Just two days before Christmas, the San Diego Union-Tribune published a bleak story written by Ashly McGlone about problems in Coronado with the school budget titled "Coronado schools eyeing cuts." Ms. McGlone wrote:
"The Coronado Unified School District is projecting a $2.4 million deficit in next year’s $26 million budget, not including potential midyear cuts from the state.
The district saw a budget shortfall of $2.1 million this year, prompting it to cut $1.5 million in spending through furloughs and class size increases. Adult education was cut in half.
Teachers are taking seven furlough days this year, five of them by shortening the academic year. Nonteaching staff are taking 10 furlough days. Class sizes have also increased in an effort to reduce the number of teachers needed.
But the worst may be ahead. The Legislative Analyst Office is projecting a $25 billion state budget shortfall this year and next."
A lot of the problem began with financial difficulties across the state of California. As in the past, the educational system often seems the first to pay the price.
Recently, I've heard discussion in the media about solutions for California and New York. Most analysts say that another bailout would be risky and it's time for these two states to "pay the piper." Pension payouts across California are often calculated at a hefty percentage of the employees’ total pay their last year in the work force. What was promised in pensions does not exist in the budget at the current time nor is it expected that it will materialize. The option most commonly being tossed around as a way out of this predicament is to allow California to go bankrupt. Bankruptcy would erase the slate and these promised pensions would disappear.
Yesterday’s U-T had for its featured article (front page, above the fold) “6 retired educators in county are paid more than U.S. education secretary” written by Maureen Magee and Danielle Cervantes. It listed the top eight educator pensions in San Diego County, ranging from 83% to 113% of original salaries. No Coronado educators appeared in the Top Eight. These top-paid educators were compared to the top five city pensions listed in the 2009 San Diego City Employees’ Retirement System data. The top pensions range from $227,250 to $299,103 a year. You might recognize the #4 spot holder as our own Coronado Police Chief from his years as San Diego assistant police chief.
As 2011 quickly approaches, it will be interesting to see how Governor-elect Jerry Brown handles the situation.
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