SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION: STATE SCHOOLS CHIEF JACK O’CONNELL COMMENTS ON PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS AND CATASTROPHIC IMPACT ON EDUCATION

FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

November 06, 2008

CONTACT: Hilary McLean
PHONE: 916-319-0818
E-MAIL: hmclean@cde.ca.gov 


            SACRAMENTO – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell made the following statement in response to Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts:

“California’s fiscal condition is dire and all individuals, families, businesses, and institutions must tighten their belts and make sacrifices during these difficult times. Our public schools already have absorbed $3 billion in cuts that have directly affected students. From Siskiyou County to San Diego, districts have spent reserves, reduced staff, eliminated transportation, or increased class sizes over the past difficult year. 

“The Governor’s proposed additional $2 billion in cuts to K-12 education would not only create catastrophic disruption in our schools and harm to our students in the middle of the school year, they would damage our future economy. I applaud the Governor’s efforts to stimulate our state’s economy and his willingness to consider new revenues as well as budget cuts. I strongly urge the Republican members of the Legislature to follow his lead so we can protect our schools and the future workforce of our state.

“Nothing is more critical to getting our state back on track than investing in a well-educated workforce. Unless we continue to improve upon our efforts to close the achievement gap, our state’s economic outlook will remain bleak.”