4-27-04 Report by Charles Brink to the Education Committee.
The school board has started to listen to the people of Acton and Agua Dulce and has reversed (partially sometimes) its self on four items to try to conform to the communities’ needs.
Initially intended to cancel all class size reduction, but instead reinstated it for grades 1 and 2.
Planned to start school before the AV Fair had its livestock program, thus denying our kids the ability to participate in the agricultural program. Is now reconsidering that position.
Made a decision to close Acton School and relocate half of the elementary kids to Agua Dulce and Meadowlark, without regard to the fact that 2/3 of the kids come from Acton and only 1/3 come from Agua Dulce. - Partial correction, to move the attendance boundaries so less than 100 kids would be shifted to Agua Dulce.
Tried to establish a committee to deal with the "surplus" Acton School, made up entirely of Vasquez High School bond supporters. They changed their minds, and are now doing a public search for committee members.
What the school board has done totally wrong is:
1. Failed to do the necessary work to charge developers the current fee.
2. Failed to look at other money saving ideas that would allow class size reductions in all years, and that needs classes from Acton, which needs to be kept open. Some of the savings, which they have ignored, include:
Reduction of athletics at Vasquez to the state mandated level and having all athletics above the state level funded by community donations and volunteers.
The return of the expensive Scottsman portables from Vasquez and replacement with other portables that are district owned or currently rented from the state at a much lower fee and pursuing the purchase of these portables for a nominal fee.
Turning off unneeded parking lot lights and streetlights.
Many people have commented on recalling the school board.
I think what we need to do is ask them to re-establish CSR in all grades, keeping Acton School open to provide the classrooms and to eliminate any forced relocation of Acton students to Agua Dulce. If they refuse to do this by using the savings listed above, then we have no choice but to replace the board members who refuse to provide for our children’s education and continuing squandering of educational money on expensive rentals, and sports programs exceeding the state mandate.
Acton Agua Dulce Education Committee index
Acton Agua Dulce School District
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