Elk Grove School Board Hopes Prop. 30 Passes

The Elk Grove Unified School District Board of Education has gone on record in the statewide debate between two competing election measures claiming to provide the fix for schools.

Members of the board voted last week to back Proposition 30, an increase on sales tax and income tax for the wealthy.

"The 2012 state budget is currently predicated on voter approval of Proposition 30 in November 2012, without which schools will receive $5.4 billion in mid-year trigger funding reductions ($441 per student) that will result in additional cuts in services and programs to students," the district said in a press release.

The full press release follows:

EGUSD Board of Education passes resolution in support of Proposition 30 

At the September 21, 2012, Board of Education meeting, the Elk Grove Unified School District’s Board of Education adopted a resolution in support of Proposition 30, the Schools & Local Public Safety Act.   If passed, Proposition 30 is designed to direct billions of dollars to public education, providing an important short-term funding solution for California’s economy.

Since the 2008-2009 school year, public education has experienced unprecedented funding reductions and apportionment deferrals.  In EGUSD, this has translated into $110 million in cuts over four years.  After years of cuts, California schools now rank 47th out of 50 states in per-pupil spending. 

In EGUSD these reductions have meant: increased class sizes; delayed textbook adoptions; reduced district-wide supply budgets; reduced elementary workbook allocation to curriculum; discontinued funding of the Math Engineering Science Achievement (MESA) program; the elimination of school site computer support technicians; the reduction of district-level administrative assistants; the reduction of grounds maintenance; the reduction of research and evaluation; the reduction of fiscal services; the reduction of secondary counseling services; the reduction of school clerks; the elimination of secondary library technicians; the reduction of elementary library technicians; the reduction of interscholastic athletic programs (including male and female freshman sports); the reduction of elementary, middle and high school vice principals; the reduction of Resources Specialist Program and Learning Center paraprofessionals by 50% in special education; the reduction of clerical staff at the district office; furlough days in 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012; and salary rollbacks in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012.

The Elk Grove Unified School Board is committed to making policy and financial decisions that enable the school district to provide quality educational programs and services to school-age children living in the district’s 320 square miles.  The 2012 state budget is currently predicated on voter approval of Proposition 30 in November 2012, without which schools will receive $5.4 billion in mid-year trigger funding reductions ($441 per student) that will result in additional cuts in services and programs to students. 

EGUSD Resolution No. 10 states “BE IT RESOLVED that the Elk Grove Unified School District proudly supports California School Boards Association (CSBA) in urging the legislature to work with CSBA and other education leaders to identify long-term adequate funding solutions for public schools; and BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body, the Elk Grove Unified School District, supports the passage of Proposition 30 because it provides needed revenue to public schools and will specifically benefit the district for the reasons described herein.”

To view the entire resolution click here.

--

What do you think? Do you support Proposition 30 or its rival, Proposition 38?

--
Sign up for the free Elk Grove Patch newsletter | Like Elk Grove Patch on Facebook | Follow @ElkGrovePatch on Twitter | Blog for Elk Grove Patch