Formal Paper 1- Prop 30

There’s a lot at stake this fall. The defeat of Proposition 30 will trigger about $5.5 billion in spending cuts at the state level, most of which would come from education. We need to understand that more cuts will destroy what we’ve been doing that’s been working. How can we stabilize the situation and have the ability to not go through every year with layoff notices, larger classes, cut classes, cut number of school days per year and cut services.  During the last four years 38,000 teachers were let go in California. 

As a parent of a 10 year old student I have seen class sizes increase dramatically, faculty laid off, bus services cut back, classroom supplies cut, school classrooms and play grounds dangerously deteriorate and the number of school days per year decrease. 

As a college student, I have seen first-hand the effects of our state education cut backs.  The number of classes offered has largely decreased consistently over the past three years.  Every department has had to cut staff and are currently running on part time employees.  The library, tutoring staff, administration, financial aid, student affairs and list goes on.  Our class sizes have increased and our instructors and school staff are completely over worked.  Yet they stay committed and determined to continue educating.  I am amazed everyday by their dedication.

How can we expect our graduates to step out into the world, be competitive in a global economy and help ensure that our communities and country prospers? Isn't our community going to be dependent on these and other students to run our businesses, medical facilities, public safety agencies, schools and universities in the future?  Everyone in California needs to contribute and be part of the solution, instead of putting the burden on teachers and parents.  If Proposition 30 were to pass, it would increase the sales-tax rate by one-fourth of a cent for the next four years. For the next seven years, it would increase personal income-tax rates on upper-income taxpayers. Individuals with taxable income of $250,000 or more, and joint filers at double that level, would pay an additional marginal tax rate of at least 1 percent.

Education is the key to our state and countries economic success, and the key to our children's futures. Every day there are thousands of students working hard to educate themselves in our county's K-12 system, at Cabrillo College, UC Santa Cruz and throughout our state. I see that these are very challenging economic times, but we should be outraged about what is happening to our schools.  We need to support our students…these children are our future!