Dear EBRPSS Supporters,
Last week's school board meeting of six hours was not long enough to get vital details on budget matters for next school year. There will be another special meeting this Thursday. Try to attend in person with a mask or watch on the link below. Write to your school board member and about some of these expenditures and cuts.
Ms. Lopez, a chief financial officer, did NOT provide the details on how federal emergency ESSER dollars were spent. The federal government does not send a check ahead of expenses; it reimburses districts after the receipts are carefully scrutinized. Ms. Collins was adamant about getting these details. Mr. Gaudet and Mr. Lanus were too busy cheerleading the discussion and the Pathways to Bright Futures program to demand details. Follow the agenda on the link below and open the document to see the millions that this program will cost. The program will be funded with emergency funds, which means that there is no long term funding mechanism. Not only that, the director of literacy chimed in with statements that LEAP does not really measure reading levels; therefore, it is alright to have students who scored Basic or Approaching Basic take college level classes. Who wants to email the LA Department of Ed and ask why students have to take LEAP?
Meanwhile, TRANSPORTATION is being cut by 2.5 million dollars. How many of you would like shorter routes for students? on buses that run well? that are air conditioned? with drivers who get good salaries? How does this budget cut reflect the alleged desire for equity in EBRPSS? Are you aware that families need to opt in to get a bus for their children?
The head of human resources stated she wants "happy employees [who] stay around..." However, reassignments of faculty continue. There is a reduction of clerks and dean of student positions in this budget. Faculty raises are allegedly scheduled to be given over the next three years. Figures like 10 to 12 percent salary increases were listed. However, stipends have not been made across the board to all employees. Persons on leave to take care of newborns were excluded from the stipends. If Narcisse's cabinet cannot deliver on the promise of a stipend, how will they plan for these raises? Reducing faculty and staff necessarily means increasing class sizes and work loads as well as offering fewer options in levels (foundational, honors, AP, etc.) and specialized classes. This is not a good trade off. We do support increasing teachers' salaries but lack faith that this administration will lead us to that goal.
Lastly, there is a big push reflected in the budget to place young children on a career pathway. Narcisse stated that "kids are trying to get into a pathway to become something." We all agree that an education eventually leads one to a career so that one can flourish economically; however, early and middle childhood are not the ages in which to push a child onto a rigid pathway. Many adolescents and young adults change jobs and interests as they mature and make new discoveries. People blossom at different ages and exposure to multiple options is good for development. What we do in life matters, but we are human beings, not human doings. Pay careful attention to the type of pathway you select or support.
Mary