Education Update: Nuview Union School District

      In the last month the Superintendent and board in our district has voted to layoff 17 teachers (20%), 59 classified staff (including all of our busing department), they are considering increasing the no busing radius from 3/4 mi to 1.5 mi for elementary and 1 mi to 2 mi for middle school, considering 9 furlough days for teachers, and only considering furlough days/cuts for administration IF the tax initiative does not go through in November. 

     We are a small district with 2000 students (4 schools K-12). We have no sidewalks, and recent checks on the the Megan's Law website indicated that we have 11 REGISTERED sex offenders within a 1 mi radius of one of our schools. With a recent attempted abduction of a young girl within 1block of her school, SAFE TRANSPORTATION should be a concern for all of us.

      At the last board meeting we called for our board of education and administration to unify us as a community, that includes parents, teachers and classified staff, by making cuts across all departments equally, including administration. We suggested that we eliminate all outside consultants and use the expertise of our own employees for such areas as financial/budget planning and contract negotiations. We asked that the board and the superintendent put together a resolution in support of the November Tax Initiative so that the community can be well informed of their options for supporting education. We asked that they also rectify any top heavy salaries since we devote 7.87% of our budget to administrative salaries as compared to the 5.5% average that other Riverside County districts have (per CTA data submitted to the county). And finally, as we are a public entity that should spend every cent entrusted to us for kids on education in the classroom, we requested that the district spend down our reserves to the 3% mandated by law.

     With all the cuts it is hard to keep spirits high, especially regarding the support of administration. Many in our community are unhappy with the actions of both the administration and the board. We must go on….and beyond. That means that though we are small, we are not too small to have an impact on a larger level. If you have not already done so, I encourage you to contact your legislator in person, by phone, or letter. Our state leaders are:

Governor Jerry Brown

c/o State Capitol, Suite 1173
Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 445-2841

Senator Bill Emmerson
5225 Canyon Crest Drive
Riverside, CA 92507
(951) 680-6750

Assemblyman Paul Cook
34932 Yucaipa Boulevard
Yucaipa, CA 92399
(909) 790-4196

  While many of my fellow parents are working hard to equalize the situation locally, we can all do our part to influence the support of education. I know that we are not alone. So many parents are out there in other districts facing similar problems. It is up to us to make a difference. A few brave souls are good, but thousands are much more difficult to ignore. We need everyone to tell their story and make their local needs known. Talk to your family, friends and neighbors. Tell them the dire situation our kids are faced with now and for the future, as cuts are projected to continue on for the next 3-4 years at minimum and are in the billions of dollars. We are already at bare bottom and now we are cutting essential functions of the schools and classrooms. Further cuts will harm the potential of our children to hold meaningful employment, attend college, and pursue dreams. Who will carry our country forward if not them? Who will stand up for them if not us?

      

Opting Out of the State Tests ..... Here's How: Send this letter to school

Give this letter to your Principal: 

Dear Mr. ________________________________(Principal) 

Please accept this letter as my request to excuse my child, __________________________, from participation in all state testing. This is my right under §60615 of the California Education Code.
I understand that it is an educator’s professional duty to assess the learning of students and I fully support our teachers, our principal and our staff in doing so. This request is not intended to restrict professional assessment by the classroom teacher to which my child is assigned. I am exercising my right to opt out of the state assessments because the continued budget cuts to education demonstrate a lack of support for student learning in the classroom. This must change, children's learning must be supported with proper funding, safe transportation, adequate and updated materials and smaller class sizes. If it is not, I will not support state testing. 

Sincerely,