About 400 parents, teachers and staff packed the cafeteria at Monte Gardens Elementary Tuesday night, as the Mt. Diablo Unified School District board began to make painful decisions about programs and jobs to cut.
The district has to cut $48 million over the next four years. KTVU reports that trustees went through proposed reductions item by item. As of late Tuesday evening, trustees had approved "reductions to special education, adult education, summer school sessions, hours worked by office and maintenance workers as well as shortening the school year to cut costs."
"As a result of the decisions, some 200 teachers, librarians, counselors and others can expect layoff notices Monday," KTVU further reported.
The board also decided to and to move forward with a $348 million facilities bond measure in June.
41 comments:
The education of the next generation is a paltry price to pay for the money we get to keep from the Prop 13 tax cuts. And let's not forget how fortunate our families are to not have that egregious "Car Tax". Give the schools a dime and what do they do with it...Spend it!
If prop 13 were not in place then many old people would be destitute and on the streets.
If the 2/3 majority were not in place then the dems would just come for more money year after year to fund their utopian ideals.
Just the facts and nothing but the facts.
Does anyone really believe that if the CA state legislature was handed $20 billion dollars to close the budget deficit that all of our problems would go away?
How long would it take before we were running another deficit?
No matter how much you give them, it won't be enough.
"No matter how much you give them, it won't be enough."
Sounds like all you rich a-holes that live in Walnut Creek.
There are some private and charter schools hiring. Just an FYI
Has anyone seen libzilla? His finger prints are all over this mess...
To the person that said "all you rich A-holes who live in Walnut Creek" : Walnut Creek is NOT known for its rich population, just confortable and hard working....where do you live? and by the way that was a ignorant comment!
I'm always amazed by how much people in this community worship money. Seems like they'd sacrifice their children for another tax deduction. Love the destitute old people quip. Do you have any data on that or do my children have to pay the price of your greed just because. Your greed: no matter how much you take it's just never seems to be enough.
Ok...here we go. My ancestors came to this country in the 1700s. None of them had anything. One ancestor came over and an indentured servant, meaning he sold his future labor for the price of his ocean passage. Once here he worked for seven or eight yrs. to pay off that debt, and went on to become a moderately successful shopkeeper. My grandfather was a successful banker in his little community but lost everything in the Great Depression. He worked the rest of his life as a bookkeeper and died with basically nothing. My dad was the first person in the family to get a college degree.
My husband and I live in WC and consider ourselves to be middle class, although by Obama's definition we are rich.
It took over 200 yrs. for my family to make it to the middle class. We are not going to give it up easily, because we worked hard to get here.
Yep. You are who I was referring to. If the legislature was handed $20 billion dollars would our problems go away? No, but you wouldn't be leaving my children with your tax debts. It's wonderful you make over $250,000 a year. How about a accepting a little responsibility for all you've been given.
I believe we can all keep our "middle class" and support our schools too.
Your comments are interesting, because you assume you know what my family financially supports and what we do not. Even the oracle at Delphi didn't have that kind of insight.
"I believe we can all keep our "middle class" and support our schools too."
I believe that most people are willing to support the schools. The problem is many people have serious reservations about how the district has been managed.
On a broader scale, people have reservations about how this state is being managed, and are not eager to continue throwing their hard-earned money down the proverbial rat hole.
The oracle at Delfi is unable to discern your serious reservations about how the district is being managed. Can you help the rest of us out by telling us the cuts you would make to save 4.8 million dollars from the 4 schools in the Acalanes School District. They are asking for $112 more dollars from you! The teachers who don't even own property in your district have volunteered and are giving over $2,000 each for three years to help out. Do you really have serious reservations that prevents you from helping out? Or is it the $112.
My children do not go to school in the Acalanes school district, so I will refrain from recommending specific budget cuts.
We are in the MDUSD and we have much, much more serious problems than Acalanes.
So other than contributing more to your school district how will you save your schools? If not greater contributions then what cuts do you propose. Most of a schools districts budget is salary. Your teachers have already given up their health care. Where else do you propose to cut other than the public education of the next generation? That responsibility has ( up till now) never been questioned. What's different about our generation, if not greed.
If I had a majic wand here is what I would do to "fix" the school problems:
1. Fire bad teachers and reward good teachers, particularly those who are willing to teach in the lowest ranked schools. Private business does this -- people who take assignments in challenging locations are financially rewarded. I cannot for the life of me understand why good teachers don't challenge the union on this point. I believe people will continue to begrudge more money going to schools until they see bad teachers being let go.
2. Get back to basics in education. Strip out all the PC, pschyobabble add ons. I include sports, music, and art in basics...not all kids will excel in math and English but might be gifted in these other areas, and that should be encouraged rather than squashed.
3. English only. Full immersion if you have to do it to force kids up to fluency as soon as possible. Coddling them by providing teachers who speak Spanish and textbooks in Spanish sounds kind-hearted but it's only damning them to a lifetime of struggle in the workplace.
The last thing that is keeping some schools down probably just can't be fixed, and that is home life of these kids.
1. "Fire bad teachers and reward good teachers, particularly those who are willing to teach in the lowest ranked schools."
Fire bad teachers - A good idea
Reward good teachers- Yes. Needed: more money
2. "Get back to basics in education. Strip out all the PC, pschyobabble add ons."
Canceling a course merely forces the student to take something else. It does nothing to reduce the need for teachers. You just need different teachers. Cost savings: None
3. "English only."
OK, but that English learning student will only be able to read 3rd and 4th grade math and science and history books and need extra teacher help. Costs : New texts.
Clearly new ideas are needed in public education. Just as clear is the need to properly fund it.
Anon 6:56:
I maintain that if a commitment was made to English only, and the teacher's unions would agree that bad teachers could be fired, the taxpayers would be more than willing to step up to the plate with the necessary funding.
That may yet happen. In the meantime lets not let this generation of our children pay the price. The fault that bad teachers are allowed to stay rests with your school board. Most districts don't have the bad teachers you are citing. Recall the school board and elect a board with the same vigilance of the top school board in the state: the Acalanes school board the Las Gatos school board. You don't have to put up with bad teachers. They don't. Making the union into a "boogey-man" just perpetuates the problem.
The people is this district need to get more education on this subject, the comments that are being posted are just ignorant. No wonder you're are in such trouble.
1st. Mt. Diablo district gets more funding from the state than the Acalanes district, our district operates effeciently with only 4% going to admistration. Parcel tax, Parents Club and foundations contribute to the budget. This amount is still lower than what your district recieves from federal and state.
2nd. You cannot hold the school board responsible for not firing the bad teachers. It is almost impossible to fire bad teachers because of all the ed codes the teachers union have. Blame the teachers union. Make them accountable. If the Acalanes union negotiated so can other unions. Here's the concessions they made: this is over 1 million a year in savings.
Five unpaid furlough days for the next two school years
An increase of two students per class during the next two years
A restructuring of health benefits resulting in long-term savings
Cost containment measures on retiree benefits
3. Hold the teachers union accountable, if ever you have the chance parents this is it. Look at the compensation they are recieving, benefits, pensions. They will only negotiate if you demand it. Or push for Charter schools where there are no unions.
If nothings gets done, you have only yourselves to blame for not fighting for your children's education. Get involved!
The people is this district need to get more education on this subject, the comments that are being posted are just ignorant. No wonder you're are in such trouble.
1st. Mt. Diablo district gets more funding from the state than the Acalanes district, our district operates effeciently with only 4% going to admistration. Parcel tax, Parents Club and foundations contribute to the budget. This amount is still lower than what your district recieves from federal and state.
2nd. You cannot hold the school board responsible for not firing the bad teachers. It is almost impossible to fire bad teachers because of all the ed codes the teachers union have. Blame the teachers union. Make them accountable. If the Acalanes union negotiated so can other unions. Here's the concessions they made: this is over 1 million a year in savings.
Five unpaid furlough days for the next two school years
An increase of two students per class during the next two years
A restructuring of health benefits resulting in long-term savings
Cost containment measures on retiree benefits
3. Hold the teachers union accountable, if ever you have the chance parents this is it. Look at the compensation they are recieving, benefits, pensions. They will only negotiate if you demand it. Or push for Charter schools where there are no unions.
If nothings gets done, you have only yourselves to blame for not fighting for your children's education. Get involved!
Blame the teachers union means blame the teachers. For what? If teachers are doing so well, why can't they afford to live within our community.They are employees with no responsibility for this lack of funding. Our school board decides what is to be offered to our teachers. The county oversees and must approve. The responsibility to this generation of students is not the teachers; it is ours.
Anon 12:42 Can you please provide more information (such as dollar figures and links to information to verify) on your #1 statement please?
It is my understanding that the current figures from our state has reduced per pupil funding to around $4800 a year in MDUSD. I am curious to learn what Acalanes receives or what the Walnut Creek district receives. Plus how can you compare Acalanes to MDMUSD? MDUSD is a K-12 district, Acalanes is only high school and much, much smaller.
We were also informed that MDUSD has fewer administrators per pupil than the Acalanes District.
I was told by a Principle I am friends with in MDUSD that they will be taking furlough days this year and next year. Most likely they will work these days unpaid. Right now teachers are not having to take them and hopefully all bargaining units recognize that they will have to make compensations to keep jobs.
Also, Acalanes is a richer district. Sadly our State has created such inequity and why is it that all children are not deserving of an equal education? Hopefully this "No Child Left Behind" is fazed out as it has ruined our countries and States education.
Now why is it that the CA teachers union spending so much money on influencing officials, accourding to the LA Times they spend $211 millions double of what other groups have spend. I want to know why? What are they afraid off that the feel the need to spend this kind of money? This is what makes them so powerful, the power over officials.
"Fifteen special interest groups including casino operators, drug firms and unions for teachers and public employees spent more than $1 billion in the last decade trying to influence California voters and officials, the state's political watchdog agency reported Wednesday."
CA ranks 47 on the bottom for funding per pupil but 1 in nation for teachers compensation. Most of the money is going to teachers's compensation, benefits and their beloved pension that is leaving this state broke.
Go to website:
http://www.ed-data.k12.ca.us/Navigation/fsTwoPanel.asp?bottom=%2Ffinance%2FMC%2DFinanceLikeThis%2Easp%3Ftab%3D0%26level%3D06%26reportnumber%3D1024%26fyr%3Dcurrent
This info is for 08-09 the info for revenue for Acalanes from Other state revenue is not correct the total amount from all revenue sources is $9,251 next year this number is going down to $8,638 this is per pupil spending.
Total revenue including the current parcel tax for Acalanes is $9,251
Total revenue for Mt. Diablo $9,110
Acalanes collects $2,524 from parcel tax, mt diablo collects $307
Bottom line the state does not value education, you need to pass a parcel tax. For those who are agaist taxes clearly you can see how we are shortchanging our future by not investing in education.
8:43
"Acalanes is a richer district. Sadly our State has created such inequity and why is it that all children are not deserving of an equal education?"
Acalanes community values education, Acalanes is 65th out of 88 districts in per pupil funding from all CA high schools districts. Money is not handed to us, parents are involved in their childrens education and are committed to funding education our community makes up the difference. Interesting that Acalanes and Mt. diablo are funded about the same but our district is number 1 in the state. Humm??? Less funding, better school?
The inequity you speak about is not funding but PARENTING!
According to the U.S. Census Bureau's latest (2007) report on public school finances,
New York tops the list with an average of $15,981 spent on each student.
New York is followed by New Jersey ($15,691) and the District of Columbia ($14,324).
Where does California rank among the states? It was 24th with $9,152 spent per pupil.
Average teacher salary in New York $71,000
Average teacher salary in Contra Costa County $56,590
So to anonymous at 10:43...Who's leaving the state broke? You might want to do a little soul searching.
There's another reason for Acalanes' lead. Because Mt. Diablo teachers are not offered health care and the salary of De La Salle teachers are around $10,000 less, Acalanes becomes a natural draw for their best talent. Like anything else, you can accomplish anything you want if you are willing to pay for it.
"Acalanes community values education, ...Interesting that Acalanes and Mt. diablo are funded about the same but our district is number 1 in the state. Humm??? Less funding, better school? The inequity you speak about is not funding but PARENTING!"
BRAVO! Bravo Acalanes parent! You are a model for your brethren who love their children just a little less than you. Perhaps if MDUSD had not only your better parenting but your sense of self-satisfaction they move off the PG&E grid and provide all power by force of will!
Acalanes serves a much wealthier and whiter area than MDUSD, on average, most of which is different from the WC part of it that actually does look like Acalanes demographically. Not only that, the percentage of MDUSD residents with children in the schools is very low, and much lower than Acalanes (remember the Measure D fallout anyone?)
Opportunity and performance track family income and race to a depressing degree. Add in the esprit de corps from a more homogeneous district population, and you have the differences between Acalanes/WCUSD and MDSUD.
But you go ahead and chalk it up to your better parenting. Or whatever you like; I am too busy to care. I have children to neglect.
Anon 11:44, Your comment is pretty laughable. More money does not equate to better PARENTING. In fact many times it is just the opposite. Forking over money instead of being involved does not create stable, happy students. Ever wonder why Acalanes has such a problem with students abusing drugs and alcohol?
Less than 25% of the households in the MDUSD have students in school. This hurts when it is time to pass a parcel tax. But every student should be funded and treated equally in our State. Just because an area does not have the wealthier households, those children should not be punished.
We are involved parents but also know when to let them thrive and advance on their own. We would never hire a College planner or someone to write their college essays for entrance. We would expect our children to succeed by their own hard work. Then the rewards are limitless.
Unless California can make big changes in how education is treated and funded, this state will continue its major decline. We love where we live, but also know that our children will not be able to live here and raise their own families. One of ours has already left the State.
By the way, we were both raised in Walnut Creek and Lafayette and reside in Concord. We love our community and our schools. I am so sick and tired of hearing that people actually equate money to better parenting. That is beyond pathetic and arrogant.
I live in Walnut Creek and am within the MDUSD boundary. I have no children but always vote for school bond measures unless there's a good reason not to.
Although there are some actions of MDUSD with which I disagree, it is obvious that most of the problem is the dysfunctional State government and the poor economy.
Too bad it's not PC to talk about IQ anymore but most of the complainers here don't understand the acronym.
Amen.
"There's another reason for Acalanes' lead. Because Mt. Diablo teachers are not offered health insurance"
Again another misinformed comment: They are part of the teachers' union, you would have seen a revolt if this was even suggested, get the facts!
Teacher Health Benefit Schedule - Maximum Annual Per-Employee Contribution1
Mt. Diablo Unified, 2008-09
District
Single Plan $5,911
Two-Party Plan $11,823
Family Plan $15,370
Acalanes distrist per pupil spending for next year will be $5,746. If we did not have a community who cares, parents that are involved and i don't mean not just giving money, they are involved in their character and education of their children, as they should be. The success of this district has to do with partnership between community, parents, teachers, and administration.
Acalanes has problems with students abusing drugs and alcohol and they have been in the news, I live in WC and their problems don't even compare to the problems we have here. There is so much drungs and alcohol here, i wish we had more police patrol. I'm always in fear for my son, not only this but guns are begining to be a huge concern. I wish i lived in their district.
"every student should be funded and treated equally in our State. Just because an area does not have the wealthier households, those children should not be punished."
I agree with you 100%! Why should we who live in the Acalanes district have to pay more thru parcel taxes just to be at the same level of per pupil spending as mt diablo district, who don't have to because the state is giving them more. All schools should be funded the same poor or not.
New Rule: Let's Not Fire the Teachers When Students Don't Learn -- Let's Fire the Parents
New Rule: Let's not fire the teachers when students don't learn - let's fire the parents. Last week President Obama defended the firing of every single teacher in a struggling high school in a poor Rhode Island neighborhood. And the kids were outraged. They said, "Why blame our teachers?" and "Who's President Obama?" I think it was Whitney Houston who said, "I believe that children are our future - teach them well and let them lead the way." And that's the last sound piece of educational advice this country has gotten - from a crack head in the '80's.
Yes, America has found its new boogeyman to blame for our crumbling educational system. It's just too easy to blame the teachers, what with their cushy teachers' lounges, their fat-cat salaries, and their absolute authority in deciding who gets a hall pass. We all remember high school - canning the entire faculty is a nationwide revenge fantasy. Take that, Mrs. Crabtree! And guess what? We're chewing gum and no, we didn't bring enough for everybody.
But isn't it convenient that once again it turns out that the problem isn't us, and the fix is something that doesn't require us to change our behavior or spend any money. It's so simple: Fire the bad teachers, hire good ones from some undisclosed location, and hey, while we're at it let's cut taxes more. It's the kind of comprehensive educational solution that could only come from a completely ignorant people.
Firing all the teachers may feel good - we're Americans, kicking people when they're down is what we do - but it's not really their fault. Now, undeniably, there are some bad teachers out there. They don't know the material, they don't make things interesting, they have sex with the same kid every day instead of spreading the love around... But every school has crappy teachers. Yale has crappy teachers - they must, they gave us George Bush.
According to all the studies, it doesn't matter what teachers do. Although everyone appreciates foreplay. What matters is what parents do. The number one predictor of a child's academic success is parental involvement. It doesn't even matter if your kid goes to private or public school. So save the twenty grand a year and treat yourself to a nice vacation away from the little bastards.
It's also been proven that just having books in the house makes a huge difference in a child's development. If your home is adorned with nothing but Hummel dolls, DVD's, and bleeding Jesuses, congratulations, you've just given your children the gift of Duh. Sarah Palin said recently she wrote on her hand because her father used to do it. I rest my case.
When there are no books in the house, and there are no parents in the house, you know who raises the kids? That's right, the television. Kids aren't keeping up with their studies; they're keeping up with the Kardashians. We're allowing the television, as babysitter, to turn us into a nation of slutty idiots. By the way, one sign your 9-year-old may be watching too much One Tree Hill: if she has an imaginary friend with benefits.
BY BILL MAHER
To Anon 10:27
who said the Acalanes school dist has a huge drug & alcohol problem. My husband & myself graduated from the Acalanes school dist in the 70's and 80's. Now we have children in this dist. I have heard that there is more drugs because there is more money. well then Richmond and Pittsburg and Antoich and Even good ol' Pleasant hill should be drug free...Get educated!!!
"Acalanes community values education, Acalanes is 65th out of 88 districts in per pupil funding from all CA high schools districts. Money is not handed to us, parents are involved in their childrens education and are committed to funding education our community makes up the difference. Interesting that Acalanes and Mt. diablo are funded about the same but our district is number 1 in the state. Humm??? Less funding, better school?
The inequity you speak about is not funding but PARENTING!"
There are plenty of families residing within MDUSD boundaries who care every bit as much as the families residing within Acalanes.
The real problem is that MDUSD lumps together middle-class neighborhoods in WC, Lafayette, PH, & Martinez with low-income neighborhoods mostly in Concord. The central administration sinks a disproportionate amount of district resources into the latter because of NCLB.
If those of us in the nicer areas could split off to form our own district, our results would be much closer to Acalanes'
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