[Editor’s Note: Robert Gray, Culver City parent and activist who closely monitors School Board activities, sends along two dispatches. The first is a letter he sent to Board members before Monday night’s meeting, and the second is a report of the action taken.]
Dear Board Members
I just found out over the weekend that there is a School Board meeting tonight at which the administration is asking the Board to approve additional and specific cuts “to provide flexibility,” even though I believe our budget is now balanced.
Some of the items being brought up before the Board again include:
Firing three more teachers and increasing class sizes in the fourth and fifth grades to an average of 30 students, cutting two counselors and a Guidance tech, cutting a whole bunch of instructional aides, and eliminating Board members’ health benefits.
Many of us fought hard to preserve some of these items and I am very disappointed they are even up for discussion again. Additional cuts can't come at the expense of our students in my opinion.
I can't be at the meeting tonight, but some thoughts I would like you to consider:
Don't approve the cuts. What was the purpose of cutting to a target budget number if we were just going to turn around and make additional cuts, many of which we all felt were unacceptable.
Increasing class size in the fourth and fifth grades will be much more devastating than it may initially appear and shouldn't be done.
Basically some of our fourth- and fifth-grade classes are already running at 30 students, but the average is a little lower.
If we increase the average to the max, as I understand is what will happen, we will have to run many mixed grade classes (an educational no-no) and/or shuffle kids between schools (good luck).
As someone who suffered through large mixed grade classes, I can tell you we don't want to go there (except for rare exceptions).
You will lose Culver City parents over this one.
Don't cut your benefits without making sure upper management makes a much larger concession.
Many people assume School Board members are well paid for what you do and want to see you take a cut, but Board members are essentially working for free except for a small stipends and medical benefits for those that want them.
That is one reason it is so hard to get people to run for School Board. Who can afford it? I strongly believe we do need to cut at the top, and I would like to see those in upper management making six figure salaries lead by example and take a 5 to10 percent salary cut.
As our leaders, the School Board should probably take a cut, but it should be in line with the percentage upper management cuts their salaries.
Didn't we decide we couldn't afford to lose more counselors?
My understanding regarding the aides on the list (Title 1, etc.) was that we were going to get separate funding for these aides, and they wouldn't have to be cut.
I'm not sure why they are still on the list.
You've all done a reasonably good job so far with difficult budget decisions this year. Thank you for your efforts.
School Board Meeting Report
While I was only able to stop by the School Board meeting for a few minutes, I can report that the Board decided the following:
To postpone a decision on the additional budget cuts sought by the administration.
To remove class size increases for the fourth and fifth grades from consideration. Fourth and fifth grade classes may go as high as 30 students (as they can now), but they will not be required to run at 30 students.
This should mean, at least for now, that we will be able to avoid running a lot of split grade classes and/or shuffling kids between schools, and that we won't have to fire three more teachers.
To approve, unanimously, a parcel tax feasibility study. This is the first step in getting a parcel tax for our schools. In part, it will determine what amount the voters are likely to approve and what they will want the money to be used for.
As I understand it, a parcel tax for the schools has to be for specific things and not just money for the General Fund. Our schools definitely need more money and some financial independence form Sacramento in my opinion, and I'm encouraged School District is moving a parcel tax forward.
Good job, Board members!
Mr. Gray may be contacted at rgray@beitler.com
