A
To concerned SMUSD Parents
As you may or may not know I have a 6 year old and a 9 year old (upcoming 1st and 4th graders at SEES). Since our youngest is going into 1st grade you must know that I share your concerns not only for my daughter but for thousands of upcoming 1st and 2nd graders in our district. Raising the class size ratio could have a huge impact on the future of many hard working bright young kids that are more likely to slip through the cracks.
Yes. It is true that SMUSD may be facing an additional $5.5 million in budget reductions. This is an astronomical number; a number much greater than what was anticipated if the propositions did not pass. Much of what makes up the $5.5 million reduction to SMUSD is the 27% loss in revenue the State is experiencing to date. That 27% loss in revenue is the justification needed for the Governor to recommend additional cuts to education.
Yes. The board and district staff did know that the Propositions were likely to fail, but the possible $1 million hit the district would take was a figure we knew we could work with in negotiations, available budget reserves and stimulus dollars. Unfortunately, $5.5 million is five times what we were expecting. Had we believed that we would not be able to sustain 24:1 in next year’s budget, we would not have made the recommendation to rescind any lay-off notices.
Raising class size above 24:1 is just one of many recommendations the Board may have to consider as Gary Hamels (Assistant Superintendent of Business) includes these new recommended cuts into our 2009-10 budget. As has been stated many times at Board meetings and by the Superintendent and Board members at site visits, there are ways of generating new revenues in this district which would prevent any employee from being laid off. The Board must approve a budget that looks at not only next year, but also 2010 and 2011.
Please know that we will do all we can to preserve jobs and programs. The reality is employees and community members need to know what is happening State-wide, within our district, and the possible impact it has on the future.
As we continue negotiations with our bargaining units, it is my goal that we take a balanced approach at maintaining employee positions and programs for our kids (like class size). When I say balanced I mean a combination of cuts, use of the reserves, and positive negotiations with their labor unions. This would help balance the burden among the community, the kids, and the employees.
We can keep class size ratios low in elementary and secondary classrooms and prevent layoffs with this balanced approach.
Best Regards,
David Horacek,
SMUSD Board Member and concerned parent of a soon to be 1st grader and 4th grader as SEES.
- Please understand these are my own opinions as a parent and community member. These are not necessarily the opinions of the Board (as a whole or in part) or that of the Superintendent.
Senator Mark Wyland- 38th District
Assemblyman Martin Garrick- 74th Assembly District
Mike Preston- San Marcos City Council
Kevin D. Holt, Ed.D.
Pam Bancells
Dean Nelson- Candidate for San Marcos City Council
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The foundation of every state is the education of its youth. - Diogenes Laertius
Paid for by ELECT DAVID HORACEK (FPPC# 1271276)