Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Budget Woes

At my first school, the sixth-graders raised their hands and called me "teacher." Elementary, middle school, and high school--I have been in those classrooms and taught students at every level. As a principal, I have led schools. As a superintendent, I have served in several school districts including this one since January.

As an educator, I relish the challenges of helping all children learn. Instruction remains my passion; teaching remains my joy. Yet, dollars--millions of them--dominate my thinking as the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) grapples with the largest budget deficit in its history.

Because California law requires school districts to submit balanced budgets for the next three years by June 30, I was forced to ask the Los Angeles Board of Education to approve cuts that violate my core beliefs. The worst cuts aren't scheduled to take effect until the 2011-2012 school year, which allows time to stop them.

A parcel tax--a slight increase of property taxes--would keep students in classes small enough to permit the attention they need from teachers. Adequate funding, instead of broken promises from Sacramento and another deluge of new cuts, would help educate students.

Help from our employees, in the form of furlough days and small pay cuts negotiated by the unions that represent them, would stop the avalanche of layoffs on and off campuses.

Balancing the books should not be my priority. I am neither a mathematician nor a magician. A veteran educator, I prefer to help our students read more books.

Click to see a brochure and budget myths about our current financial crisis.  Click here to view the PowerPoint presented to the Board of Education on Thursday, June 18.

Ramon C. Cortines, Superintendent

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