Here we go again. The Measure Y sales tax, which was advertised as the final tax needed to permanently solve the school district’s fiscal problems, has been in effect for less than two months, and here comes the district again looking for a new tax. There is no amount of tax money that would ever be sufficient for our grossly incompetent school board. Fiscal management is not brain surgery. The school district could easily meet its budget, and restore all of its sports, music, art and drama programs, by implementing the following.
Dramatically reduce the number of out-of-district students, and make pro-rata cuts in number of teachers and administrators. The revenue from parcel tax, sales tax and city grants is fixed. Dramatically reducing the out-of-district students would substantially increase the revenue per student.
Reduce the staff at school district headquarters. Times are tough. The office, management and advisory staff needs to become more productive.
Eliminate social welfare services that have nothing to do with K-12 education. Adult education programs, pre-school programs, after school daycare programs, and breakfast programs should be cut. Providing these services is not the job of the school district. It is the responsibility of the City of Santa Monica, City of Malibu and Los Angles County to provide social welfare services.
Make modest cuts in the salaries and benefits of teachers and administrators. Virtually everyone in the private sector has experienced a substantial cut in salary and benefits. Teachers should not be completely immune to the realities of the current economy. If teachers and administrators lost their union protection and had to compete on the open market like everyone in the private sector, they would be lucky to get two thirds of what they are currently making.
Jeff Segal