California Education Budget Update

I agree. Neglecting education is a set up for failure from preschool through the University level. Put back the vehicle registration fee and earmark it specifically for education. Raise state income tax or levy a slight increase in property taxes. Eliminate CPM site visits and allow school districts and/or county to monitor and submit reports electronically. There isn't a lot of fat to cut. Everytime something is cut it eliminates jobs and affects the overall economy in some way. Try that with major layoffs and cuts and you are in a circle.

With the looming budget fallout over education spending, one of the topics seldom discussed is the education of at risk teens and adult learners. The vast majority of these pupils are educated within the ROP programs throughout the state. ROP has been severely overlooked over the years due to varying degrees of misconceptions on the part of the general public and our legislative members.
The students attending this vocational training receive a comprehensive education in a wide variety of needed subjects. They will allow the students to step into the work force upon graduation, with all of the needed skills to be productive members of society.
The current cost of providing state funds for food stamps, child care, housing subsidies and other forms of welfare payments, is costing the State vast amounts of money every year. The course my wife teaches, Clinical Medical Assisting, provides a immediately applicable skill to the community, upon graduation from the program.
When factoring the overall cost of the state providing aid to sustain a persons fallen upon hard times, opposed to providing an education in a meaningful skill, would pay huge benefits for the person, their family, community plus future tax revenues for the state. The payback for their ROP education would realized to the citizens of our state within approximately 3~4 years. Removal of these individuals off of the welfare roles, providing meaningful employment opportunities, and the sense of contributing to society, pays huge dividends to all involved in this (and other ROP)important program(s).
Keeping this one program funded (ROP) and away from the Community Collages should be on the forefront of everyones mind (there is a move under foot to roll ROP into the Community collage empire). The English phrase, "Penny wise, Pound foolish" comes to mind. If your cutting costs up front, the overall cost of these cuts may not be felt for some time, but they will be largely felt after a few years of Utopian feelings of success.
I say, "It is better to invest the money up front on our community improvement programs than to save a few cent now but having to spend lots more later on".

Just some thought from opinions of an obviously one sided person. Sure keeping my wife employed is important, but the good that she does for all of the ROP students, has made her and the students better members of society.

Thank you for letting me ramble on about this.

It is a shame; how can the governor not see that our kids are struggling thru their school years. It is sad to hear that kids in 1st & 2nd grade are already attending Learning Sylvan or other learning centers that help kids because they are already falling behind in school. 1st grade, 2nd grade? Give me a break, obviously our "No kid left behind is not working. So how in the world can he say our kids are doing ok. While he claims to be all pro-green, driving a Hummer, driving his own private jet while traveling, yes, off course. Hopefully, we will elect a president in the white house that cares about our education system and will make changes, to make sure our children get the education they deserve and need. Cutting the education budget is not the answer, I am sure there are other ways if you really looked into it. November is just around the corner, let's make sure we put someone in the white house that will make a difference and hopefully care about our children, our future, and the future of our country.

For me, the real question boils down to just what is most important to not only the governor, but also the legislature. Do they want a short term solution to the budget problem, at the expense of the future of our state's education system (and ultimately our economy), or do we find a way to get the money that is desperately needed to move California schools back into the forefront and ultimately maintain a nation sized economy. To put it in terms that even conservatives can see. Keep cutting back on education, and someday the large corporations that have made California one of the largest economies in the world will find it so difficult to find employees who are: a. well educated and b. willing to move here because of poor schools, they are forced to pull out. Where will we be then? Housing prices will truly crash and the "golden west" may find out its only fools gold there. We, who care, must let ALL politicians know we've recalled one governor we can recall the lot of them!

Are my numbers correct?

In 2004 California had the highest total of elementary school-age children (4.8 million) and the highest number of high school-age children (2.1 million) in 2004 according to the US Census.
Estimate that by 2008 that’s number jumped to approximately 8 million students. http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/population/004083.html

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's budget slashes public-school spending by $4 billion (the budget was $44.7 billion in 2005) which – assuming the number is the same - would be a cut to $40 billion.

So what does this huge CUT mean for students?

1. It means the state only has $40,692 in the budget for each student
2. If we stick with class-size reduction (20-students per classroom) that would mean there was only $813,840 per classroom
3. The average teacher’s salary is approximately $60,000 which leaves only $753,840 per classroom

I know my friends who are teachers see the impact of that $750,00+ plus in their classrooms with leaky roofs and asbestos everyday.

"the state only has $40,692 in the budget for each student"

did I really just read that? only? if the state simply gave me that 40,000, I bet I could get my little sister a decent education next year. as a matter of fact, i think i could afford a rather elite private school for her and have enough left over to pay for a year of CSU tuition for myself, buy a new car, and take a week's vacation in Hawaii.

the real problem is how much of that "only $47,692" actually makes its way into the classroom and actually benefits the student. there is plenty of fat to trim. let's start by looking at the salaries of the upper management in the state education system, and then let's look at their scheduled salary increases, and then let's look at how much of the budget cuts will be absorbed by reductions to those upper management salaries... and that is just to start.

or, we could all continue to buy the simple-minded emotional crying about why cuts are so bad for education, keep throwing money at a problem we've been throwing money at for 20 years now with negligible results, keep lining the pockets of the chancellors, and keep ignoring the true causes of the problems with our education system.

I'll hold my breath now.

Arnold needs to cut the colossal failure known as BTSA for starters, look into it if you don't know about it. Huge waste of time.

Mister D,

There are some errors with your numbers. According to the figures you use, if there is approximately $40 billion dollars in the budget to educate 8 million students, that leaves $5,000 per student per year. To contrast that, private school at the elementary school level costs families anywhere from $7,000 to $10,000 per child per year. However, it should also be noted that many private schools rely on funding from other sources, private donors, fundraising etc, to cover additional costs of education. According to the budget proposal that I have seen, the budget for education in the state of California is over $11,600 per student for the year. This is an abrupt decrease of over $300 per student from the current year, accompanied by a projected decrease in student population. Which is where the dramatic budget cuts are being seen.

Private school education costs for middle school and high school are higher than for primary school, some of them starting around $8,500 and higher, up to around $12,000 per student per year. These are the figures I've seen from a sampling of about half a dozen private schools in Southern California. Theoretically speaking, to provide our children with an education roughly equivalent to a private school education, the budget would require a minimum of about $10,000 per student per year, when accounting for the budget allowances of large donations at private schools.

So really, the state budget per student isn't entirely out of line with what would be appropriate for a per student cost at a private, most often superior, institution. The problem that I see, however, is that a public school education is so clearly inferior to a private school education, for a cost that is roughly the same.

The budget cuts are a terrible blow because of the immediate impact, but our education problems run much deeper. The education issues the state of California, and the rest of the country, faces can not be completely mended by adding or even retaining more money in the budget. The issues are systemic and this system is rotting from the inside out. More money or not, it's only a matter of time before the public education system goes completely under, and the only solution will be to start over from scratch. But then, that will take more money to initiate, won't it...
For parents with the access, go with a local charter, or better yet a virtual charter like CAVA. They're quicker on their feet, spend the money they do receive more wisely and have a budget increase slated for 2008/2009. Tell the state the education you desire for your children by actively seeking it. Our public schools are a joke. Best of luck for everyone and your children. Hopefully very few of our students will be flushed down the toilet along with our stinking education system.

Well, California is nearly spending 50% of its budget on education. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Gov Arnold has to reduce the cost of education to Californians. Where else is he going to harvest 12 billion dollars? He can't raise taxes as 5% of the top earners in California already pay 80% of the taxes and they are leaving the state by the thousands. Who will pay for all of the social services when the most productive people leave California? Meanwhile we keep our doors and wallets open for illegal immigrants to suck our state dry. How many hospitals, schools and other necessary services do we have to lose before we pull our heads out of the sand, "or some other region more south ", and correct this delema. California already has one of the highest tax burdens in the country. It is a shame that with all of the tax dollars and an economy that exceeds many country's GDP, we cannot live within our means. I think that the quickest way to balance the budget is by cutting the payroll from the top down. Let's start with the Governor and work our way down to the janitors.

Good luck

Well, California is nearly spending 50% of its budget on education. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Gov Arnold has to reduce the cost of education to Californians. Where else is he going to harvest 12 billion dollars? He can't raise taxes as 5% of the top earners in California already pay 80% of the taxes and they are leaving the state by the thousands. Who will pay for all of the social services when the most productive people leave California? Meanwhile we keep our doors and wallets open for illegal immigrants to suck our state dry. How many hospitals, schools and other necessary services do we have to lose before we pull our heads out of the sand, "or some other region more south ", and correct this delema. California already has one of the highest tax burdens in the country. It is a shame that with all of the tax dollars and an economy that exceeds many country's GDP, we cannot live within our means. I think that the quickest way to balance the budget is by cutting the payroll from the top down. Let's start with the Governor and work our way down to the janitors.

Good luck

Well, California is nearly spending 50% of its budget on education. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Gov Arnold has to reduce the cost of education to Californians. Where else is he going to harvest 12 billion dollars? He can't raise taxes as 5% of the top earners in California already pay 80% of the taxes and they are leaving the state by the thousands. Who will pay for all of the social services when the most productive people leave California? Meanwhile we keep our doors and wallets open for illegal immigrants to suck our state dry. How many hospitals, schools and other necessary services do we have to lose before we pull our heads out of the sand, "or some other region more south ", and correct this delema. California already has one of the highest tax burdens in the country. It is a shame that with all of the tax dollars and an economy that exceeds many country's GDP, we cannot live within our means. I think that the quickest way to balance the budget is by cutting the payroll from the top down. Let's start with the Governor and work our way down to the janitors.

Good luck

Well, California is nearly spending 50% of its budget on education. It shouldn't be a surprise to anyone that Gov Arnold has to reduce the cost of education to Californians. Where else is he going to harvest 12 billion dollars? He can't raise taxes as 5% of the top earners in California already pay 80% of the taxes and they are leaving the state by the thousands. Who will pay for all of the social services when the most productive people leave California? Meanwhile we keep our doors and wallets open for illegal immigrants to suck our state dry. How many hospitals, schools and other necessary services do we have to lose before we pull our heads out of the sand, "or some other region more south ", and correct this delema. California already has one of the highest tax burden in the country. It is a shame that with all of the tax dollars and an economy that exceeds many country's GDP, we cannot live within our means. I think that the quickest way to balance the budget is by cutting the payroll from the top down. Let's start with the Governor and work our way down to the janitors.

Good luck

It's unfortunate to find that it's not only adults that are worrying for their children's future.

Me, a relatively young student, stuck in this web, thanks to our Governor's ignorant, if not completely naive short-term solution to debt.

Thanks to his "well-thought out plan", I must worry, not only about my current classes, or next year's classes, but if I may have to transfer to another school. Why does our governor/government commend education, raise our spirits; then cut the budget, along with our throats?

Is there any way to fight this? Words are nice, but I would prefer enjoying the success of this budget cut being removed from our already scarred state.

Understanding budgetary constraints is one thing; the overall picture of expenditure is another. The decision to have education as a lower priority (than prison reform) is a sad reflection of the attitude that education doesn't count. And yet, live, every politician will hold education as a primary policy concern.

Cut prison expenditures by shipping state inmates to Iraq and Afghanistan. Like Australia did, they could eventually start their own country and become allies, but that is much later down the road.

All the money saved could be put into education. In fact, all those prisons with gymnasiums, wired for closed circuit TV, safe exercise areas would be good new schools. Keep a few cells for those students that do not respond to talk-therapy discipline.

While we are at it - an approximate total spent on this Presidential campaign has come close to a billion dollars. A billion dollars to listen to American Idol style quality political bickering! Are you insane? Use the money for education. Make a new TV show called American President and kill two birds with one stone.

MisterWriterLives

I am a community-college student, and today I just learned that the education cuts are delaying my entrance into Cal State San Marcos. I am a single mother of one, trying to better my life by obtaining an education, and this is what I get? I did everything I was supposed to, and was told today that I will not be allowed to attend until Fall of 2009, although I was scheduled to start this fall. What can I do though?

The Governor must not be very good at looking into the future, otherwise he would see that an under-educated populace, combined with an increasing minority population, is going to send industry running from CA. If they can't get the educated employees they need, they will go somewhere else. America will fall fast if we do not start putting education 1st like every other industrialized nation.

What is the TRUE budget per child? Does anyone really know. How can we solve any issue without first choking our way through all the smoke and mirrors. Lets take the average number of children in class on any given day and divide with the total cost of all the layers of management. I believe we would all be shocked at the number. There is a great deal of rhetoric and little action. This is the way it will be until people stand up and say ENOUGH! Politicians no longer have the interest of the public at heart. It is their heart and pocket in which they are concerned. We need leaders with GUTS not excuses, action not words, LEAD! Education should be a priority, however, Blind priorities are foolish and dangerous. Where will education be if the state is bankrupt? This is exactly where we are heading if our course is not changed and true leaders emerge with the ______ to do what is right! Not what the unions and the polls dictate.

Raising taxes and borrowing against an unknown is not the answer. You will get exactly the opposite "Less Revenue" and we will fall to #9 when we should be #5 in the world economy! This was a great STATE! It will be again with the right leadership and informed population. The answer is not more money, it is less spending and setting realistic priorities.

There is a fundamental issue with comparing the cost of private schools with public schools, which results from who is being taught. The majority of students in private schools are single language (English), have access to supporting home environments for education (Educated Parents), and have received extra schooling from Pre-K and Kindergarten.

Saying it is going to cost the same to teach these students is like saying that it costs the same to teach sharpshooting to police officers versus retail cashiers. It doesn't mean the officers are smarter, but they have a heck of a lot more preparation. The same issue applies to private school students, they have way more prep than the average public school kid.

If you want to teach people that are starting at a much lower level of experience with the education process, material, and potentially language- you need to budget a heck of a lot more. At least 50% more. Probably more like 100% more. If you don't believe me, try tutoring a relative versus tutoring someone who you have a language barrier with (other things being equal). If private schools cost 10k, there is a good logical argument that effective public schools should cost 20k.

If you read Don Perata's above comments he says we would have to lay off 20% of teachers while the education budget is only cut around 3%. How does this add up Don? Scare Tactics? He was part of the spending binge in Sacramento that got us into this mess. The total funding per pupil next year will be around 2.6% lower than 2007/08, but HIGHER than the 2006/07' budget year. I saw the same figure as Bob which is $11,600 per pupil for 2008/09'. California spends over 50% of it's budget on education, so it IS a priority, but there has to be significant inefficiency and waste somewhere. I read where 85% goes to employee salaries and benefits. If schools are getting more than they got two years ago to run the schools, with only a small decrease from last year, I have a hard time understanding all the "drastic" and "outrageous" hyperbole on the cuts... Check out : http://www.lao.ca.gov/analysis_2008/education/ed_anl08006.aspx

I am absolutely astounded that our final budgets aren't in--year round schools have already started and traditional schools are starting in less than 2 weeks from today. Our governor declared himself to be a solution to Governor Davis...we trusted him to carry out his promise to make education a priority, and now this! We have such a breakdown in our system that it's embarrassing. I've heard of teachers having 10-15 different IEP's in the classroom that they have to accommodate in addition to having an overly crowded room. We have also come to place where we're placing more emphasis on those students outside of the general education classroom than we do in it...and heaven forbid our poor teachers, our poor districts fall short of meeting the needs of students in the extreme spectrum because our law supports parents of these students suing our districts--just more money. I am just so disgusted by how politicians have structured our education system. Grrrr! Last, but not least, there are a handful of other states who HAVE placed education as a priority...they're poaching CA teachers. If our Highly Qualified Teachers are welcomed in other states that will actually appreciate education, what will become of CA when we finally wake up and decide that education IS important here and we find we have driven our CA teachers away?

FUCK U OLD ASS MOTHERFUVKER
FUCKIN REDNECK SON OF BASTARD

Catholic schools don't get any taxpayer money at all and have amazing results. There were fifty students in my class at the Catholic grade school that I attended. Some Catholic grade schools had sixty students in each class.

Also, all students at all Catholic high schools take college prep classes. What about public high schools? Public high schools are just a baby-sitting service.

I was shocked and disgusted when I found out how much money public schools get. I'm disgusted at how whiny public school teachers are.

Catholic schools don't get any taxpayer money at all and have amazing results. There were fifty students in my class at the Catholic grade school that I attended. Some Catholic grade schools had sixty students in each class.

Also, all students at all Catholic high schools take college prep classes. What about public high schools? Public high schools are just a baby-sitting service.

I was shocked and disgusted when I found out how much money public schools get. I'm disgusted at how whiny public school teachers are.

It's unclear to me exactly how much money California state educators really get. Don't they get money from the state lottery funds in addition to the taxpayer/budget funds? I hear almost daily a radio commercial funded by the CA teachers' union saying how hard it is to provide a quality education when California ranks 48th in state funding for education (does this include the lottery funds?). The commercial goes on to tell how students need books, computers, and improved school buildings.

What it doesn't mention is that while California ranks 48th in school funding, it ranks SECOND in teacher pay. We can afford an average pay of over $57,000 but can't afford books? Does California really need more funding for education or a re-examination of spending priorities?

after reading this through i believe that the man who wrote this needs to get off his knees and look into how money is being spent throughout schools. it is obvious that there is a lot of problems and somebody needs to go through and fix it. i believe the governor is awesome so booooyyaaaaahhhhh

As a wife of a teacher in southern california, i can tell you that a $57,000 salary is just barely comfortable when you have a family to raise. Teachers help raise and mold our future. They deserve much more, but in reality I guess CEO's of high powered companies and NBA players really derserve to be the ones to make the big bucks.
We live in a small apartment, drive used cars, try to save for our daughter's future - nothing to lavish on that huge salary.
My husband decided to be a teacher because he thought it would always be in demand. Everyone knows that education is the key to success ....right? What a joke.

As a wife of a teacher in southern california, i can tell you that a $57,000 salary is just barely comfortable when you have a family to raise. Teachers help raise and mold our future. They deserve much more, but in reality I guess CEO's of high powered companies and NBA players really derserve to be the ones to make the big bucks.
We live in a small apartment, drive used cars, try to save for our daughter's future - nothing to lavish on that huge salary.
My husband decided to be a teacher because he thought it would always be in demand. Everyone knows that education is the key to success ....right? What a joke.

I spent 8 1/2 years in college to become an elementary school teacher. I am in $50,000 in debt because of my education and I make $50,000 a year. How does the government expect teachers to teach under NCLB and have absolutely no incentive? Our priorities are so messed up. I guess it is more important to make cuts in education than to give them a bailout package like the car and insurance industries. I believe that teachers and citizens need to stand up for their rights in education and provide clear boundaries. We deserve it! We work so hard to create your future.

I spent 8 1/2 years in college to become an elementary school teacher. I am in $50,000 in debt because of my education and I make $50,000 a year. How does the government expect teachers to teach under NCLB and have absolutely no incentive? Our priorities are so messed up. I guess it is more important to make cuts in education than to give them a bailout package like the car and insurance industries. I believe that teachers and citizens need to stand up for their rights in education and provide clear boundaries. We deserve it! We work so hard to create your future.

Everyone says NO to budget cut, but as a volunteer at a middle school here in California, I tell you what I see. Full of teachers' aids in this school, this morning, from 7:30 to now (9:40am), one aid is sitting in the common room doing two things: reading a novel and reading the e-mail. two aids are working in the kitchen preparing the snacks for teachers during the break, a 20 minutes break. You know how much the California Governor is paying them right now? This is only an example of one day, one morning. You tell me there is no fat to cut.
Instead of crying for budget cut, why don't we all looking around and try our best to help?

gfdsgdsfd

Education needs DEEP CUTS.

When we in this welfare state of california
decided along with the rest of the country to
send our private sector industrial base over
to China,our educational system became irrelevant.

The question has become: Educate kids to do what?
Get a government job ? Government jobs are ok,
but will become non-existant without a private
sector tax base to support them.

Much of our educational system exists to support
teachers, staff, school bus drivers, etc. Who
really cares about the kids anyway ? If the
parents did, they would keep them at home.

Real reasons for school systems:
Sups: $ 150,000 to $ 200,000 / yr
Teachers $ 75,000 / yr
Staff: $ 60 k
+ pensions + health.

Until we get our industrial base back, our
education system has to be severely cut.

As the famous Indian Leader Gandhi once said:
India is 3rd world economy, because we export
raw materials and import finished goods.
So, all we need is a 3rd world school system
for the 3rd world country that we have become.

I have a friend who works as a consultant for the LA school district, as an engineer he has told me how inefficient things are to get any school maintenance done. Mostly there are school officials who don't want to make decisions because then they might be held accountable.
on a different subject I witnessed another friend of mine who worked for a private school in Ventura county. This private school rented a school from the state. Well one day the state decided that they wanted the school back so that they could have a school for handicap children. For many months they had california school officials walking around campus having various meetings. So they got rid of the private school and started construction to get the classes ready for the new students. After construction ended and before they open the new classes they finally realized that there was a problem with the doors and that these classes would not work for handicap students. And now the school sits empty.
So there is a loss of income that the private school used to supply to the state, then there is a loss for all the time that the top school heads spent in walking around the campus and having various meeting, then there is a loss of construction money. And now the school is vacant which I am sure also incurs a loss.
One more more notorious blunders is the Brand new LA school which they built on the tar pits. Millions and millions of dollars and then they realized that there was toxic fumes coming out of the ground. Then millions and millions more to create a system to capture the fumes and release them above the classroom heights.
These are a few cases that I know about. And I am a nobody. So I wonder how many more stupid wasteful projects are happening right now. and no one is accountable.
Accept for the california public who believe the propaganda they hear on the local news.
From what I understood the Governor wanted with his special election for schools to show how they spent the money. But we voted against that measure after all the poor teachers....
I agree the poor teachers, They get the final grains, the table scraps.
It is no suprise to me that in all my searching on the web I can't find a state agency to say what the cost to teach a student is for 1 year. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place. Or maybe nobody wants us to know.
Why don't we ask these questions instead of crying about a budget cuts when our poor liberal state is running out of money.
Where is the money going????????
Who? is taking my hard earned dollars and who? wants me to give more and more.?

I have a friend who works as a consultant for the LA school district, as an engineer he has told me how inefficient things are to get any school maintenance done. Mostly there are school officials who don't want to make decisions because then they might be held accountable.
on a different subject I witnessed another friend of mine who worked for a private school in Ventura county. This private school rented a school from the state. Well one day the state decided that they wanted the school back so that they could have a school for handicap children. For many months they had california school officials walking around campus having various meetings. So they got rid of the private school and started construction to get the classes ready for the new students. After construction ended and before they open the new classes they finally realized that there was a problem with the doors and that these classes would not work for handicap students. And now the school sits empty.
So there is a loss of income that the private school used to supply to the state, then there is a loss for all the time that the top school heads spent in walking around the campus and having various meeting, then there is a loss of construction money. And now the school is vacant which I am sure also incurs a loss.
One more more notorious blunders is the Brand new LA school which they built on the tar pits. Millions and millions of dollars and then they realized that there was toxic fumes coming out of the ground. Then millions and millions more to create a system to capture the fumes and release them above the classroom heights.
These are a few cases that I know about. And I am a nobody. So I wonder how many more stupid wasteful projects are happening right now. and no one is accountable.
Accept for the california public who believe the propaganda they hear on the local news.
From what I understood the Governor wanted with his special election for schools to show how they spent the money. But we voted against that measure after all the poor teachers....
I agree the poor teachers, They get the final grains, the table scraps.
It is no suprise to me that in all my searching on the web I can't find a state agency to say what the cost to teach a student is for 1 year. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place. Or maybe nobody wants us to know.
Why don't we ask these questions instead of crying about a budget cuts when our poor liberal state is running out of money.
Where is the money going????????
Who? is taking my hard earned dollars and who? wants me to give more and more.?

I have a friend who works as a consultant for the LA school district, as an engineer he has told me how inefficient things are to get any school maintenance done. Mostly there are school officials who don't want to make decisions because then they might be held accountable.
on a different subject I witnessed another friend of mine who worked for a private school in Ventura county. This private school rented a school from the state. Well one day the state decided that they wanted the school back so that they could have a school for handicap children. For many months they had california school officials walking around campus having various meetings. So they got rid of the private school and started construction to get the classes ready for the new students. After construction ended and before they open the new classes they finally realized that there was a problem with the doors and that these classes would not work for handicap students. And now the school sits empty.
So there is a loss of income that the private school used to supply to the state, then there is a loss for all the time that the top school heads spent in walking around the campus and having various meeting, then there is a loss of construction money. And now the school is vacant which I am sure also incurs a loss.
One more more notorious blunders is the Brand new LA school which they built on the tar pits. Millions and millions of dollars and then they realized that there was toxic fumes coming out of the ground. Then millions and millions more to create a system to capture the fumes and release them above the classroom heights.
These are a few cases that I know about. And I am a nobody. So I wonder how many more stupid wasteful projects are happening right now. and no one is accountable.
Accept for the california public who believe the propaganda they hear on the local news.
From what I understood the Governor wanted with his special election for schools to show how they spent the money. But we voted against that measure after all the poor teachers....
I agree the poor teachers, They get the final grains, the table scraps.
It is no suprise to me that in all my searching on the web I can't find a state agency to say what the cost to teach a student is for 1 year. Maybe I am looking in the wrong place. Or maybe nobody wants us to know.
Why don't we ask these questions instead of crying about a budget cuts when our poor liberal state is running out of money.
Where is the money going????????
Who? is taking my hard earned dollars and who? wants me to give more and more.?

I heard this week that funds used to pay for child care for children of welfare recipients comes from the state education budget. Does anyone know if this is true?

Years of wasteful untouched programs with ever increasing budgets! Retirement plans for goverment workers that most private sector folks don't come close to having (the same private sector who is taxed to pay for the government retirement plans)! Underperforming students on a national level with low test scores! On campus pregnancy & day care centers! Administration costs eat up 30 to 40 % of every education dollar! The NEA who has stymied every effort for accountability and performance measurement and cost control! Voters who have continuously pass proposition after proprosition to fund more and more "education" programs!...And you all wonder why the voters are pissed? This fat-ladden, over bloated, self perpertuating machine is finally collapsing upon itself - the weight of the costs and the strain on the tax payer has reached critical mass. Now...what will happen? Instead of really cutting the fat, the powers to be, protecting their own self interest, will cut programs that will first hurt the voter. Then the voter will react by asking, "why did we cut this or that program"? And the administrator will respond, "because you, Mr. or Mrs. voter, cut our funding to classroom education". Meanwhile, that same adminstrator's salary and retirement plan remain intact and his or her pet project is safe and they look over at the Union boss with a wink and nod, knowing they will once again get over on the voter and the taxpayer when its all said and done.

I love your comments and thinking, Nate Purpura, on March 18, 2009. I totally agree, where would we find such statistics? I know it is true but where would we find the details.

I love your comments and thinking, Nate Purpura, on March 18, 2009. I totally agree, where would we find such statistics? I know it is true but where would we find the details.

I love your comments and thinking, Nate Purpura, on March 18, 2009. I totally agree, where would we find such statistics? I know it is true but where would we find the details.

The Govenors proposed budget for the 2009/2010 fiscal year (starts July1) include increased funding of 11.9% above last years amount.

Contrary to all the "doom and gloom" that is reported in the media, there is a proposed increase in school funding!

We will not know for sure until enacted by our state congress, but it looks good for our schools to get over 4 BILLION more than last year.

Don't Believe me, look it up on the State web site for the budget

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