Recalling the status quo in education
By ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER EDITORIAL BOARD
Teachers, administrators and parents were naturally upset when they took to the lectern at the Santa Ana Unified School District board meeting last Tuesday to address the issuing of pink slips to 287 employees.
Most of those pink slips went to educators, and a number of teachers who received the notices, or knew a teacher who received a notice, spoke of the good work they and their fellow educators are doing, and how harmful the cuts would be to their schools. But, somehow, the only board member who voted against issuing the pink slips also seemed to be receiving most of the blame.
The teachers took exception to board member Cecilia “Ceci” Iglesias on two counts: first, for having the audacity to suggest that pensions and salary increases contributed to the district’s financial dilemma, and second, and perhaps more heinous, for being a willing opponent of the entrenched special interests in education and an advocate for greater parental choice.
One pink-slipped teacher suggested that the school district was a family, and that Iglesias’ support for allowing parents to send their children to schools other than traditional public schools “is not what family does.”
It is a telling example of how entrenched educational special interests are when those who suffer under it prefer to shoot the messenger. But the facts are clear. The district has opted for salary increases for school employees to the tune of $32 million. In contrast, the amount of money being saved by cutting 287 educators comes out to just $28 million. Teacher pay has jumped 16 percent over three years.
As for Iglesias’ support of charter schools, let’s be clear: Charter schools are public schools. They just aren’t the public schools you’re used to — and that is entirely the point. The educational status quo has failed too many for far too long.
But Santa Ana’s teachers union thinks Iglesias’ views are such a threat that they make her worthy of recall, and it has called on parents to throw her out of office. Iglesias’ only crime seems to be holding views counter to that of the union.
We could use more people like Iglesias on our school boards. We call on parents to reject any recall.
Once again one sided reporting. Charter schools may be “public schools” but they are allowed to discriminate against English learners, students with disabilities and any student who misbehaves. How is that the same as your public schools? They also force the local public school district to provide all services for students for free to the charter while taking money for the student from the school district.
They also do not have to tell you how much they are paying their staff, the charter founder or how much profit they are making that does not go back to educating the students. Non profit versus for profit but you claim they are the same! Really?
You are lying. In fact all you are doing is passing along union spin. I raised a son who greatly benefited from special ed – offered by a charter school after the regular SAUSD schools were too lame to help him.
There are also plenty of charter schools in town that offer dual immersion classes in both English and Spanish. Again more lies from you!
As for misbehaving students I am glad the charter schools are tough on them. Why let a few bad seeds ruin everyone else’s education?
By you trying to educate us on education, you need to first educate yourself on punctuation
At least Cecci is trying to help children improve a Unionized School system that cares more about teachers that students. Thank you Cecci!!!
Charter schools are privately-run schools financed with public (taxpayer) funds. They are not required to hold open meetings like traditional public schools do. They are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act that public institutions are. Monitoring of charter schools is haphazard at best.
Meanwhile, even the California Charter School Association sponsored CREDO longitudinal study reports a 0.07 Standard Deviation effect size for attending a charter. Considering the much greater effect size of such interventions as reduced class size, psychotherapy programs and classroom behavior programs, attending charter school to improve your education is a FALSE choice.
I like how these comments are biased and false, just like most comments coming from the left. I also like how this blog tries to be honest, unlike anything you’ll see on mainstream news. I just thought I would come in and say thanks for a more honest reporting of news, even though I disagree with you many times.
Thanks! I appreciate the kind words.