Etiwanda School District president meets with lawmakers to discuss cuts to education
Cathline Fort, president of the Etiwanda School District Board of Trustees, met with state lawmakers on May 18, 2009, to address the effects of continuous drastic education cuts, as part of the California School Boards Association's 2009 Legislative Action Conference in Sacramento.
It's no secret that schools across California have shouldered ongoing financial burdens as the state continues to cut education funding. Conference participants shared with legislators the impact past, current and future education cuts have on their students as well as the programs, services and support their districts and county offices of education provide.
These funding cuts can be even more disastrous for districts like the Etiwanda School District. The Etiwanda School District received $285 less per student than the average elementary school district in the state of California. The district is already held to the same student achievement standard as other districts but without equal resources. The Etiwanda School District already receives about $3.4 million dollars less than a similar sized district that receives the average per student amount. Additional education cuts will only put the district further behind and make the task of educating students more difficult.
"Education funding cuts have required school governance leaders to make tough decisions, with devastating consequences," CSBA President Paula S. Campbell said. "Now more than ever, we need the governor, legislature and our communities to understand how important it is to fix our broken education funding system before the effects are irreversible."
Statewide, schools took more than their fair share of cuts when the recent budget slashed education spending by 60 percent. This amounted to $11.6 billion and as a result more than 30,000 teachers and administrators have received pink slips and more than 10,000 custodians, bus drivers and other school employees were laid off. This is a blow California's economy can not take.
"California has the highest academic standards in the nation, but high expectations must be met with a commitment to provide the resources necessary to succeed," said Mrs. Fort.
For more information about the 2009 CSBA Legislative Action Conference, please contact Dona Smerek, (909) 803-3101.
Anyone wish to clarify why Etiwanda School District schools are receiving less money than similiar sized schools?
RE: Anyone wish to clarify why Etiwanda School District schools are receiving less money than similiar sized schools?
Probably for the same reason Chino Valley Unified receives less money per student - because we are classified as "RURAL" districts. The classification was set in the 1970's and we can't get the state to change our status even though Chino Hills, Chino and south Ontario (CVUSD boundaries) can hardly be considered "rural" anymore. In good budget years, we are given "equalization" money to make us even, but in bad budget years such as these, we don't get "equalization" money and we are left with less money per student than other "urban" districts.
I had the privilege of attending one meeting with Senator Gloria Negrete McCleod, her staff, and Mrs. Cathline Fort. Etiwanda School District was well represented in Sacramento by Board President Cathline Fort.
As Mr. Calta has indicated, the issue dates back to 1976 as a result of a California Supreme Court Case (Serrano v. Priest and Funding Equity). The intent was to "equalize" funding across the state per type of district (rural, urban, low wealth, etc.). Etiwanda was still a small agricultural district at that time and the state calculation indicated that Etiwanda didn't need as much as urban districts. In subsequent years, Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) were applied. Application of the COLA is based on an average district but does not "equalize" the funding for a below average funded district like Etiwanda. As such, currently, Etiwanda is the lowest funded district in San Bernardino County and amongst the lowest in the state.
In addition to the meeting that Boardmember Calta and I had the privilege of attending together with Senator Gloria Negrete McCleod, I also had the opportunity to attend meetings with Senator Robert Dutton; Staff Member to Assemblyman Bill Emmerson; and Assemblyman Anthony Adams to discuss educational funding issues as referenced in the article.