CUSD Update, Part 1

The Capistrano Unified School District Board of Trustees met on June 27 to discuss how to cut $51 million to balance the budget. Julie Collier of Parents Advocate League (PALs) sent out the following email prior to the meeting, with a subject line, “92% of CUSD Budget Goes to Compensation.”

Dear PALs,

As you know CUSD has been dealing with budget issues for the last few years. Throughout this time parents have watched class sizes increase, experienced our children’s teachers on strike, dealt with limited resources in the classroom, dealt with reduction of counselors and assistant principals, walked past dilapidated buildings and playgrounds, and experienced the negative effects of seniority-based layoffs also known as LIFO (Last-In; First-Out) losing the newest teachers with the most recent education. We donated more, even if it was financially hard for many of us. We volunteered more. We took time to attend board meetings and write emails to board members and legislators we hoped would help. We read the articles and blogged out of frustration, hope, and fear. And, yes, some of us went so far as to send our children to public charter schools in CUSD because we knew our children needed something different. We rallied to save our teachers, our tax dollars, and most importantly our children’s right to a quality public education.

Sadly, that is not enough. Our district has to cut $51 million from the budget that will affect students not only in the next school year, but for years to come. This Wed., June 27, at 7:00 p.m. in the CUSD board room, district officials will present the budget cuts to the public. The board members will choose to vote for or against the following cuts just to name a few:

• Class size increases
• School year shortened by 3 weeks
• Coaching staff reduced
• Campus supervisors reduced
• More seniority-based teacher layoffs
• AP classes
• GATE

Where will you be when the board votes this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.?

It is time for parents to step up and demand that CUSD puts students first. This is the time for you to show the CUSD board that parents expect tough decisions in the best interest of students. YOU are your child’s voice. Please come to the board meeting Wednesday. Be there to show the board your child deserves more than 8% of the budget. The following article has more information: CUSD to Consider a Shrinking Budget

Julie Collier
Parents Advocate League