Jack O'Connell - State Superintendent
It is amazing to me how often the question "why is the SOS raising money?" or "what is the money going to go for?" comes up! AS IT VERY WELL SHOULD...but the reason I am AMAZED is due to how many people do not know what is going on or even, that we are in a FINANCIAL CRISIS. After being dumped into the deep, dark, financial hole that we are all in, I have grown to understand the need to raise money for our school district. It isn't for
ONE particular reason, but more for the WHOLE BIG PICTURE! Everyday I watch the news and see the updates about other school districts and the cost cutting measures they are taking. IT IS SO DEPRESSING! One school is cutting the sports program, another is cutting teachers, MANY school districts are closing schools....the list of cuts is disheartening.
When I was trying to compare how well our school district is weathering the storm, I found out something quite IMPRESSIVE! No matter how you feel about the powers that be, you can not help be proud of our status as a district within the State of California.
Below is a very interesting read that will hopefully make you proud to be part of our VACAVILLE Community.
SO, IF you are wondering why you should get involved, why you should invest in our school district, If your donation will make a difference, whether or not we are really in a FINANCIAL CRISIS....the answer is YES, BECAUSE IT IS UP TO US TO MAINTAIN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT
AS IT IS. If EVERYONE joins in this effort we will succeed in
keeping VACAVILLE solid and secure.
Facing deep cuts, more schools make fiscal 'watch list'
April 2, 2010 | Corey G. Johnson
The number of California school districts in financial trouble is on the rise.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell has announced that 126 districts were on the state's fiscal "watch list" - a whooping 17 percent increase from last June.
***
WE are NOT on this list, but from Solano County, the following districts are:
Travis Unified
Vallejo City Unified
Dixon Unified
See the complete Watch List
here!
**
This is also a very interesting read.
here"Massive state budget cuts are crippling our public school system's ability to operate," O'Connell said. "Public education in California received $17 billion less in state funding than anticipated over the last two budget years. School districts already have made draconian cuts to programs and services, eliminated summer school, increased class sizes, and cut art, music, libraries, school nurses, and sports. The Governor has proposed cutting another $2.4 billion this year. Districts now are forced to lay off even more teachers and make deep cuts to educational programs to address projected budget shortfalls or face possible bankruptcy and state receivership. In the first interim status report of the 2009-10 fiscal year, 126 local educational agencies are now on the watch list, which is up an alarming 17 percent from the 108 school districts on the watch list we reported last June.
"I urge the Governor to reconsider the cuts proposed for public schools, and I also continue to call on the Governor and the Legislature to approve SCA 6 so that local communities can have more control over the financial destiny of their school districts."
Posts
