| HOME | NEWS |
PUBLIC INFO 
|
DISTRICT OFFICE
|
OUR SCHOOLS
|
CALENDAR | STAFF & PARENTS | EMPLOYMENT | DIRECTORY |
District Budget Update
I send this message with sad news. As many of you know, Governor Schwarzenegger proposes to cut our budgets for the third year in a row. The state cut unified districts like Patterson, $225 per child. Although the legislators know that we are near the bottom in the nation for per pupil funding, they continue to cut education. Our schools are funded $1,700 per child less than the national average. In 1975, our schools were funded near the top of the nation. Now, we are funded among the worst in the nation.
On February 1, 2010, Steve Menge presented the budget showing a gap of $2 Million for the 2010-2011 school year. There are many painful recommendations affecting students and employees throughout the district. In the coming weeks, the Budget Advisory Committee, District staff, and I will work with the community to understand the impact of these reductions.
We will work with our employee groups as they consider the huge sacrifice of possible salary concessions that will allow several positions to be saved. We will continue to monitor the State budget situation and make adjustments to our own budget plan, as necessary. Unfortunately, there is indication from the State that the Governor is being too optimistic, and that there could be worse cuts later this Spring. In preparation, we will distribute preliminary notices of possible layoffs to certificated and classified staff by the end of this month.
What can you do?
I encourage each of you to write your State Representatives and the Governor (see attached sample letter and list of legislators). They need to hear that enough is enough! California schools are near last in the nation in per pupil funding. Each student in a California classroom receives $1,700 less than the average student in the United States. This third year of cuts will adversely affect the academic gains that our schools have made. The quality of our students’ education will suffer. In the eighth largest economy of the world, California citizens need to send a message that our children deserve to return to first place in financial support.
Respectfully,
Patrick J. Sweeney
Superintendent
District News Update
2/5/2010 - State of the Schools
1/19/2010 - Budget Presentation 