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Sacramento Bee Letter to the Editor: Overcoming school budget crisis March 22, 2008 Dan Walters' gloomy declaration at the end of his March 16 "School mess cataloged once again" column that the Governor's Committee on Education Excellence report probably will "just gather dust" should be a call to action for concerned Californians seeking comprehensive education change. The changes outlined by this bipartisan committee in both school funding and governance certainly will not come easily, particularly in a tough year for state finances, but what could be more important than our children and the future of California? Vigorous, informed discussion among all interested parties can and must begin today toward strategic changes, not Band-Aids. The committee report, last year's "Getting Down to Facts" studies and the state schools superintendent's P-16 Council report cite the need to change how education resources are allocated, how they are managed and where this responsibility is vested. Other recommendations include increasing professional development for our teachers and school administrators, and providing data and information systems needed to help create a culture of continuous improvement. Budget challenges can and historically will be overcome. The governor recognized that some things can be done today and some things done tomorrow as the economy improves. The movement toward significant education change in California must not gather dust in the meantime. — Thomas Timar, Sacramento *** |
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