Re “When Did ‘Union’ Become a Four-Letter Word in Culver City?”
It's great that the local Culver City Federation of Teachers union supports the efforts of the Culver City Education Foundation and offers annual scholarships to deserving students.
But I wonder which checks were bigger? The two to the CC Ed Foundation/Scholarship or the one written to their state organization, the California Federation of Teachers' political action committee?
The infusion of $2.4M would be a welcomed addition after years of shrinking, state-mandated budgets. But before we pop the corks in celebration of this windfall, it needs to be understood that even if the District were to receive the additional $2.4M in annual funding, District employees' compensation is about 80 to 84 percent of the District's budget. The 600-plus District employees will receive a majority of the $2.4M raised, on average, about $3,000 more in compensation.
After taking out for the District employees' compensation, that would mean about $400,000 left over to spend on our kids, an estimated average of $60 annually for each of the 6800 students enrolled in the District –which comes to less than 35 cents a day.
Before we herald this attempt to help fund our schools, we must see this “Millionaires’ Tax” initative for what it really is: Mostly about the adults working in the District, not the kids.
For the students, at less than 35 cents a day, it's not much better than gettin' a poke in the eye.
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
