We are at the time of year again when we face many difficult budget decisions for the upcoming school year and thereafter. For the past five years state funding to education has been cut by over 20%, while no other sector in the state budget has faced the same dilemma. With the proposed elimination of transportation funding from the 2012-13 school year, forward, and an additional proposed reduction of $370 per student in revenue cuts, school districts are facing additional, unprecedented cuts, bringing the potential cut to education funding close to the 26% mark. Many districts, such as Linden, are facing difficult choices as we try to balance our budget with huge reductions. In addition to the loss of state revenue, we also face a decline in enrollment, which also reduces revenue, and on-going unfunded mandates. The task at hand has no good answers. When the options are to increase class sizes, eliminate programs, lay off staff, review support services, etc., there are no winners. The State of California is in an economic downturn, as is the national economy. However, education has become a disproportional percent of the cuts. California has fallen from being number one in per-student funding in the 1970’s, to nearly last today. We spend a significantly smaller portion of our per capita income on education than we did in the past, and our ratios for student to teacher, student to counselor, and teacher to administrator have fallen from close to the top, to last in many areas in a short period of time. Though we are faced with making many difficult decisions, I know we will make prudent decisions and continue to provide the best services and education to our community. Take a moment to contact your local assembly member and let them know that the students of California have taken enough cuts and deserve to be a priority as they were in the past. Partisanship must be put aside and decisions must be made that will again help California lead the nation in education, in economy, and in supporting the rich diversity of our communities; our students are our future.

Michael V. Gonzales, Ed.D.

District Superintendent