One thing I know is that when my kids were in schools in southern california, every single district down there is plugged into a shameless beggary program. They have people in every single district whose sole purpose is to beg. They beg really well. Students do not pay for buses. Students do not pay for a free lunch or a free breakfast. Students do not pay for after school care. Students do not pay for before school instrument lessons, math tutoring or ESL tutoring. Students do not pay for cheerleading uniforms, or cheer camps. Students do not pay for jazz, ensemble, marching band uniforms, or travel or competitions. Same with football, swim teams, basketball (my children were involved with all the sports mentioned-every single one of them was completely sponsored by big businesses and churches.
They don't care if the money is donated from churches or anti religion or small business or big business. They do not promote the businesses on the campuses or at meets or recitals; either.
The entire idea that parents have to pay for all these things is shocking to southern california transplants. Sure you might be asked to pay for spending money, or in some cases to help with gas money for long trips--but by and large--being a student in southern california really is all about getting a FREE public education.
Northern California schools have been scamming parents for years. They scam teachers and admin, as well.
Schools in Southern Ca have nearly 2x the student body-much older school facilities with real issues like earthquake structural worthiness-yet the students go to school every day, get educated, account for a majority of the state population for school testing annually, and still manage to have perks like sports, music, and art programs.
So do I think teachers should get a pay raise now and again? Sure. Do I think that the school district is seriously misguided in how they handle their money? Abso-fluking-ly.
Whats the answer to the problems here?
Start seeing changes by transporting some of those professional beggars up here and change the atmosphere in the offices at the school board meetings. A humble admin office is one who only makes a hundred dollars more a paycheck than his teachers.
And for pete sake- someone start enacting the new laws about dead-beat teachers. Geesh I wish that had included the admin in its language.