TheFoothillsForum

Not having any kids in S-T school system anymore and still following education-How are our schools doing? Testing OK? Less vandalism?
Sports, arts still taught? How are the budget cuts affecting our schools?

I've been a teacher in the valley for a very long time (same region as s-t). Budget cuts are affecting many programs-mostly the arts, music, and sports. The biggest change imo is the lack of daily floor sweeping and vacuuming. There's a plant manager during the day but the night crews now rotate in pods. i'd say once a week sweeping is the norm. I do it and have taught my classroom monitors how to sweep everyday-last 5 minutes of class. I brought my own vacuum for their rug that they sit on. That's so I can vacuum myself everyday. School was also cut by 4 days last year due to finances.

If it wasn't for all employees agreeing to 10 furlough days, class size would have increased (primary from 24 to 30), after school playground would have closed in 2012-2013, school libraries would close because librarians would be laid off, and all ece (early childhood ed) centers and adult ed would have closed. Our superintendent and governor have threatened if the $300 parcel tax doesn't pass in November, the above will be cut plus more. I'm sure that I've forgotten other cuts but I do remember the ones I've listed. Other districts in California as well as other states are also in a budget crisis. I've read about it in my California Teacher magazine and my National Education magazine.

Test scores have been going up but the scores for last year are not out yet. You can find those scores in the paper when they come out as well as lausd website. We will be working with CORE standards this coming year. They are national standards that all 50 states will follow. Lots on the web about those too. Hope this has answered some of your questions.