March 18, 2004

Street Talk by Shari Kaplan

In mid-March, California public schools earned a $28.5 million windfall when a winning Lotto ticket remained unclaimed after its 180-day deadline. If you could decide how the money was to be used in the school system, what would your priorities be? (Asked at Parma Park)

"I'd definitely bring back extra-curricular activities like art, music and physical education. I don't think kids have enough of these things. The academic standards are being raised so high that they're cutting too many other things. Kids are being forced to be little adults. Academics are good, but so is creativity. I also think teachers are extremely underpaid, so I'd like to see their salaries go up."

Rajka Campbell , 35 Almaden Valley - Homemaker and part-time office administrator

"I think the money should be going to education, not the schools themselves. I think teachers need to be paid more based on their ability, rather than on their seniority. One of the things we had a long time ago was magnet schools, where students could pick their own schools and teachers. I'd like to see that brought back again."

Dorlean Banta , 56, Almaden Valley - Interior designer

"If you could put the extra money into the teachers, that would be good. Try to keep enough teachers in place so that class size won't have to go up. I'd also like to keep the schools from shortening the school day, which is a bad idea. Those are my top two priorities."

Kim Holmes , 49, Almaden Valley - Engineer

"I'd like to see the money spent on actual educational improvements, not just making the schools look better. Not all kids are good at academics, but they may be good at things like art and music, so I think there should be more programs like that. Teachers should also be paid more, but not across-the-board raises. There should be more accountability; raises should be based more on evaluations."

Heathir Davis , 29, Paradise (grew up in Almaden Valley) - Secretary

"I actually have my kids in private schools. I also support the school voucher idea. I don't think public schools are doing a good enough job. Twenty-eight million dollars would just be throwing good money after bad. I think charter schools might be a good use for the money. I do think it's good to at least channel the money to education rather than put it back into the state's coffers, where it would go who knows where!"

Tim Cabeceiras , 39, Almaden Valley - Software engineer

"I'd like to see more money go to after-school programs geared toward middle and high school-age kids. I don't think there are as many programs for older kids. I also think a skatepark would be a wonderful thing—it would be a safe place for kids to use their skateboards and rollerblades rather than out on the street. I'd also bring back more music, drama and sports activities."

Linda Cabeceiras , 46, Almaden Valley - Human resources