Give Arnold a Pink Slip

[courtesy of California Progress Report]

By Lisa Schiff

My daughter’s teacher was one of the 500-plus who received pink slips this month, preliminary notices that by law must be sent out by a certain date if layoffs are likely given budget forecasts for the upcoming year. This teacher, like so many in our district and so many who received those slips, is dedicated to and passionate about his work. His enthusiasm for teaching inspires the kids in his classroom to stretch themselves, knowing he is right there supporting them along the way.

Teachers like this are the lynchpin of a good educational system, but they are being put in jeopardy by our governor who persists in showing such disdain for the children in public schools and the educational professionals who serve them. Despite increasing pressure from the public and Democratic officials in Sacramento, Schwarzenegger still sees our schools as a major solution to his $16 billion fiscal crisis.

Children in San Francisco are somewhat luckier than others thanks to the Rainy Day Fund, spear-headed by Tom Ammiano back in 2003. The Mayor and the Board of Supervisors have publicly committed about $30 million dollars from that fund to cover an anticipated $40 million shortfall. The formal details are being worked out and still required the unsettling delivery of layoff notices (the funds are supposed to be distributed for emergency situations.) At an incredibly well-attended rally this past Tuesday organized by United Educators of San Francisco (UESF, the teachers’ union), public officials including the Mayor spoke of this support, which is reassuring when facing school budget decisions for next year. This influx of funds would mean that the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) would be able to rescind those layoff notices before the end of the year.

So the Rainy Day Fund is something we can all be incredibly grateful for, but we have to remember that it’s just a solution for this year. Further, not every school district in the state is part of such a supportive and wealthy city. The signs and chants of teachers, parents, kids and other supporters at Tuesday’s rally made it clear--education is not getting the resources needed from the state and that has got to change. As the PTA has so aptly put it, we need to “Flunk the Budget” and also have a complete transformation in how public education is prioritized up in Sacramento.