A BUDGET APPROACH UNWORTHY OF OUR STATE

By MARY JANE BURKE, Marin County Superintendent of Schools

With great sincerity and pride in his State of the State message on January 6, 2010, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared that "education will be protected" in the new budget.

Two days later, when the budget was presented, the Governor revealed that this "protection" consists of continuing manipulations of the system to avoid providing what the State Constitution requires and what the Governor promised to our children. Instead of placing faith in our people, believing that we can understand the economic crisis in our state and in our nation and communicating with us honestly, the Governor prefers deception.

<< Superintendent Burke | Photo by Tim Porter | Marin Magazine

After cutting funding for public schools $18 billion over the last two years, the new budget purporting to "protect education" reveals the following facts:

· General purpose funding for schools, would be reduced by $1.5 billion. (This represents a cut of about $250 per student). Other cuts to child development programs, county offices of education, K-3 class size reduction programs and a negative cost-of living adjustment total another $997 million for total cuts of almost $2.5 billion. (This adds another $150 per student for a total proposed cut to public schools of $400 per student in the 2010-2011 school year.)

· The Governor is including $7 billion in his budget in anticipation of receiving additional federal funds. The nonpartisan Office of the Legislative Analyst says, "The likelihood of Washington agreeing to all of the Governor's requests is almost non-existent." If these federal funds are not provided, additional cuts in health and welfare resources affecting children and families and the elderly and homeless will be made.

· Despite signing legislation in July, 2009 to certify the minimum funding level for public schools, the Governor is now reneging on that promise.

The Governor plans to manage these cuts and still meet the Proposition 98 minimum education funding required by the State Constitution using blatant manipulation. He proposes a gas tax swap to purposely create an additional reduction in the minimum guaranteed funding for schools. Use of such gimmicks is insulting to the intelligence of the people of our state. Most of all, it is irresponsible because of the negative impact on our children in public schools. The final insult is that these cuts would result in permanently lowering base funding for schools in years to come.

In the last two years, schools which in 2009-2010 represent about 40% of the state budget have absorbed 60% of the cuts. Last year, schools made the required cuts with the promise that they would then be able to plan on stable funding at drastically reduced levels until the economy allows programs to be restored. Once again the Governor's promise was only words. In recent years, thousands of teachers, support staff and administrators have disappeared from our schools. Counselors, librarians, nurses, instructional assistants, custodians, grounds-keepers, cafeteria workers, principals, instructional specialists and other staff have been lost.

To divert attention from his convoluted manipulations, the Governor is attempting to use "divide and conquer" tactics by pitting various interests—cities, towns, counties, education, social services, child care, law enforcement—against each other. The good news is that such tactics will not work. On both a state and local level, coalitions have been formed to insist that fairness prevails and to insure that all agencies are working together to provide the best possible support for all of the residents of our community and our state. The crisis in confidence in government and the cynicism about elected leaders comes from the lack of honesty with the residents of our state.

Today, the demands for a world-class education are increasing exponentially, as they should be. The issue confronting us is whether or not public schools, which have been the foundation of our democracy and the common experience that has molded a diverse people into a nation, will survive. In California, we risk losing an entire generation of our youth. In Marin County where support for schools is unprecedented, this budget will mean that fiscal solvency for our districts will be a challenge. Now is not the time for tricks or dishonesty or demagoguery. It is time for bold leadership and action. Trust begins with honesty. We must let our elected leaders know that we will accept nothing less.

This budget approach is unworthy of our state.