Letter to the Editor: Budgets Do Not Make Decisions, People Do

Dear Editor and Dixon Patch Readers

I appreciate the comments made on the comment board. I reviewed the tape of the meeting and do not feel I used any language that was inappropriate, but apologize for those who are sensitive to the words I used. SEIU's mission is not to create more union jobs in Dixon Unified School District, as .

Approximately, 80 percent of our members live in Dixon. They are tax payers. Their children are enrolled at . SEIU members have taken a 28 percent reduction in the workforce and the Superintendent zero. This shows a man that is not willing to make the same sacrifice others are making.

He has actually received an increase to his pay. The children of Dixon should be provided with the same opportunities as previous students. Would you not drive to work because gas prices went up? Would you live in a house without a roof in the winter?

We are asking our children, through no fault of their own to be the scapegoats for adults making poor decisions. SEIU members have always been sensitive to the community and to the children in Dixon. Our members go out of their way to be there for the children of Dixon. The School district has an opportunity to become exemplary or remain mediocre.

At times of a crisis, people have a choice to fight or accept a faith that is given to them. The budget is not the problem. The budget is an obstacle. Budgets do not make decisions, people do. Jim Ernst and Herb Cross have proven they are more concerned with numbers than with children.

The question the board should ask is why there is declining enrollment? If you owned a business that is losing customers, would you not want to know why? Halberg, Cross, and Ernst are focusing on strategic planning (Budget, the here and now) while Dr. Irina Okhremtchouk and Gil Pinon are focusing on Strategic Intent (What is the pathway to make the district a model to follow).

Would you eat at a restaurant that menu continues to shrink, or a restaurant with innovative delicious recipes?

The decision is for Dixon citizens to decide what path is best for their children. Do you want your child to be the scapegoat, or demand your district to be innovative and aggressive in resolving this challenge? Are the citizens OK with status quo? Halberg is more concerned about the budget than the district being in program improvement. The failure to educate our children is a matter of national security. In the next 10-20 years, we will ask our children to oversee our pensions, military, and economy. Are we doing enough today to secure the health of the world tomorrow?

Seth Francois

SEIU 1021-Representative