Facts, Finances and the Pool (041509)

Facts & Finances I have recently come to realize that the finances surrounding the pool are still not clearly understood by many Coronado residents. Recent inquiries prompt the following comments; my goal being to clear up questions so that we can begin a dialogue, separate and apart from pool issues, about overall funding shortfalls related to California’s deficit. FACTS: 1. Taxpayers are not and will not be asked to subsidize the pool. 2. There is no connection between a “parcel tax” and the pool. NONE. Never was. 3. The pool is an asset owned by the district and funded, completely, by outside sources. 4. Anyone associating a “parcel tax” with the pool is either misinformed or misleading. FINANCES: Due to the budget fiasco at the state level, our funding has dropped since January and will continue to do so into at least next year – to the tune of $1.3 million. For the sake of comparison – our district has cut a total of $1.5m over the past 5 years. At this point, we, as a community, need to raise revenues to the schools just to maintain our current, lower levels of staff, programs and services. This is fast becoming a nightmare situation. PLAN: There will be a survey conducted over the next week to help the Board gauge the community’s thoughts about school funding. I would not like to see that data muddied by uninformed or ill-intended comments and appreciate this issue being brought to my attention. Please participate in the survey if you are called. It is relatively short, about 10 min, will leave you better informed, and will provide essential decision-making information to the district. I invite you to contact a board member or the superintendent with your thoughts, questions and concerns. PERSONALLY: I, for one, am tired of being at the mercy of Sacramento. It’s time to create some independence from unpaid mandates and state and federal limited funding. It’s time to assert local control in educating our children. CONTACT INFO: Board members and the Superintnendent can be reached by logging in to the district website at www.coronadousd.net and click on “Governing Board” or “Superintendent” in the Contents section. Please feel free to comment here, by email, or by phone. [email protected] (619) 522-8900 x1025 (619) 843-0147 – cell Thank you for your time and attention to this issue. Representing this community is both a service and a privilege for me. WE ARE BETTER TOGETHER