Our Kids Deserve Better and You Have the Power to Make
That Happen!
Tom Pellegrino---Superintendent
The upcoming budget will hurt every child in every school in our state.
The devastating effects will look different based on the programs in a given
school district. The unknowns are many, so we must prepare for the worst and
hope for the best. We are planning for three levels of potential cuts: Mild,
Moderate, and Intense. The reduction in monies paid to Cardiff by the state
could surpass $200,000.
You may be asking yourself, "Aren't we a 'basic aid' district, and doesn't
that protect us?" Yes, we are a "basic aid district," but it
does not totally protect us. Most of our 6 million dollar budget per annum comes
from our local property taxes. However, categorical programs, like class size
reduction incentives, and special education monies are state funded. In addition,
when schools are pillaged to balance the budget, basic aid districts have taken
a "fair share cut" as well.
How will this affect my child in Cardiff? Everything from the
access to the latest textbooks to our small class size may be affected. We estimate
that we will have a $200,000 shortfall if we don't prepare to make cuts.
Do you want your children to continue to have class sizes where teachers
truly know your child and work to meet his/her individual needs? Do
you want the specialty programs (PE, Science, Music, Technology, and Spanish)
that Cardiff is known for? Do you want the current intervention programs that
diagnose and repair students' minor deficiencies before those become major learning
deficits?
We want to keep all of these amazing services for Cardiff kids. Our kids deserve
everything we provide and more!
Together we have amazing POWER! The budget is not "in
stone." Legislators are currently working on the budget formation for next
year. If state representatives follow the Governor's recommendations, all of
the examples I listed in the previous paragraph, are in jeopardy. You have the
power to demand what voters have made clear for 20 plus years!
Education is a priority and the base level funding of Prop 98 (voter approved) must be honored. I need your help to stand up for public education and to write your state legislators telling them that education is a top priority for you.
"Assault
on Education 2008"
(a Powerpoint file)