We need both immediate and long range strategies to save our schools in California.
- California schools have gone from a model for the world to last or near last in the nation in most statistical categories. We must reverse this trend.
- The shift from local control to state control of education after Proposition 13 has meant the continual depletion of resources for our local schools over a many year period. We must have a steady and adequate source of funding for our schools.
- California's governance structure is one of the most convoluted and dysfunctional in the nation. We have allowed special interests to ride roughshod over the "public good". We need to fix our state government and return more local control to our schools.
- Federal education policies have also had the effect of limiting local control of education. NCLB is not a silver bullet and its focus on punishments without providing adequate resources makes it a cruel political ploy. We need to convince federal officials that one size does not fit all.
- The current budget shortfall for Santa Rosa City Schools of $10+ million is unconscionable, but we must deal with it. Our community will need to come together as never before to work our way through this crisis. We will need to develop new partnerships and alliances to provide the best we can for our children.
- Our students have to be involved in the discussion as well. It is imperative that each student assume responsibility for her/his education early in life as possible. Understanding how education dictates who you will be and what you will do with the rest of your life is the most important motivating factor in student achievement.
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