Like most of the Nation, Stockton, California is facing many difficult fiscal issues. One of those areas of concern is the Stockton Unified School District. To help tackle the multimillion dollar budget gap, SUSD is looking for the Stockton Teachers Association for sizable concessions. Jim Thomas, deputy superintendent of business services for the San Joaquin County Office of Education says, "I don't see any way how Stockton can stay solvent without the concessions they're asking for."
The proposal includes enlarging class sizes, shortening the school year and a 10.7 percent pay cut." Stockton Teachers Association President Ellen Old said, "That's pretty much a jaw-dropper!"
Stockton Unified's chief financial officer Jason Willis comments, "We've been dealing with the budget using a lot of one-time solutions. To some degree, we have run out of money in the piggy bank."
That's three different aspects of the same circumstances. All have validity and all have value. It's pretty clear that wherever your closest attachment is likely to be the position that one might be expected to take. It might be, however, that we will all have to make concessions in the years to come ... as painful as they may be .... To point out and paraphrase Mr. Willis' comment again ... "one time solutions" just don't seem to be doing the job!
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