School Board President on State Budget - 'This Is Madness'

Martinez Unified School Board president Vicki Gordon said the budget state lawmakers approved late Tuesday night and Gov. Jerry Brown signed Thursday is "madness."

She said the district needs to know how much money there is for salaries, benefits and operating costs. But the new budget makes assumptions of $4 billion in new revenue that may or may not materialize.

If it does not, the state could cut $1.5 billion from K-12 education, which means at the district level cutting an additional seven days of school, to a total of 168 days. Three years ago, there were 180 days in the school year.

If the cuts take place, "we would almost have to shorten the school year, which is already not enough time to get all of the important learning done. This is just sheer madness," Gordon said.

The state Department of Finance will determine on Dec. 15 whether the new revenue is available. Until then, the district has put aside $1.3 million in reserve, in case the new revenue doesn't come to pass. The education bill signed by Gov. Brown as part of the budget prohibits teacher layoffs in 2012. So any further cuts after 2012, local education officials say, will have to come from negotiating lower salaries across the board.

Board member Denise Elskin called the state budget "yet another smoke and mirrors budget. It hurts kids, it hurts our education of them and thereby our and their futures. We will do everything we can to not let our elected officials rip off their futures while they continue to enjoy fat expense accounts and overstaffed departments in Sacramento."

Other board members, including Bobbi Horak and Kathi McLaughlin, praised the MUSD district, staff and unions for taking the necessary steps to allow the district to approve a balanced budget for this year, and a projected balanced budget for the next two years. That document was approved by the board last Monday.