Guest opinion

Time for a budget resolution


On Fri., Jan. 23, Ventura County Superintendent of Schools Stan Mantooth arranged for an extraordinary meeting with every school superintendent in the county and each of the elected state representatives from the county.

The purpose of the meeting was to help local legislators better understand the real time impacts the state’s budget crisis is creating for our school districts and specifically the children who are represented by these legislators.

The Democratic representatives were willing to participate; the Republicans were not. The perception of partisanship and unwillingness to engage in any type of thoughtful debate of dialogue is at the core of what has paralyzed our state legislative process and in turn is jeopardizing the education of tens of thousands of Ventura County students. Our children have become hostages to a failed legislative process.

The Democrats in the legislature have made a proposal to address the state’s fiscal crisis. It would result in massive cuts to public education. But it is a course of action and it does provide each of the superintendents within our region the ability to effectively plan for the current and coming years with some level of protection to the students and parents within our communities.

The Republicans have failed to present any type of articulated plan other than to respond that they refuse to raise nay taxes. The failure of the Republican representatives of our community to meet with the educational leaders of our community is an indictment of their ability to represent, much less lead.

Our community must focus on what is needed in order to provide our children with the type of education all of us believe is necessary for success in the 21st century. As California per pupil spending on schools continues to drop to among the lowest in the nation, legislators must be held accountable as to why this is acceptable and, more importantly, how it will be reversed. That accountability must begin with the willingness to listen and develop solutions rather than hide and build obstacles to consensus.

I and the rest of the superintendents in our region stand ready to come back and meet with all of our area legislators. I am hopeful that the voters of Ventura County will signify their desire that every elected representative heed that call. Our representatives need to hear from those whom they have pledged to serve.



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