Broken Budget

Fresh from the school board meeting...

The most important thing to remember is that the budget model as a whole is highly dysfunctional. Having teacher salaries and school supplies be paid for out of year-to-year monies like the LAEF and the PTA puts our district in a constantly precarious position. Every year we have to reassess whether we can fund that science aide, that new chalk board. We need to move to a model where the community, which benefits greatly from having a top-notch school district, is funding a bigger portion of the program. After all, the property value you save may be your own.

I was on the Parcel Tax Survey Committee earlier this year. Unfortunately, in the current climate, there's just no way to pass a meaningful parcel tax. I believe that the current restructure does what we need it to do- that is, it keeps the district functioning as best we possibly can until the economy improves. Once that happens, I believe we should press hard for a parcel tax that more adequately funds the type of program we all want the children in this district to enjoy.

Until then... watch for a bake sale near you.