December 25, 2003


Proposed middle school cuts focus of brown bag lunch

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Once every month, involved parents meet with members of the San Jose Unified School District (SJUSD) for a brown bag lunch and discussion. Last Thursday’s lunch, however, was anything but usual. The standing-room-only crowd was vocal and concerned over the possible cuts to their children’s middle school programs, including electives and sixth period.

Castillero Middle School parent Patti Rottjakob was anxious to see the outcome of the meeting, “I hope it’s not a done deal and that we have a voice here today. We don’t want to lose our electives and sixth period.” Cathy Blecher, parent of a seventh grader at Bret Harte Middle School, believes that the school’s electives provide a well-rounded education for her child. “It’s good to be exposed to different classes like drama and art,” she contends.

At noon, Superintendent Dr. Linda Murray addressed the crowd. “I know all of you are here because you are concerned about any reductions to our middle school program, and we want to hear your input,” she assured the gathering. “We want you to know that we share your passion and your desire to keep a rich school program for our students. We are looking every day to find other options.”

Chris Tranter, parent of an eighth grader at Bret Harte, on a scale of 1 to 10, considers electives a 10. “We have some wonderful subjects at Bret Harte; my son’s doing aviation and robotics,” she enthused. “That’s why I’m here.” Tranter is also concerned with the children getting out of school one hour earlier. “A lot of parents are working, and we already have a gap from the time when they get out now and we come home,” she commented, “It’s an extra hour for them to hang around with no supervision and get into trouble.”

Cathy Blecher hoped that the meeting would shed light on the budget and how the district came to face a $10 million deficit. Gerald Matranga, associate superintendent Administrative Services, tried to do exactly that, providing a budget overview. “The state is not making the required Proposition 98 contributions to our schools,” he acknowledged. “There is $3.5 million that schools will be entitled to this year and next year, and we know that we’re not receiving the increased revenue this year.”

To combat this deficit, Matranga notes that the SJUSD has already made $13 million in cuts to its 2003-2004 budget, including an elimination of class size reduction in grades three and nine as well as in secondary levels, and a reduction in assistant principals, librarians, nurses, clerical staff, management, transportation routes, maintenance and operations, supplies, equipment, and contracted services. In addition, the district has implemented a utility cost savings plan.

To balance the 2004-2005 budget, the SJUSD proposes closing two to four elementary schools, reducing administration, reducing or eliminating school transportation, continuing its hiring freeze, furthering its energy savings, and reducing employee health benefit costs. According to Matranga, other considerations include increasing class size in kindergarten and second grade, or adding a child in each class in grades four through 12.

Matranga maintained that reducing electives and the sixth period from the SJUSD middle schools is not something anybody wants to do. “It’s being looked at to save $ 2.5 million—but it’s in the classroom—it affects a child’s education, but it is one of the considerations,” he allowed. This would result in a potential loss of five to eight teachers per site, and a reduction in electives and remediation classes. Matranga noted that the final budget has to be adopted by the School Board in June 2004. “By February, we have to have firm plans in what we’re planning to recommend to the board for next year.”

In response to this crisis, John Engell, a parent at Hoover Middle School, has founded ‘Save Our Middle Schools’ (SOMS) and created a list of things which would be lost if middle school programs were cut, including: music, art, drama, foreign languages, robotics, mechanics, and community performances, as well as a loss of students’ school spirit, personal investment in their education, excitement, imagination, individuality, and success.

Matranga and the school board have been undertaking a rigorous budget study in cost containment and revenue enhancement. “We are reviewing what we pay for substitute teachers, children’s absences, special education, counselors, and medical reimbursements,” he stated. The most common budget cut suggested in a survey by SJUSD’s parents was to cut administration. “If you could find anything to cut besides us, that would help,” Matranga commented with a laugh. The district has already leased various facilities, and is looking into grants, and partnerships with Applied Materials, Intel, Apple, and IBM, he noted. The district has also added an attendance improvement program. “We get $37 every time a child’s at school. We get $0 when he’s not at school,” Matranga said.

“Hopefully this gives you an understanding of where we are and why,” commented Dr. Murray. Among the input the district has received from concerned parents is: Keeping sixth period is important. It motivates students to come to school, improves student achievement, keeps students from too much unsupervised free time, and prepares students for high school.

Dr. Murray advises parents who want to avoid further education cuts to be politically active. “Contact your local legislators and the governor’s office,” she suggests. “Help us protect education money (and) keep all of our programs intact.” She also urges parents to be involved. “Your being here, expressing your views to myself and to the board members is very important,” she stated.

Dr. Murray also hopes that the district can maneuver through this morass without eroding its educational program. “We want our educational program to stay intact. A rich middle school program draws children to school,” she affirmed.

If the proposed middle school cuts are made, each school will lose staffing and be on a five-period day. “Last time, when we lost sixth period, it wasn’t just that it was gone for five years. It took many schools until now to re-establish programs that were taken away,” recalled a concerned parent.
Bret Harte Middle School parent Cathy Blecher cares so deeply about the school keeping its sixth period and electives, that she is willing to pay for it. However, it is the philosophy of the school board not to allow some communities to fund-raise, when other communities can not. “The fairest way for a community to enhance programs is through a parcel tax because that’s distributed over every homeowner who lives in that community,” said Dr. Murray.

Dr. William Erlendson, director of External Programs and Community Development, feels that passing a parcel tax increase is necessary for salvaging school programs. “What we found out last time we tried to pass the parcel tax, was that at the district office we knew what was going on, but our parent community didn’t. We are looking at another parcel tax in November,” he revealed.

Karen Fuqua, spokeswoman for SJUSD, observed that as the state funds only five periods, the district has to pay for the sixth period, which costs about $2.5 million. “The way education is funded in California, we take a back seat–it’s very tough,” she said. To facilitate discussion, the district is creating an interactive community bulletin board Web site at www.sjusd.k12.ca.us.

Ann Agee, a John Muir Middle School parent, was impressed by the school board’s presentation. “I thought they were really prepared and forthcoming,” she said. “I hope they can save sixth period and all the electives, and free up some Proposition 98 funds.” Patti Rottjakob, a Castillero Middle School parent agreed. “They were very supportive,” she commented. “I’m encouraged to hear they may do a new parcel tax in November. The need for it wasn’t communicated well before.”

Dr. Murray saw this meeting as an opportunity for the parents to express why they consider the Middle School’s electives essential. “We use their input as we set our priorities,” she contended. “Everything said today has merit.”