Tuesday, March 24, 2009

FORWARDING OTHER PEOPLE’S MAIL: an open letter to the Superintendent and the Board of Education

"It has been suggested that the state has some ability to intercept Stabilization Fund dollars,” the letter from Congress says.

“It does not.”

Subject: Reading other people's mail

Date: 3/24/2009 7:05:06 A.M. Pacific Daylight Time

From: smf

To:ramon.cortines@lausd.net, marguerite.lamotte@lausd.net, monica.garcia@lausd.net, tamar.galatzan@lausd.net, marlene.canter@lausd.net, yolie.flores.aguilar@lausd.net, julie.korenstein@lausd.net, richard.vladovic@lausd.net

Dear Superintendent Cortines and members of the Board of Education:

Please read the following letter from the California Congressional Delegation and take it to heart.

While addressed to the Governor, The California Education Secretary and the State Schools Superintendent it is important advice to every member of the state legislature and every school board member in California - it is the definitive response to the legislative analyst and is clear and unequivocal. The emphasis in boldface:"it is the intent of Congress..." is binding upon each and every one of you.

  • It instructs you that the federal stimulus money is yours to spend, not the legislature's. 
  • It instructs you to spend it quickly and wisely
  • It sets priorities and establishes congressional direction on how to spend it.
    • stabilize local government budgets
    • avoid cuts to education programs and services
    • keep teachers in the classroom
    • support modernization of facilities
    • you are implored to take all available steps to avoid layoffs.

To leverage this money - or hold it in reserve - to promote any agenda of  "rightsizing" or reform or district reorganization is directly counter to the intent of congress and the president.

Onward!  ... and thank you for everything you do for children every day.

- smf

 

1 2 3 4

No comments: