South Pasadena elementary schoolers dress up, sing and plead for money for education. On YouTube.

Click on the image to view the video

South Pasadena Unified Grade “A” Jug Band protests the California State Budget cuts to public education in this music video, which is based on Woody Guthrie’s 1937 original, “Do Re Mi”. In the video, the students beg the governator, Arnold Schwarzenneger, to please restore money to education.

The catchy tune and country outfits adorned by the 5th graders sing the current dilemma of budget cuts and teacher layoffs that is currently forcing the schools to reduce extra programs such as music, dance, art and eliminate class size reduction. The colorful production is cute and aims the message to save education with comical but truthful lyrics;

Gambling with our education is no cut we can’t afford, we’re sliding down the slippery slopes, education is our only hope, so Arnold we beg you help us please, we aint got nothing else to squeeze.”

The jug band is comprised of students from K-5. The video was a collaborative efforts between parents and students at South Pasadena Unified School District.

Discuss this article.

California Statewide Election on May 19 reflected a miserable defeat as 5 out of 6 propositions were shot down. The proposition measures were meant to plug a portion of the state’s $21 billion dollar deficit through tax hikes, borrowing, and earmarks for education. 

With the defeat of Prop 1 A and 1B, California Public schools can anticipate additional budget cuts at the end of the year as well as for next year. 

The Prop 1B was included in the proposition as a measure to help supplement the recent budget cuts in local school districts and community colleges.

The propositions supplemental payments of $9.8 billion begining in the 2011-12 fiscal year was hoped to improve education budget conditions ensuing the economic crisis and repay some of the funds that the state has borrowed from education to balance the budget. 

Schools are already facing $5.3 billion dollars in budget cuts and California is already pending layoffs of more than 5000 teachers.

California teachers Association President David A. Sanchez, issued the following statement after the defeat of Prop 1B in the May 19 ballot measures:

The defeat of Proposition 1B is particularly disappointing for the future of our students and schools. The $9.3 billion that was scheduled to be repaid to schools in Prop. 1B is still owed to education. This was a manipulation of Proposition 98, the minimum school funding law passed by voters over 20 years ago, and CTA will be taking all legal action required to ensure students, schools and community colleges get the funding required by law, and that they deserve.”

District officials have laid out contingency plans to curb the effects of the budget cuts. Some of the options are allowing districts to cut seven days off the school year, delay replacing old textbooks and divert class-size reduction funds to other purposes.

California will be receiving about $4.3 billion in education funding from the economic stimulus package approved by Congress earlier this year, however, additional disbursement will rest heavily on how California allocates the first round of money for school reformation.

 Watch the media coverage    Read the news 

Check the local Election results

Want to know how California schools get their money?    

Read the California Budget Project - School Finance Facts 2009

Discuss this article and share your opinion on the May 19 election defeat. 

Click on the picture to watch the video

The Los Angeles School District board is trying to stop a massive teacher walkout planned for later this month, taking the fight to court.

The board voted unanimously on Tuesday to try to stop the one-day work stoppage. LAUSD Superintendent Ramon Cortines said it was both irresponsible and illegal for the teachers to engage in the walkout, set for May 15. The walkout will coincide and possibly disrupt AP testing, as well as California standardized testing, but the union said it feels it has no other choice. The board filed an unfair labor practice charge against the teachers union, and filed for a petition to block the walkout. Teachers Los Angeles (UTLA) said the walkout was in protest of planned teacher layoffs and increased class sizes, which the board approved last month in hopes of resolving a nearly $600 million budget deficit. Read the full report from ABC 7 News Team – Lisa Hernandez. 

We asked our readers to take part in our poll whether LAUSD should stop the walkout. Here are the poll results:

Poll Results

 
Discuss whether LAUSD should stop the teacher walkout planned for MAY 15.

Teachers at Manual Arts High School Protesting Layoffs 

School officials are trying to figure out whether federal stimulus money must, can or should be used to avoid teacher layoffs. There have been different opinions on how the stimulus money to fund education should be used. UTLA states that the stimulus funds should be used now to stop the layoffs. UTLA supports this strategy to deliver the best education result in the near term and provide the fullest economic stimulus, thereby giving the district and public-school advocates the better part of a year to avoid the budget cliff.

On the other hand, LAUSD argues that the stimulus spending should be spread out over two years. L.A. Schools Supt. Ramon C. Cortines wants to spread federal aid over both the 2009-10 and the 2010-11 school years because he predicts the financial picture in the second year could be worse than in the first year. Cortines is determined that L.A. Unified not face bankruptcy on his watch.

Mayor Villaraigosa contends that LAUSD should use as many of the federal economic stimulus dollars as needed to avert teacher layoffs this year. In exchange, employee unions should consent to conditional compensation givebacks applicable in the following year. These wage concessions would take effect in the likely event that district economic problems continue.

 Listen to Podcast Updates

Listen to Podcast Updates

See our FAQ for further reading on how the stimulus money should be used. 

We asked our readers to take part in our poll on how the stimulus money should be used. Here are the poll results:

Poll Results

Discuss how the stimulus money should be used.