State Budget Axe Falls on CA School Teachers/ Megan McClendon

Recently, Governor Schwarzenegger announced a very large cut back in the education budget for the state to the tune of $4.8 billion. Many districts, expecting shortfalls in the millions of dollars have begun cuts and layoffs.

A reported 5,000 layoffs are expected to occur throughout the state this month, but not all teachers will receive layoff notification until early this summer. This has inspired many teachers statewide to fear the coming months and the potential job loss with little chance of rehire.

Rialto, has already sent notice to 305 teachers and are expecting to fall $23 million short in their budget next year as a result of many combined factors including: the governor’s budget cuts and ever-declining enrollment. The results of such cuts will remain to be seen, but in a state where teachers are already in short supply and classes are already large, 5,000 fewer teachers can only exacerbate an already volatile situation

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rialto3mar03,1,3753966.story?ctrack=2&cset=true

Schwarzenegger Details Plans For Reforming Troubled Districts/ Sarah Montes

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will be announcing his latest plans which hope to help 97 California school districts that have not being able to meet the requirements set forth by the No Child Left Behind law. Schwarzenegger wants California to be the first state in the nation to use the federal education law to turn around low performing districts.

The specific improvement plans for each of the 97 California school districts that have missed test targets for five years in a row will be released at an 11:15 a.m. press conference at Northwood Elementary School.

The specific improvement plans for each of the 97 California school districts will be released at a press conference set to begin at 11:15 a.m.

Link: http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/742251.html

California Schools feel the Burn of Budget Cuts/Erica Quevedo

California’s budget crisis has reached new heights as Governor Schwarzenegger’s budget proposal could possibly cut $4.8 billion dollars in education funding. As school districts throughout California frenzy to trim their already slim budgets they are faced with the dim reality of firing teachers.

Rialto Unified School District, which faces a $23 million budget cut, voted last week to send over 300 notices to employees and teachers informing them that they may not have a job next year. While some districts like San Francisco who face a $40 million dollar budget cut have the luxury of looking hopefully towards accessing a “rainy day” fund, other districts like Long Beach Unified are forced to close down schools. If the San Francisco Board of Supervisors fail to pass the proposal to access the rainy day funds the 56,000 student district will be forced to lay off over 500 teachers and administrators. Meanwhile Long Beach Board of Education has voted to close Tucker Elementary school in efforts to save an estimated $1 million dollars; in consequence they are forced with relocating 400 students to neighboring MacArthur Elementary school.

Los Angeles Unified School District alone is potentially facing a $560 million dollar deficit for next year under this proposed budget; this would be the largest in the state. According to the LA Times, Chief Financial Officer Megan K. Reilly said the $460-million cut would be the equivalent of closing 22 high schools, firing 5,750 employees or instituting an 8% pay cut for all employees.

As School Districts throughout California feel the heat of budget cuts policy makers must scramble to address the unintended consequences and effects on education policy. The dangers of firing teachers and school employees potentially leads to increased class sizes, over crowdedness, less security and ultimately further burdens an already struggling education system.

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-schools21feb21,0,3850513.story?page=1

Oxnard Assemblyman Proposes Hate Crimes Bill for Schools/ Claudia Paredes

In reaction to a hate crime in Oxnard, Assemblyman Mike Eng is introducing a bill to establish a pilot program that will aim to prevent hate crimes in schools. He is asking from up to $150,000 to create a pilot program that would include diversity and sensitivity awareness and education in schools statewide. This bill also includes protocol for teachers and administrators to contact law enforcement when they become aware of student harassment that may result in a hate crime. Currently, there are laws in place where teachers and counselors can report sexual impropriety with youth, but there are no procedures for reporting possible violent hate crimes.

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-hate19feb19,1,1017789.story?ctrack=3&cset=true

Watts Comes Together To Fight School Violence/ Julia Gonzalez

Students at Markham Middle school located in Watts, CA., finally have something positive to look forward to at school—education sans violence. Markham is located in a violent neighborhood known for its seven notorious street gangs, and is bordered by four public housing projects. Recent campus violence-related statistics over the last year include: a suspension of 278 students due to attempted physical harm, 196 for defiance, 19 assaults against staff, 14 related to theft, 9 for sexual harassment, and 6 for possession of marijuana.

The absence of safety has recently drawn the ire of the community—namely former substitute teacher Michelle McGinnis, turned Prosecutor who decided that the time for reform was long overdue. Specifically, McGinnis has advocated that students desperately needed a program aimed at augmenting opportunities for children to be safe, and secure while studying on campus. This in turn, has yielded a robust community-based approach, armed with private donations has helped to pay for the first ever LAUSD on-campus Boys & Girls Club facility, for a new washer and dryer, for new school uniforms, and tennis shoes—a push to encourage students to engage in basketball during lunch instead of engaging in incessant fights.

While it is too early to postulate on the long-term benefits of the new program, proponents have pointed to the program’s early success as a cause for optimism—as arrests are already down 19%.

Link: : http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-markham11feb11,1,1844220.story?ctrack=3&cset=true

LAUSD Payroll Failure Shows Cracks in Bureaucracy/ Pete Peterson

The scope of the LAUSD payroll debacle continues to unfold. In the unpacking, a story of an incredible bureaucracy making terrible financial decisions takes shape. The District, which employs over 95,000 people has 1,150 different pay grades contributing to an extremely complex payroll system. After paying a consulting firm $55MM to install the software programs and train LAUSD employees, the system went on to overpay some employees a total of $53MM last year while underpaying others, and leaving some completely unpaid for months at a time.

In response to the crisis, the LAUSD has paid around $700K in legal fees to sue the consulting firm (Deloitte). The question now remains, can the District and its superintendent, David Brewer, be trusted to handle over $19B in bond funds to rehabilitate old, and build new school facilities?

Link: http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oe-rutten13feb13,0,6611148.column