Dear Area 5 Principal and Community Leader,
As you know, these are truly difficult economic times for schools locally, across our state, and the nation. The cuts taken in the past have been done in consideration with keeping them as far away from the classroom as possible. We are at a point where we no longer have a choice. Figuratively speaking, we have cut beyond the "bone" and are now faced with losing "limbs".
I am writing to you with a personal request for a call to action. It is important to have as many of you, your parents, and community members attend the Budget Community Meeting on Jan. 26th at Luther Burbank High School at 6 pm.
The community meetings are intended to hold purposeful and meaningful conversations with parents and school communities surrounding our district's dire budget conditions and the remedies the board intends to take. The remedies directly affect students and families. It is beneficial for our families and school communities to hear about the proposed action in a place where they can ask questions and gain understanding of what this will mean to them. To see the list of proposed cuts, please visit our board agenda for January 12, 2012 at: http://207.166.7.2/BoardofEducation/Meetings/Documents/20120112/budget1%2012%2012.pdf
In the series of meetings to be held, we have some before and after the board takes action. This was done due to the pressing issue of the board facing the potential of a negatively certified budget by the Sacramento County Office of Education, (should we not take the necessary cuts to bring our budget into balance). It is unfortunate that many of our state's school districts have been faced with these troubling realities, and in some cases, have gone into state takeover.
It is easy for others to view the lack of a presence at meetings as validation that parents, and the communities that surround them, are disengaged. You and I both know differently, as we progress in the budget conversations, we must have the voices of all your school community to support the knowledge that we have engaged and concerned parents and community members who are able to provide feedback and maybe even solutions we need to consider.
To end, it is my hope that we will have a more informed community and have ensured input from those most affected by the proposed cuts.
Thanks for your assistance in ensuring parent and community participation at the Jan. 26th meeting.
Sincerely,
Diana Rodriguez
SCUSD Board President
Area 5 Trustee
Budget Community ForumLuther Burbank High School
You are invited to a Budget Community Forum at Luther Burbank High School to inform the community about the difficult budget situation that the district is facing and to solicit feedback on the decisions that lie ahead.
Thursday, January 26
Luther Burbank High School Cafeteria
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
For more information on the Budget Community Forums, please contact Family and Community Engagement Office at (916) 643-9232.
