CIRCLING THE RIM OF THE GIANT TOILET BOWL, EDUCATION AND THE STATE PREPARE TO TAKE THE FINAL PLUNGE...THANKS TO THE INCOMPETENCE OF THOSE IN CHARGE...and our own delusions

The stakes are high, akin to mass suicide on a state level as the budget abyss, ever changing in size and shape, dominates the political, cultural and economic landscape of the state. Next Tuesday the state propositions on the Special Election will steer the direction in which the state mismanagement of funding will go, although, by their own admission, will not significantly change the overall direction.  Even with the props passing the budget gap is still huge resulting in the state passing that along down to a city level. Should the props fail, the amount would be significantly higher. Death or rapid death. That is the choice. While many people believe, and not incorrectly from past trends, that this is all political posturing, at this juncture I no longer agree with that premise. Sure, there will always be political shoving matches, especially over the corpse of public education; however the revenues are no longer present. Whatever your stance, I do believe that we all agree the system is damaged, that we are not providing the education we should be providing, that we are not competitive globally and that the future looks bleak. Where we disagree is how to change this. Already the cities are reacting.  Concord issued a press release slamming the state's intent to repair their screw-ups by stealing from the cities once again. Is that protection money? "CONCORD, CA (May 14, 2009) — The Concord City Council passed a resolution at its meeting Monday, May 11 declaring a state of severe fiscal hardship. This action follows a recommendation by the State of California Department of Finance to borrow $2 billion (8 percent) in local government property taxes to meet the state’s budget shortfall. “The City of Concord can’t afford the state’s raid on our property taxes when declining property and sales taxes have already forced the City to propose police and employee layoffs, unpaid furloughs and reductions in services to balance the budget,” said City Manager Dan Keen. In Concord, the state property tax grab equates to approximately $2.4 million that the City will lose in services in the community. “We are already fighting to fill a $14 million hole in an $80 million budget. We can’t afford another $2.4 million on top of that.” Keen said. As it is, the City is already spending down its reserves and looking at severe program cuts and possible layoffs." California still faces a deficit of $15.4 billion in the fiscal year that starts July 1. This is projected to grow to $21.3 billion if voters reject the propositions during next week's special election. Locally, Measure D, designed to bring back high school athletics, library, music, vice-principals and other items slashed with a $7 million infusion, will most certainly be affected by an additional state cut to education. Based on past trends, this amount could be an added $14 million for the district to chop from its already anorexic budget. Projecting a worst case scenario, now looking more likely in the face of the governor's deficit adjustment, MDUSD trustee Gary Eberhart told The Concordian (May 2009) that: “We could close schools,” Eberhart said. “Closing six to seven schools would save us about $7 million, about half of the cuts we would need to make.  If Measure D fails, MDUSD may consider eliminating everyone in administration. That would save $2 million, still a massive shortfall.  "It would result in a state takeover similar to what happened in Oakland,” Eberhart explained. “The state comes in and behind closed doors makes whatever cuts will reach the balanced budget. The board has nothing to say.” Regardless of political beliefs, it is easy to see a cascading failure in what is an already thin education system. In my opinion, even a best case scenario is not offering the hope of fixing the system; it will merely provide time to maintain the system while changes are examined. With the national recession expected to continue for the next year or more, California is poised to remain fiscally handicapped well beyond that time frame. The inherent problems that exist within the state legislature and the manner by which the state operates shows no sign of changing and almost certainly change at a state level will have to be forced. California is no longer the land of plenty. We are not the golden state. We face crippling economic prospects, a huge dropout rate that is hovering at around 32% of high schoolers (despite the state claim of 20% - Click HERE to read that story of mine) and our graduates are entering colleges with a full 25% requiring remedial instruction just to complete undergrad course work. This is a pathetic situation. There is no one solution that will remedy this. Like an illness that has spread from organ to organ, we are in danger of total system failure. Californians need to become aware of all the aspects that affect life in this state, not just the provincial elements. This is not about a school district. This is about a way of thinking, an expectation of entitlement and the free ride we have been having which created the groundwork for the recession in the first place. Greed is greed. Sloth is sloth. It is time to stop. The political landscape of the state needs as much of an overhaul as the economic structure and education. It has to start somewhere. That is Tuesday at the special election, regardless how you vote, be prepared to demand a change. California deserves better. Don't you think? MisterWriter