follow us on Twitter @MOMSUNITE.