SCHOOL DISTRICT BUDGET CUTTING PLANS PROMPT TWIN PETITIONS

Monday night's budget bombshell from the school district that the proposed 2016-2017 school district budget includes the loss of 20 staffers -- including 10 teachers -- and major reductions in resources ranging from new textbooks to training to library needs has prompted at least two online petitions demanding a different approach.

One petition, titled, "Cut Costs Don't Cut SOMSD Teachers," states, in part:

We the undersigned believe that a good public education for all of our students is one of the most important things we can provide to invest in our future as a community.  We also understand that there are often obstacles and difficult decisions need to be made when it comes to keeping costs under control and to keep resulting tax increases to a minimum.  That said, it is alarming to see recommendations for cutting teaching staff when our district’s class sizes are already at the upper end of where they should be.  We contend that every avenue must be exhausted before we look at cutting teachers or deferring capital improvements to our crumbling buildings.

See that petition HERE.

The second takes aim at expected library cuts, declaring, "Save The SOMSD School Libraries." 

Its message says:

It has recently come to our attention that there is a proposal by the administration to  eliminate a number of school librarians. This means that the students and educators in our schools will no longer have access to a library staffed by a full time certified librarian at all times during the school day. It has also come to our attention that there will be cuts to the libraries budgets meaning a reduction in the amount of book and materials that the libraries will be able to provide the students in the district. We, the undersigned, feel this is a grave mistake for the future of our children.

See that petition HERE.