Harsh Realities

In the last post, I wrote about Governor Brown's budget proposal. The package hinges on voters approving an extension of several state taxes on a ballot measure in June. Brown is being quiet about what failure of the tax measure would mean, but it is important for school districts to be prepared for that possibility.

Last week, I attended a budget workshop presented by School Innovations and Advocacy. One of the presenters suggested that the magnitude of cuts to schools if the ballot measure fails would be so great that it may be impossible for districts to make it through next year. He suggested that the only solution might be to close schools weeks early, in March. Can anyone imagine the long-term impact such an action would have on our children and on the state of California?

Schools have implemented such drastic cuts over the past 4 years that it is hard to imagine anything left that could be removed from schools. An analysis of the Berryessa School District budget points to budget cuts of nearly $9 million in the worst-case scenario. As a Board Member, I cannot even fathom making those cuts, which amount to over 20% of our current annual budget, which has already dropped by a similar amount in recent years. We will have to spend the next couple months figuring out a way to operate at those reduced levels. One thing is clear - many would no longer recognize their neighborhood schools.

State Treasurer Bill Lockyer spoke over the weekend about the gravity of the state's budget situation and what failure of Brown's ballot measure would mean for schools. He said the only way to balance school budgets in that case would be to shut down K-12 schools 6 weeks early. He called that possibility "so awful I honestly don't know how any legislators can legitimately want to do that."

I agree. Let's make sure everyone (legislators, voters) knows what impact such a scenario would have on our schools. We can hope for the best, but must plan for the worst.