At the March 3, 2010 Board of Education Meeting, the Board adopted Resolution No. 10-21 endorsing March 4, 2010, Day of Action - Start the Day for Students and California's Future.

Whereas, California’s public schools and colleges have been left with the fallout of more than $17 billion in state budget cuts over the last two years; and

Whereas, these historic cuts are unlike anything we’ve seen since the Great Depression, ranking California 46th in the nation in education spending – $2,400 below the national average; and

Whereas, drastic state budget cuts have led to larger class sizes and the elimination of vital programs including art, music, career technical education, and physical education; and

Whereas, more than 16,000 teachers, school librarians, counselors, education support professionals and other education employees were laid off in 2009, and thousands more will receive pink slips by the state’s March 15 deadline this year; and

Whereas, compared to national standards, California schools are woefully under administered. Nationally, there is one district-level administrator for every 761 students, in California the ratio is 1 to 2,366. California ranks 49th in the nation for its principal/assistant principal to student ratio, with 1 principal/assistant principal for 447 students compared to the national average of 1 to 306.

Whereas, the state budget cuts have led to cuts to health care for children, poor and working families, and vital social services for our most vulnerable populations — the poor and senior citizens; and

Whereas, March 4 “Start the Day for Students” is part of a statewide day of action when students, parents, teachers, administrators, school board members, college faculty, education support professionals and community members will stand united against the state budget cuts that are destroying the future for a generation of students and the future of California; and

Whereas, investing in public education is essential to the future of this state; and

Whereas, it is crucial to find a solution to ongoing and long-term assaults on public education funding; and

Whereas, those solutions will mean working toward systemic change in government that include changing the state’s tax structure and closing corporate tax loopholes so everyone is paying their fair share in these tough economic times;

Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Fontana Unified School District fully supports the March 4, 2010, “Start the Day For Students” events of the California Teachers Association, its local chapters, the Fontana Teachers Association, The Fontana Management Association, United Steel Workers 8599, Fontana Police Officers Association, the California School Boards Association, the Association of California School Administrators, parents, other education organizations and labor unions to protect schools and other essential services from more drastic state budget cuts; and

Be it further resolved that Fontana Unified School District encourages everyone concerned about public education in this community to join the conversation at www.standupforschools.org.

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