2008 Woodie Awards
Legislators Discuss Education Challenges
Eryn O'Neal
Issue date: 2/9/05 Section: News
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For the fourth annual Educational Summit held Thursday in the Campus Center, State Senator Bob Margett, R-29th District, assembled a panel of education leaders and legislators from Sacramento to address the challenges faced by California's schools.
President/Superintendent of Citrus College, Dr. Michael Viera, welcomed the audience.
Dr. George Mannon, Superintendent of Glendora Unified School District acted as the Master of Ceremonies.
The Educational Summit discussion opened with remarks from each legislator.
Senator Jack Scott, D-21st District, opened with his concerns about funding for California's schools. "Fasten your seatbelts, we're gonna have a long and bumpy ride," he said. "Public schools have some real problems,"
"Schools have problems with diversity and per pupil spending," Scott said. " California spends $600 per pupil below the national average. We are forty-third in the nation,"
Assembly member Jackie Goldberg, D-45th District, cited California's economic prosperity and noted how that money is not going to public schools.
"We are the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world," she said. "It is not okay for us to have the second largest classrooms in America."
Assembly member Lynn Daucher, R-72nd District, addressed the fact that California has a budget crisis. "We have a budget crisis in California that I can't ignore, it's my job to fix it and move the state along in a positive way," she said.
"We have choices that are not necessarily easy," she said. " We couldn't raise enough taxes to fix the problem, that's not the answer. Dealing with budget cuts and tax increases is not an easy situation."
Assembly member Bob Huff, R-60th District focused on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plans fro education.
"The Governor's reforms are on target, but they do not go far enough," he said. "We still face serious challenges in the state."
The school board members followed with the issues that they felt were important.
The first to speak was board member Bruce Carter.
President/Superintendent of Citrus College, Dr. Michael Viera, welcomed the audience.
Dr. George Mannon, Superintendent of Glendora Unified School District acted as the Master of Ceremonies.
The Educational Summit discussion opened with remarks from each legislator.
Senator Jack Scott, D-21st District, opened with his concerns about funding for California's schools. "Fasten your seatbelts, we're gonna have a long and bumpy ride," he said. "Public schools have some real problems,"
"Schools have problems with diversity and per pupil spending," Scott said. " California spends $600 per pupil below the national average. We are forty-third in the nation,"
Assembly member Jackie Goldberg, D-45th District, cited California's economic prosperity and noted how that money is not going to public schools.
"We are the fifth or sixth largest economy in the world," she said. "It is not okay for us to have the second largest classrooms in America."
Assembly member Lynn Daucher, R-72nd District, addressed the fact that California has a budget crisis. "We have a budget crisis in California that I can't ignore, it's my job to fix it and move the state along in a positive way," she said.
"We have choices that are not necessarily easy," she said. " We couldn't raise enough taxes to fix the problem, that's not the answer. Dealing with budget cuts and tax increases is not an easy situation."
Assembly member Bob Huff, R-60th District focused on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's plans fro education.
"The Governor's reforms are on target, but they do not go far enough," he said. "We still face serious challenges in the state."
The school board members followed with the issues that they felt were important.
The first to speak was board member Bruce Carter.