2008 Woodie Awards
Administrators React to Governors State Budget
Ariel Adrian
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: News
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Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's recent state budget proposals have engendered mixed reactions from Citrus College leaders.
In his Jan. 5 address to the California legislature, Schwarzenegger vowed to reform the state's budget system to financially reward good teachers and dismiss incompetent ones.
"...I propose that a teacher's pay be tied to merit, not tenure. And I propose that a teacher's employment be tied to performance, not just showing up," Schwarzenegger said.
"The difficulty with most merit paid plans is that it is tough to come up with objective information for teacher evaluations, said Jackie Goldberg, Assemblymember who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee.
In 1998, voters approved Prop 98 to guarantee school funding formulas.
Under Proposition 98, $2 billion in state funds were due to schools in 2004 but were held back by the governor in an agreement with educational leaders.
Schwarzenegger had said that Proposition 98 funding would be reinstated this year
However, the governor revealed in his proposed 2005-2006 budget, that he would ask for voter consent to amend Prop 98 while again holding back Prop 98 funds from schools.
"He is in a tough spot," said Dr. Viera, superintendent president of Citrus College. "It is unclear how the governor is going to be able to close the $8.6 billion gap," he said.
The proposed budget includes a three percent increase in enrollment growth funding for Citrus College, which the governor said would provide access to community colleges for 61,800 more Californians.
Schwarzenegger said that there would be no fee increase for community colleges in 2005 and I believe that he is sincere in that, Viera said.
In a status report done by the Community College League of California, the proposed budget includes a 3.93 percent Cost-of -Living-Adjustment (COLA) that goes along with the rapidly increasing expenses of doing business in California colleges and shields the quality of the classroom instruction and student services.
In his Jan. 5 address to the California legislature, Schwarzenegger vowed to reform the state's budget system to financially reward good teachers and dismiss incompetent ones.
"...I propose that a teacher's pay be tied to merit, not tenure. And I propose that a teacher's employment be tied to performance, not just showing up," Schwarzenegger said.
"The difficulty with most merit paid plans is that it is tough to come up with objective information for teacher evaluations, said Jackie Goldberg, Assemblymember who chairs the Assembly Budget Committee.
In 1998, voters approved Prop 98 to guarantee school funding formulas.
Under Proposition 98, $2 billion in state funds were due to schools in 2004 but were held back by the governor in an agreement with educational leaders.
Schwarzenegger had said that Proposition 98 funding would be reinstated this year
However, the governor revealed in his proposed 2005-2006 budget, that he would ask for voter consent to amend Prop 98 while again holding back Prop 98 funds from schools.
"He is in a tough spot," said Dr. Viera, superintendent president of Citrus College. "It is unclear how the governor is going to be able to close the $8.6 billion gap," he said.
The proposed budget includes a three percent increase in enrollment growth funding for Citrus College, which the governor said would provide access to community colleges for 61,800 more Californians.
Schwarzenegger said that there would be no fee increase for community colleges in 2005 and I believe that he is sincere in that, Viera said.
In a status report done by the Community College League of California, the proposed budget includes a 3.93 percent Cost-of -Living-Adjustment (COLA) that goes along with the rapidly increasing expenses of doing business in California colleges and shields the quality of the classroom instruction and student services.