Posted by: Bethany on 01/15/2008 01:41 AM
Updated by: Bethany on 01/15/2008 01:07 PM
Expires: 01/01/2013 12:00 AM
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Governor's Proposed Education Cuts Could Put Mark Twain District $200,000 in the Hole ~ By Bethany Monk
Angels Camp, C.A....Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed budget for 2008-09, which could cut $4 billion from education, may take away more than $200,000 from Mark Twain Union Elementary School District, according to the district's business manager Noreen Kenny.
Mark Twain Union Elementary School District Board of Education members Joey Toney (from left), Gary McGeorge, Diane Bateman, Jennifer Eltringham and district superintendent Philip Yoon.
She estimates that the district could lose as much as $48,512 for the rest of this school year and about $152,000 for the 2008-09 school year.
Its going to be interesting, she told the districts board members during the districts monthly meeting Monday Jan.14 in the Mark Twain Union Elementary School multi-use room. About 15 members of the public attended.
Its not a good picture folks, and I dont know how to paint it, she said. We dont have a reserve fund like some districts do).
The districts categorical funds, which pay for several school necessities such as school safety and staff salaries, may be affected by the governors proposed budget cuts, she said.
We have to be mindful of that, she said, noting that the district will need to strategically plan and look to see where funds have historically gone, so as to be prepared for changes to the budget.
Kenny isnt the only one concerned about the proposed cuts. State Schools Chief Jack OConnell believes the governors proposed cuts to education will only hurt students and teachers.
"At a time when California must make substantial investment in schools in order for our young people to survive and succeed in the global economy, the Governor's budget takes a giant step backward, he is quoted in a press release on the California Department of Education Web site. This budget will not help us close the achievement gap that threatens the futures of our students and our state.
The governors proposed cuts to education should not affect the districts plan to build a new school in Copperopolis, Kenny said. Both schools in the district, Mark Twain Union Elementary and Copperopolis Elementary, are facing serious overcrowding issues, and talks to build a new school in Copperopolis are well underway.
The Copperopolis Parent Teacher Club is hosting an open meeting Tuesday, Jan. 15 in the gym at Copperopolis Elementary School to discuss pans for the new school. District 5 Supervisor Russ Thomas and the districts superintendent Philip Yoon, are among those invited to attend
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