NUSD's Clinton Confronts Governor about School Funding

Novato school board president Cindi Clinton had a captive audience in Sacramento on April 1, including Gov. Jerry Brown.

In a rare if not unprecedented meeting, the California School Board Association Board of Directors welcomed the governor along with state Finance Director Ana Matosantos and Sue Burr, Executive Director of the State Board of Education.

School board association members questioned Brown's budget proposals, including the debt service shift and a second straight year of potential cuts. CSBA directors pointed out that schools have suffered $20 billion in cuts and deferred state apportionments in the past four years.

Clinton, CSBA director for Region 3 and trustee from the , questioned Brown’s approach to weighted student funding. The governor’s 2012-13 budget proposal would implement a new paradigm for distributing education revenues.

“You say the weighted student formula will hold districts harmless, but in Novato and other districts in my region, after the first year we will see fewer dollars. Can you explain this to me?” Clinton asked.

Brown offered CSBA to meet with his administration on those budget issues, and CSBA President Jill Wynns accepted.

“I do believe the governor is willing to listen to our concerns," Clinton said. "After my question, he asked his finance director if it was true, that districts could receive less money; she confirmed what I said was true but stated that some districts would receive more money. The governor agreed to sit down at the table to discuss the issue with the CSBA leadership. This is good news!”

After the meeting, Clinton talked to Brown and shared with him the difficulties NUSD and other schools are facing because of the budget cuts, including laying off teachers.

"The message I want to get out is that the governor’s initiative will not bring new money to school districts, and even if it passes districts throughout California will be making cuts to programs," said NUSD Superintendent Shalee Cunningham.