Yesterday afternoon I attended a rally here in Newark in support of teachers and schools. With the state of California budget still hemorraghing, the state education budget has been slashed by $4 billion... no, make tht $5billion... oops, $11 billion... Clearly, no one knows where the bottom is yet.
It was hard to muster the energy to go to it because it all seems so futile. If there's no money, there's no money. And yet, I needed to do something. As I mulled it over last night, I realized that doing nothing is, for me, a form of hubris. Who am I to know what the net effect of each of our small actions could be?
The ominous "Pink Friday" (the date by which teachers under contract must be notified of possible RIF) has come and gone. In Newark, it proved to be as draconian as predicted. With a $5 million budget shortfall in this fiscal year, we'll use up our entire spendable budget reserve leaving us with only the legally mandated budget reserve for next year. Needless to say, our school board has cast a very wide net so that they have room to maneuver as they decide which organ or appendage isn't actually necessary.
All of our elective teachers (vocal and instrumental music, dance and movement, computer tech), received notices. "Academic" departments like English and Science didn't fare much better. Administrators and counselors district-wide all received notices.
Special education was spared the ax this time because of several factors. First of all, it's a legal requirement to provide a free and appropriate public education to all students including those with disabilities. Because of NCLB (No Child Left Behind), teachers must be credentialed in the subject area they teach. Second, districts are required to show "maintenance of effort" for their special ed programs. In other words, a district can't spend less on special ed year over year unless there is a legitimate reason (state budget crisis is not a legitimate reason). Last and best: the federal government actually kicked in some funding.
At this moment, I am humble and grateful to be a special educator. I've probably also got a low-grade case of "survivor's guilt." I'm also aware that the ax hasn't finished swinging yet. Between the global economic crisis and California's constantly screwed up state budget, there are probably more "executions" to come.
