Superintendent's column

Public education in California is taking a major hit due to budget cutbacks
Per pupil funding is in danger of being the lowest in U.S.

Superintendent Mario Contini From first to worst,

a nightmare come true

In 1978 Howard Jarvis, the champion of the Proposition 13 tax reform, was quoted as saying, "Youngster, we're not going to hurt your schools."

By 1997 per pupil funding in California, when adjusted for cost of living, had dropped from one of the highest in the nation to 40th. By 2004 it had dropped to 44th. In that year, a documentary called "From First to Worst" aired on televisions all over America. It told the story of how California schools, the envy of the nation back in the '50s and '60s, were in a funding freefall.

By 2008 per pupil funding had dropped further, to 46th, then to 48th in 2009, and it is predicted to fall to 50th in the next year or two. From first to worst—a nightmare come true!

March 13 was designated "Pink Friday" to give compassionate recognition to the 26,000 layoff notices issued to certificated school employees throughout California. In the Conejo Valley Unified School District, with more than 90 percent of the budget dedicated to personnel, it was necessary to issue 160 layoff, changeofassignment and reducedservice notices to teachers, librarians, counselors and administrators.

Pink Friday was certainly a troubling day. It was troubling because these notices threaten the livelihood of the families of good, hardworking people who are masters in their craft and have dedicated their lives to the betterment of our youth. It was troubling because the loss of jobs in our schools, just as in the private sector, is bad for the economy.

It was troubling because education, representing 40 percent of the state budget and nearly 60 percent of the state's budget cuts, is again being forced to take on more than its fair share in cuts for a problem it did not create. It was most troubling because, contrary to the Jarvis promise and the claims of politicians that education is California's No. 1 priority, layoffs in schools will ultimately hurt kids.

The employees of Conejo Valley Unified School District, whether they work in or out of the classroom, have been gracious, courageous and focused on service to the students over self during this budget crisis. In fact, several teachers who received layoff notices said they will not worry about keeping their jobs right now because they want to focus on taking care of the needs of their students.

These are heroes. The spirit of cooperation among parents, employee unions, administration and the board of education is extraordinarily strong and is making it possible for creative solutions that can reduce the impact of this budget crisis.

There are those who believe our budget crisis is solely a problem caused by overspending and waste. However, the data shows the current crisis is the result of a fall in revenue, not a plethora of spending.

Sadly, the words of Howard Jarvis in 1978 haven't panned out too well for that youngster, who by now has children suffering from that failed promise and a pattern of per pupil funding that has taken education in California from first to worst. Is this the best we can do for our children? Let our legislators know. Vote your opinion in May.

Contini is the superintendent of the Conejo Valley Unified School District.