HomeMy WebLinkAbout022-99 RESOLUTION NO. 22-99
SUPPORTING FUNDING FOR EDUCATION IN CALIFORNIA'S
K-12 PUBLIC SCHOOLS
WHEREAS, Califomia's economy is the 7m largest in the world and its per capita income ranks
13th in the United States, while its rank is 41 ~t nationwide in per student funding; and
WHEREAS, Califomia per student funding for basic district operations, after adjusting for
inflation, is $400 per student less today than in 1987, and currently an increase of $1,100 per
child funding is necessary just to reach the national average: and
WHEREAS, California still has the most crowded classrooms in the United States, despite the
recent "Class Size Reduction Program," with an average of about 24 students per teacher
compared to the national average of 17 to 1; and
WHEREAS, Califomia funding for state adopted textbooks ranks 45th in the nation, providing
$29 per student per year, while the average cost of textbooks is $60 to $80 per student per
subject; and
WHEREAS, California has one school librarian for every 6, 179 students while the national
average is one per 882 students, and California school libraries average 11 books (with an
average copyright date of 1973 on non-fiction books) per student compared to the national
average of 20 books per student; and
WHEREAS, California schools rank 49th in the nation on the number of district officials and
administrators per student, 50th in the nation on the number of principals per student, and 51~t in
the nation on the number of guidance counselors serving our students; and
WHEREAS, California school districts are faced with a rapidly growing population that will
require about $15 billion of new construction before 2005 and $22 billion to repair and
modernize aging facilities, while hampered by the current requirement of a two-thirds majority
vote to pass a local school bond; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Califomia State PTA and its units, councils and districts work to educate
local public officials, the community and the media that Califomia K-12 public schools are
underfunded, which has created a crisis situation in both school facilities needs and in educational
program needs; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Califomia State PTA and its units, councils and districts work with local
and state policy-makers to develop and pursue a long-term school facilities plan that addresses
the current school facilities crisis and ensures that school districts will be able to secure adequate
funding to meet their school facilities needs; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Califomia State PTA urge its units, councils and districts to mobilize local
public officials and community members to encourage state senators, state assembly members and
the Govemor to increase funding for basic education in Califomia K-12 public schools to no less
than the national average. This additional funding shall not in any way be derived or diverted
from local govemment sources; and, be it further
RESOLVED, that the Danville Town Council does hereby supporting funding for education in
California' s K- 12 Public Schools.
APPROVED by the Danville Town Council at a regular meeting on March 2, 1999, by the
following vote:
AYES: Arnerich,
NOES: None
ABSTAINED: None
ABSENT: None
Greenberg, Doyle,
Shimansky, Waldo
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
CITY ATTORNEY
ATTEST:
CITY CLERK
PAGE 2 OF RESOLUTION NO. 22-99