I was recently invited to a fundraiser coordinated by the Kettering Elementary Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Kettering Foundation Chairman Julie Jackson personally asked me to join parents and teachers committed to sustaining the quality of education experienced at Kettering, in light of school budget cuts that will undoubtedly cause Kettering, like thousands of other schools, to reprioritize and identify the most important elements of our children’s education. So I attended…and was thoroughly impressed with what they’re doing.
For Kettering Elementary, one priority is to maintain a strong curriculum in technology and computer science, something thrown out the window several years ago during a different – yet all too common – round of budget cuts to schools, teachers, children, parents, and ultimately California’s future.
It was then that the Kettering PTA, with support from its foundation, began to aggressively raise funds to keep a Technology Teacher in the classroom. According to Fourth Grade Teacher Mary McDonald, “without parents there would be nothing but bare bones.” After interviewing her and several others, it is apparent that this is not merely nuanced rhetoric, but the reality of Kettering’s situation . The Technology Teacher’s salary is 65% funded by PTA fundraising.
It is a reality for these parents then, instead of devoting time to supplemental instructional support, that this PTA is bogged down with the task of fully funding the salary of a teacher. They have no choice; without this aggressive effort the teacher would be gone, and students would lag behind their peers in ability to live and work in an increasingly technological world.
With the current expectations of further cuts for 2009, Kettering Elementary, one of 86 schools in Long Beach, expects even more dramatic scenarios.
Joy Hardwick, a Kettering parent and owner of Spaghettini Restaurant where the fundraiser was held, noted that in addition to fighting for the Technology Teacher, “Kettering may lose its nurse, counselor, and librarian in the coming year.”
According to Principal Kelly Ludden, this education is a “frustrating” one for parents and teachers. “They’re used to supporting the arts, field trips, and enrichment programs, but now are bogged down with funding basic needs already supported by our tax dollars.” She further informs me that due to the economic position of its parents, Kettering Elementary is restricted from receiving Title I funding support – something that is of option for schools with financially needy parents.
With all their troubles and new responsibilities, the Kettering Elementary PTA keeps their collective head high. President Julie Jackson graciously thanked supporters at the Spaghettini fundraiser without attributing blame or venting about government irresponsibility. Julie and the other parents and teachers understand their goal. While this goal may have changed from traditional PTA models, it remains incumbent to ensure a quality education for their children.
If you ask Julie, the elected leaders of the ninth largest economy in the world are uncommitted to educational investment, but her PTA is.
Despite steering the ship to keep the Technology Teacher, Julie is currently spearheading a letter writing campaign to the Long Beach state legislators. She comments that sending letters to Senator Alan Lowenthal is “sort of like preaching to the choir (Senator Lowenthal has a strong record in supporting public schools),” but this step is a necessary one in making our voices heard in Sacramento.
See Julie’s letter to Senator Lowenthal below. To send Julie and the Kettering PTA a message, please leave a comment.
Dear Senator Lowenthal:
I am writing this letter to you regarding the ongoing cuts to the State of California education budget. This absolutely has to stop. Due to the budget cuts over the last several years, throughout California, many basic programs and needs of our schools have been funded by parents. These basic items, programs and support service include classroom supplies, library books, computer software and hardware, playground equipment, custodial supplies, school librarians, reading specialists, technology science teachers, school counselors, school nurses as well as class size reduction. The parents are now at a breaking point and cannot fund any additional shortfalls caused by additional budget cuts.
California has one of the top ten economies of the world – our children deserve to have a world class education. As such, I strongly urge you to fight for the children of Long Beach and California, reject additional cuts to the education budget and urge the Governor to do so as well. Children are the future of our great state and education must be a priority for all Californians.
Thank you for your consideration and service to the City of Long Beach.
Regards.