[News abstract] In unusually tough language reflecting the
Hollister School District’s deep financial problems, the County
Superintendent of Schools warned administrators and the board of
trustees that the district is on the verge of a fiscal crisis
because of a
”
leadership breakdown
”
and
”
inadequate budget development,
”
among other problems. Next year, the district will not have near
enough money left in its coffers to meet the 3 percent minimum
reserve for economic uncertainty required by the state
[News abstract] In unusually tough language reflecting the Hollister School District’s deep financial problems, the County Superintendent of Schools warned administrators and the board of trustees that the district is on the verge of a fiscal crisis because of a “leadership breakdown” and “inadequate budget development,” among other problems. Next year, the district will not have near enough money left in its coffers to meet the 3 percent minimum reserve for economic uncertainty required by the state.
No, that’s not yesterday’s story; it’s a news story from the Hollister Free Lance dated August 2005. Finally, after more than six years of financial mismanagement and unheeded warnings, the district has come to the end of its rope. Now they want local taxpayers to bail them out even though they have not been able to get the employees to agree to the deficit reduction plan.
Measure A, the vote on the proposed $96 a year parcel tax by the Hollister School District is two-weeks away and the supporters have spent a lot of time, energy, and money to boost the measure and rig the election, which is the norm these days. Where were they during those critical six years?
The district, with the help of a paid consultant, picked the date for the lowest possible turnout, the most persuasive wording for the ballot, and incentives for seniors to stay home.
School funding is driven by the politics of self-interest. The HSD is a big local employer with about 260 certified (credentialed) and 250 classified staff, all hauling home paychecks and benefits amounting to about $40 million a year and they get to vote on whether or not you will pay for years of their reckless spending. Almost all of them who live in the district will be voting yes on Measure A – and so will their spouses and significant others – and so will their friends and relatives. Vote yourself into a pay cut? – not in this lifetime.
There have been some small reductions and buyouts, but buyouts are not cheap, they are nothing but windfalls for irresponsibility. The district ran through all the red lights – now they shamelessly hold the school programs hostage. Doesn’t anyone on this nation take their fiscal responsibilities seriously anymore?
“The majority of voters feel the District provides a good education,” states the consultant’s report; that’s blatantly untrue. Only 6 percent of those surveyed felt the district provided an excellent education. Thirty-percent rated the district’s quality of education as good; 31 percent rated it as only fair and 17 percent rated the district poor or very poor. In the same survey, a whopping 45 percent thought that community schools were “headed in the wrong direction.”
Thirty-six percent is excellent or good is not a majority, and 48 percent fair or poor is not a vote of confidence. I wonder if anyone at the district took those numbers seriously because the Measure A proposal does not commit to improving education.
The district did make a deficit reduction plan, but it appears they have not been able to get it implemented. The key element was to get employee concessions of $950,000 a year for two-years. Without those reasonable concessions, the plan is only a hollow shell and we’ll still be “headed in the wrong direction” only faster.
The district employees – especially the teachers and administrators – have been the primary beneficiaries of the overspending for years, now is the time they should forego their self-interest for the benefit of the students. I’ve seen this movie, the plot never changes and the end is always the same; more expense – less accountability.
Marty Richman is a Hollister resident.
