Where Do Coronado Schools Stand?
1. California ranks 48th out of 50 states in per student funding.
2. Next school year, with the new funding formula, Coronado schools will be in the bottom 8% of funding within the county.
This is simple math that creates a real need for our schools. It is not about “fiscal insanity” by the school district. (The only thing insane is the expectation that our schools will be great with those funding levels)
Is the success of our schools their downfall?
Coronado had the highest graduation rate in the entire county (98%) in 2013. We have excellent schools! Our superintendent and high school principal won awards for being the best in the San Diego and Imperial counties. From the outside, you couldn’t really ask for more.
However, there are schools within 5-10 miles of Coronado that have half that graduation rate. The state cares about fixing that problem more than they care how “fair” it is to this small town. That is the whole point of the new funding formula.
This NBC news piece showcases this juxtaposition with the relief that San Diego Unified is experiencing next year as our district has to hand out pink slips to our teachers and staff, the soundbite at 0:58 says it all:
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/video/#!/on-air/as-seen-on/Layoffs-Approved-in-Coronado-District/248485291
Our town, our schools and our kids need us to protect them and their education. The state isn’t coming to the rescue and voting no just to “stick it to the state” doesn’t hurt anyone but ourselves.
I appreciate the education I received in Coronado and I hope to give the same to my children one day. I will be voting Yes on E.
