PETITION TO OPPOSE 2008-09 EDUCATION FUNDING CUTS
Addressed to the California State Legislature
April 2008

WE, THE UNDERSIGNED, WOULD LIKE TO BRING YOUR ATTENTION TO THE FOLLOWING:

WHEREAS, Californias more than 6 million students deserve high quality schools with well-trained educators, small class sizes, quality instructional materials, up-to-date textbooks and dynamic parental support; and

WHEREAS, Governor Schwarzeneggers 2008-09 budget proposal calls for massive and devastating cuts to K-12 students and schools by reducing Proposition 98 funding by $400 million in the current year and $4.4 billion for 2008-09; and

WHEREAS, under the governors proposed budget, South Pasadena Unified School District would lose $122,000 in the current fiscal year due to mid-year cuts and $2,000,000 in 2008-09 due to the suspension of Proposition 98; and

WHEREAS, according to recently released reports and studies, California spends $1,900 less per student than the national average seriously underfunding its public schools; and

WHEREAS, the governors proposed budget reductions are fundamentally inconsistent with the states goal of improving student achievement, at a time when our students are making progress toward meeting rigorous state and federal education standards; and

WHEREAS, the budget problem was not created by our students and fixing the problem should not come at the expense of their educational progress and success; and

WHEREAS, California voters approved and continue to strongly support Proposition 98 to protect schools and students from harmful budget cuts and to establish a minimum level of education funding; and

WHEREAS, the governors budget proposal goes against the will of California voters;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the South Pasadena Unified Board of Education strongly opposes the Governors 2008-09 budget proposal, and urges the governor and legislature to discuss all possibilities to solve the budget crisis, including new revenue sources, and will communicate to the community the impact of these reductions.