In step with Superintendent Alan Nishino’s trip to Sacramento
urging state legislators to finalize this year’s budget, Morgan
Hill parents are writing state legislators about their concerns
regarding the eroding finances for the district’s schools.
In step with Superintendent Alan Nishino’s trip to Sacramento urging state legislators to finalize this year’s budget, Morgan Hill parents are writing state legislators about their concerns regarding the eroding finances for the district’s schools.
In a form letter to the legislators, which is being distributed districtwide, Superintendent Alan Nishino writes, “We know you have difficult decisions to make, and K-12 education is only one piece of the pie. However, it is a very important piece. We urge you to make education a priority, put your differences aside and take action immediately to resolve this financial crisis.”
State legislators signed the state budget in late September, almost three months late and cut $9.3 billion from the current fiscal year’s budget. In November, the legislators reconvened to settle an expected $42 billion deficit in this year’s and next year’s budgets.
Now, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposal is to slice $17.4 billion more from state spending, from three main categories: health and human services, prisons and education.
The effect of such cuts would mean further hacking at Morgan Hill Unified. The district slashed $3 million from its $77 million general fund budget in June in anticipation of state funding shortfalls; this worked out to about 17 layoffs. According to Nishino’s letter, the way state legislators are talking now, Morgan Hill Unified will need to cut another $2.6 to $5.2 million this year.
But next year, it’s worse. As a result of what Schwarzenegger calls a “financial Armageddon,” Nishino says he expects next school year to require drastic changes to the district. To make due with what the state hands out next year, district officials may be forced to close at least one school, eliminate class size reduction for kindergarten through third grade, increase class size at all grade levels and eliminate or reduce programs for students such as athletics, music or libraries.
The letter-writing campaign stems from a January meeting of parent leaders and district officials, during which Nishino impressed upon the parents the need for the state budget to be finalized quickly.
Britton Home and School Club President Lydie Jones has spearheaded the effort with an e-mail coordination and pleas for a swift state decision.
“I hope (the state legislators) understand the ramifications of their inaction,” Jones said.
Paradise Valley Home and School Club President Marilyn Burke said her school has already felt the pinch from the June budget cuts.
“There’s a 20 percent minority in our school, and we have no English Language Learner aide,” Burke said. “(The Home and School Club) is having to provide even some of the minor supplies. A teacher’s pencil sharpener broke, and that came out of (our) fund.”
Burke said she distributed about 50 copies of the letter to parents at the school to be sent to state Senator Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria) and state Assemblymen Ira Ruskin (D-Redwood City) and Bill Monning (D-Carmel).
“I hope they see what they’re cutting, the things it’s affecting,” she said.
Burke wondered how the school would support things like art and music without the club financing supplies. The Paradise Valley club has four main fundraisers each year, the largest being Parents’ Night Out, which brought in about $42,000 last fall. The club went so far as to spend $30,000 on equipment for the kindergarten playground.
“We never turned anyone away. We’ll do anything from a new rug for a teacher’s classroom to a new copier,” she said.
Nishino said parent involvement in the budget crisis is a great asset.
“Any time the general population can join in and let their opinions be heard, legislators have to take heed of that,” he said. “If you don’t do anything, obviously they’re not going to hear anything.”
