[CALIBK12] Budget Crisis: What to Keep, What to Cut

[Stephen Krashen]

The Budget Crisis: What to Keep, What to Cut
Sent to the Stockton Record, February 27, 2008

In response to the budget crisis, valuable programs supported by massive scientific research are to be cut, while those with absolutely no research support are kept. 

An example of a valuable program that might be cut: According to the Record, ("325 face layoffs at SUSD," Feb. 27), the number of high school librarians in SUSD might be reduced. A number of studies have shown that library quality and the presence of credentialed librarians are related to reading achievement. 

An example (out of many) of a worthless program that we are keeping: California spends a great deal of money on a High School Leaving Exam. Recent research done by scholars at Indiana University has shown that state high school exit exams do not lead to more college completion, higher employment, or higher earnings by graduates. Researchers at UC Davis and the University of Minnesota have reported that exit exams do not result in improved academic achievement. In fact, researchers have yet to discover any benefits of having a High School Exit Exam. 

The state spends 250 million dollars a year just for remedial instruction to prepare for this exam, while districts like Stockton are asked to cut back $10 to 20 million per year and eliminate and reduce important programs, crucial positions, and essential services. 

Stephen Krashen
Professor Emeritus
University of Southern California



News
325 face layoffs at SUSD
Teaching cuts part of larger cost-cutting plan


By Roger Phillips <mailto:rphillips at recordnet.com>
February 27, 2009
Record Staff Writer

STOCKTON - Administrators from Stockton Unified School District will present a cost-cutting plan that will include layoff notices to about 325 teachers during a special school board meeting scheduled for tonight at Franklin High School, Superintendent Tony Amato said late Thursday afternoon.

Amato said that in the aftermath of the recent passage of a state budget that slashed $8.6 billion in education spending, Stockton Unified must cut $10 million from this year's budget, $18 million more in 2009-10 and $21 million in 2010-11.

Saying figures remained tentative as numbers continued to be crunched, Amato said the district needs to eliminate 375 positions from its teaching force of 2,000, with the difference from the number of layoff notices accounted for by existing vacancies and already-planned retirements and departures.

He said if the district can bargain a salary reduction with the Stockton Teachers Association, the district might be able to avoid laying off so many teachers.

"We're hoping to lessen that group dramatically," said Amato, adding that he hopes the board will vote tonight on the proposal so the district can begin the process of sending layoff notices to teachers ahead of the state's March 15 deadline.

The elimination of the teaching positions would mean the district will increase class sizes for kindergarten through third grade from 20 to 22 next school year, saving $800,000. The district also has several elementary schools with fourth-grade class sizes limited to 20 students. Those classes would grow to 25 students under the proposal, the same number currently attending the balance of the district's fourth-grade classes.

Additionally, Amato and executive director of business services Wayne Martin said several noteworthy items will not be dealt with tonight:

» The district will not announce how many classified workers will receive layoff notices until a later date. Those workers are not required to be given notice until 45 days before termination.

» The proposed closure of Grant Elementary School in south Stockton will not be voted on tonight but rather at the regular meeting March 10.

» A proposal to eliminate bus service to the district's magnet schools is off the table, at least for now.

Layoffs will account for only part of Stockton Unified's cost cutting. Increased flexibility in how the district can spend restricted-use funds is part of the new state budget, and that new freedom will enable the district to make the majority of necessary cuts this fiscal year, Martin said.

In 2009-10, however, Martin said, the district will restructure several departments, and reductions in the number of assistant principals, counselors and high school librarians - among other positions - also might be necessary.

Contact reporter Roger Phillips at (209) 546-8299 or rphillips at recordnet.com.
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