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“El Dorado County’s 15 school districts, serving approximately 28,000 students, will face severe impacts that almost certainly will damage educational quality if California voters reject Proposition 30 on Nov. 6, 2012,” warned a recently formed coalition of school teachers, parents, support staff, board members, school administrators and local officials.
The El Dorado Schools Coalition, formed in early August, isn’t officially endorsing Governor Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, Proposition 30. However, members of the committee offer an analysis of what is likely to happen should it fail. “We must be sure the public understands what will happen if the initiative does not pass,” stated El Dorado County Superintendent of Schools Vicki Barber. “Unless an alternate source of funds is created, there will be immediate, as well as long-term, impacts on students and families that will be horrific.”
“If Proposition 30 does not pass we are looking at about a $455 cut per child, nearly 10 percent of the state’s annual per-pupil funding amount,” she said. “This $455 per student cut will be in addition to the 20 percent funding reduction we have already experienced over the past five years, or about $22 million countywide.”
El Dorado County is a microcosm of the state as a whole, where schools would face a $5.5 billion reduction that could require cutting the instructional school year by a full three weeks. “The idea of losing that much learning time would be a tragedy for students and families,” Barber stated.
Deputy Superintendent of Educational Services Jeremy Meyers is also concerned.
“Besides the larger class sizes, reduced arts education, fewer academic and career counselors, unstaffed school libraries, and fewer instructional days in some districts, many districts have not been able to purchase updated textbooks or other teaching materials for years, and some districts are reducing school-bus service, creating a significant hardship for families, especially in the more-rural areas of our county,” he said.
Meyers also went on to note that despite this significant loss in funding, 81 percent of school districts in the county have continued to achieve the statewide academic performance targets because of dedicated professionals who “make do” despite cuts. But he fears many districts are approaching a tipping point, and may no longer be able to sustain the excellence they’ve worked so hard to achieve if Proposition 30 fails.
Members of the El Dorado Schools Coalition agree: “We must come together to do what needs to be done to protect educational opportunities and the future for our young people.”
For further information, visit edcoe.org.
The Mountain Democrat does not necessarily condone the comments here, nor does it review every post. Read our full policy
Details pleaseSeptember 12, 2012 - 7:32 am
Who makes up this newly formed El Dorado Schools Coalition? Has this coalition reviewed other alternatives such as administrative cuts at say the County Office of Education? The cost savings of district consolidation? There are no winners with funding cuts in a system that is long overdue for reforms. Doing the same with less has happened in many households in this county and in some cases to the extreme. EDCOE needs to start looking at the extreme, as well.
residentSeptember 12, 2012 - 7:55 am
Evidence of the existence of El Dorado Schools Coalition is found only in the EDCOE's press release, contact persons being Vicki Barber (295-2229) and Jeremy Meyers (295-2971).
Jim RiordanSeptember 12, 2012 - 9:24 am
Ms. Barber, Instead of threatening all of our residents with school age children with cuts to their children's education, AGAIN, if we all refuse to pay anymore damn taxes, why don't you 1) do away with tenure and let new teachers with appropriate credentials "bid" for teaching jobs, 2) Tell Governor Brown to cut ALL school funding for illegal aliens and their kids and their lunches,which will significantly cut costs and "class sizes", and, 3) Voluntarily get rid of all UNIONS. Don't threaten parents with cutting their kids education if they fail to vote for taxes. That approach is now old and vters know you will just be back to the trough for more in weeks. I say no more taxes for anything. just keep cutting government in all areas except law enforcement and fire. . .then, when you can no longer provide the services, you can all go home and we can use our tax dollars as we see fit to purchase services needed.
Evelyn VeerkampSeptember 12, 2012 - 9:30 am
When government entities speak of their financial plight it’s ALWAYS in reference to budgets (think: check books). But we need to know about their assets (savings and investments) as well. This information can be found in each entity’s audited annual financial report – NEVER mentioned. El Dorado County Office of Education’s June 30, 2011 audited Annual Financial Statement is HERE. Pg. 15 shows net assets @ $31,043,471, an increase of $3,318,745 over the prior year. Pg. 16 has Cash @ $9,762,162. ********** California has ~14,000 government entities, each producing its own audited annual financial report. For years Walter Burien has been studying these reports. He estimates that collectively they show $8 TRILLION in tax surpluses. We have a right to know that when considering the $16 billion shortfall Governor Brown claims.
brooke gallowaySeptember 12, 2012 - 9:31 am
I'm confused, why make cuts down below where cuts should be made is with the top administrators aswell as this prop getting passed! I dont mind higher taxes as long as it does land in the hands of someone new Mercedes!
brooke gallowaySeptember 12, 2012 - 9:35 am
I think not
Evelyn VeerkampSeptember 12, 2012 - 9:40 am
To clarify my basic point, assume a personal budget of $10,000. The check book shows a balance of only $1,000. At the same time, there is $20,000 in savings. What would an ordinary person do?
robertdnollSeptember 12, 2012 - 10:01 am
Evelyn,in California they would apply for welfare
Dave PemberSeptember 12, 2012 - 4:11 pm
I could not agree more with Mr. Riordan. There is no reason why this county cannot combine all the districts into one and save a ton of money. And second stop all the schools of providing free transportation and meals to people who qualify including those who are not legally here because I know damn good and well that most can afford it but are just milking the system.
prime timeSeptember 13, 2012 - 6:11 am
The Secret History of Western Education: Transforming America to a country of servile, brainwashed minions
accountabilitySeptember 13, 2012 - 6:53 am
The two people quoted (Barber and Meyers) make a combined income over $350k plus benefits. Rather than support additional taxes perhaps they should represent all of us who make far less and reduce admin overhead and consolidate school districts who all have their own superintendent. Prop 30 needs to fail and high paid administrators need to start managing rather than ask for more money.
prime timeSeptember 13, 2012 - 7:08 am
EDCOE Senior Administrative Contracts: 2012-2013
Phillip VeerkampSeptember 13, 2012 - 8:58 am
Your video has been removed - copyright infringements
Phillip VeerkampSeptember 13, 2012 - 9:09 am
the death of free speech - HOT LINK TO A discussion on the loss of free speech in higher education in California - broadcast Wednesday, 9/12/12 - Batchelor 11pm" is b%LL$$it.
Phillip VeerkampSeptember 13, 2012 - 9:13 am
the death of free speech (the relevant conversation begins about 10 minutes in - allow it to load then advance to about 9 and 50 seconds- HOT LINK TO A discussion on the loss of free speech in higher education in California - broadcast Wednesday, 9/12/12 - Batchelor 11pm"
ParentSeptember 13, 2012 - 2:35 pm
If you go to the site below, you can see the county's 2011 report on district consolidation. While it seems like a no-brainer from the outside, the state funding formulas, resulting management needs, and union agreements, do not make it quite so clear cut (unfortunately). http://www.edcoe.k12.ca.us/supts/whats_new/index.html