Spending Tax Money on County’s Schools

The Times poll indicated that Orange County residents want smaller classes and higher teacher salaries. Even if money is available, however, residents cannot be sure that it will be spent in these areas because the public school system can ignore the mandates of both residents and teachers.

Public schools are run by a superintendent appointed by school board members who have only hours each month to devote to education and who are elected by about 6% of the electorate. The board members depend on the superintendent for an assessment of the schools and the superintendent depends on the board for a paycheck.

It’s like hiring a contractor to build a house, then asking him if the house leaks. If you really want to know whether the house leaks, ask the homeowner. If you really want to know if the schools need smaller classes, ask the parents and the teachers, not the superintendent.

Residents of the Anaheim Union High School District voted for Proposition 98 because they believed the money would go to lower class size. The district received $5 million from Proposition 98; yet by cutting 50 teaching positions, the superintendent has made it clear that class size will be the same or larger than last year.

The Anaheim district parent survey showed that more than half of the parents are dissatisfied with the district administration; 96% of the Anaheim teachers voted no confidence in the superintendent. Despite these mandates, not a single policy of the superintendent has been altered.

The Anaheim school board members know the results of the parents’ survey. They know about the teachers’ no confidence vote. How will they decide if the disapproval of parents and teachers is warranted? They will ask the superintendent if the roof leaks.

EDWINA WALSH

Placentia

Edwina Walsh is a teacher in the Anaheim Union High School District.