Proposition 401 and 402: TUSD’s grave just got deeper.

On November 3, 2009 two very important ballot propositions, 401 and 402, that would have provided TUSD’s already decimated budget a much needed $9,000,000 override along with $190 dollars per student, were voted down. Many other school districts, however, passed their school budget overrides. Such results demonstrate how much the TUSD community is lacking in its dedication to education.  New talks have opened up in the state legislature to cut $144 million dollars from the education budget.  These cuts will be piled on top of the budget cuts that have already been imposed and will put a heavy burden on TUSD.

In June of the last school year, extensive cuts (around 14%) were made that negatively affected TUSD teachers and programs.  As you might remember, teachers with under three years in TUSD were given a pink slip and were either asked back or had to find other jobs.  I am afraid that these two failed propositions have only dug the grave deeper for TUSD.  Proposition 401 (which in my opinion was the more important of the two bills) would have put money in the hands of the people who know how best to use it, the school Site Councils. The Site Councils are the ones who know the most important needs of their student bodies, more so than executives in the TUSD administrative office.  That money could have supported the arts, sciences and many other very important projects that students have shown that they want.

Now with the failed override and the new budget cuts, I foresee tough times ahead of us for education.  Education is very important and in my mind should be the number one thing on people’s minds.  I am all for lowering taxes but when it comes to lower taxes or better education I can promise you that education is the better choice in the long run.  Hopefully President Obama will do something about our failed override.

As a member of the UHS Site Council, having seen the last June budget cuts, I can only dread what cuts TUSD will propose and can only hope that TUSD can bite off a chunk of the $100 Billion education stimulus package.  But hope should never be our last resort.  We as students need to help inform our parents of the benefits of education, the risks of not supporting it, and help get involved in making a difference in our education.  We are the future so we should make sure that it is a good one.

If you have any opinions on the matter please feel free to email me at samster712@yahoo.com I am always open to opinions and would love to hear yours.

Posted by Sam Williams on Dec 5 2009. Filed under Opinions. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.