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PUT ON THE PRESSURE! WRITE
LETTERS! | |
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During what can be
considered the greatest fiscal crisis in recent These cuts will be
devastating to Legislators have been
elected to represent us, and are in a position to affect the governor’s
final budget. In order to PUT
ON THE PRESSURE, we are urging all friends of public education to write to
their legislators.
Constituent letters, if well written, can be instrumental in making
our voice heard in | |
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What constitutes an effective
letter? | |
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Legislators get many
letters. Those that are the most effective follow these
guidelines: •
Address the
legislator appropriately:
•
Introduce
yourself. (“I am a resident of •
If you are
writing about a particular piece of legislation, reference it early in the
letter. Say “I am writing in support of (piece of legislation),” or I am
writing in opposition to (piece of legislation)” or “I am writing to
protest the governor’s proposed budget.” •
Give facts
and reasons to support your thinking, explaining how the legislation or
action affects your school, the district, or your children. (“I support
this because….” Or “In my school district, this is the
effect….”) •
Be
brief. A letter limited to one
page is best. •
Close with a
reminder that you support/oppose the particular piece of legislation or
action. Ask for a timely response. (“For these reasons, I urge you to …,
and I look forward to hearing your views about the issues I have
discussed.”) •
Handwrite or
type your letter and send it through the mail. E-mail messages are less
effective. Always include your name and address. •
Be polite! If
your legislator has been responsive in the past, mention it. (“We
appreciate your support of…. I am hoping that you can also
support….”) •
Although
petitions, cookie-cutter letters or postcards are better than no letter at
all, an individual letter or one with an organizational endorsement will
be more effective. | |
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What are the issues
I should discuss in my letter?
(Updated Feb. 2,
2010) | |
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It is best if all letters
are different and each writer composes an individual letter rather than
copying a “boilerplate” letter; however, we have included a sample letter
at the end of this information. The letter should be personalized as much
as possible, with short but specific examples of how the budget cuts will
affect your school and your children, and why an early decision on next
year’s budget is necessary. Here are some ideas you may wish to include in
your letter: •
We realize
that the state has a huge deficit, and all of us—including education--
must be involved in the solution. We ask that educators be given as much
flexibility as possible in determining how best to allocate the limited
funds we will receive. •
•
The
district’s annual budget was $19 million two years ago, $17 million this
year; the governor’s proposed budget will require additional cuts of $.5
million for 2010-2011. •
To balance
this year’s budget, we laid off or reduced hours for 15% of our
employees. •
Over 85% of
our budget is spent on salaries and benefits. Our district cannot make the
required cuts without cutting critical positions and programs and
increasing class sizes. •
Preliminary
layoff notices will be given to teachers, as required by law, by March 15.
The district must pass a balanced budget by June 30. Most years, the
legislature passes its budget AFTER our June 30 deadline, forcing us to
adopt a budget without knowing our revenues from the
state. •
Programs and
positions already lost because of the budget cuts are as
follows: o
Decrease in
Administrative/District Positions •
Educational
Services (.4 position) •
Assistant
Principal (.5 position) •
Maintenance
(1.6 positions) •
Business
Services (.5 position) o
Decreases in
School Site Positions •
Library hours
cut by 50% •
Elementary
counseling (1 position) •
Middle
school/ high school counseling (1 position) •
Class size
K-3 increased to 25:1 (7 positions) •
Increase
class sizes: high school (3 positions) •
Increase
class sizes: middle school (1.5 positions) •
Decrease
custodial services (1 position) •
Decrease
Special Education staffing (1 position) •
The district
receives approximately 20% of its budget in “categorical” money, funds
designated for very specific uses. It would be helpful if legislators
would present the funds as a “block grant,” allowing districts some
flexibility in spending these funds. •
Voters
approved Proposition 98, a Constitutional guarantee of basic educational
funding; the governor has chosen to “suspend” the guarantee. He did agree
to “fully fund” the Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) education
deserves—but this year the COLA is NEGATIVE .38%. •
The governor
states that he has “protected education” in this year’s proposed budget;
yet he is proposing to take an additional $201 per student---a cut that
will continue on into the future. •
Districts are
mandated to give annual tests to all students beginning in the second
grade; the mandate is not sufficiently funded. Legislators should
eliminate testing at grade 2. •
Special
Education mandates need to be fully funded, or the mandated requirements
need to be reduced. •
Parcel
Taxes: Parcel taxes are one of
the few means for districts to raise funds at the local level. Currently
they require a 66 2/3% vote. Urge support for legislation that would lower
the voting requirement to 55%. •
Equalization: | |
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Who are my
legislators: | |
Governor Arnold
Schwarzenegger
Phone: 916-445-2841 FAX: 916-558-3160 |
Secretary of Education Glen
Thomas
Office of the Secretary
of Education Phone: 916-323-0611 FAX:
916-323-3753 |
Jack O’Connell
State Superintendent of
Public Instruction California Department of
Education Phone:
916-319-0800 FAX:
916-319-0100 |
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Scotts Valley/Santa
Cruz Legislative Contacts | |
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Senator Abel
Maldonado State Capitol Bldg. Room
4082 916-651-4015 916-445-8081
fax |
Assembly Member Bill
Monning State Capitol Bldg. Room
5150 916-319-2027 916-319-2127 |
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Senator Joe Simitian (parts of State Capitol Bldg. Room
2080 916-651-4011 916-323-4529 |
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Senate and Assembly
Legislative Leadership | |
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The Honorable
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The Honorable
916-651-4036 |
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The Honorable Dean Florez Senate Majority
Leader State Capitol, Room
313 916-3651-4016 |
The Honorable Karen
Bass Assembly
Speaker State Capitol Bldg. Room
219 916-319-2047 916-319-2147
fax |
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The Honorable John
Perez Assembly Speaker
Elect State Capitol Bldg. Room
3160 916-319-2046 916-319-2146
fax |
The Honorable Albert
Torrico Majority Floor
Leader State Capitol Bldg. Room
319 916-319-2020 916-319-2120
fax |
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The Honorable Sam
Blakeslee Minority Floor
Leader State Capitol Bldg. Room
3104 916-319-2033 916-319-2133
fax |
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For full
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Where can I get
more information? | |
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EdVoice: a statewide, grassroots organization advocating
for education reform and support for public education. Includes
letter-writing information for educational issues. EdSource: a neutral organization that provides balanced,
reliable information about educational issues and policy. Includes links
to additional sources of information. Its sister organization, California
School Finance, provides balanced information about school
funding. | |