Education spending will almost double per student by 2020 in San Benito County if Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget is put into effect, according to state representatives.
The governor released his 2014-15 budget earlier this month, highlighting the state’s recommitment to education spending, among other priorities, after spending years in the midst of fiscal crisis.
Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, called the education increase “huge” and a “home run” for the district and the county.
“We usually get left behind,” he said. “There’s a huge inequity.”
However, with the governor’s proposed budget, both the Hollister School District and San Benito High School District would receive significant increases in spending per student. With the newly enacted “local control funding formula,” or LCFF, which was enacted in 2013 by the state legislature, the state will consider funding based on demographic profiles of students instead of the current system, which relies on more tightly defined categorical groups to provide funds through “revenue limits.”
“It really has that flavor of local control,” said Mike Sanchez, the superintendent of the San Benito County Office of Education. “It’s just not something you’re turning into the state.”
He said the “projections are positive” about the amount of dollars that will be sent to the county. He said the projections were “exciting.”
For the Hollister School District this year, according to figures released by Cannella’s press office, the average amount spent per student will be $6,206, a 5.7 percent increase from last year. But by 2020, the average amount spent will be $10,393 per student, a 67.5 percent increase. The same amount will also go to San Benito High by 2020.
“LCFF changes the accountability compliance,” said Sanchez. “It moves more to accountability and local needs measured against goals you put in your LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan).”
LCAP requires that local and county school officials come up with a plan to better improve education in their districts – and their plan must involve parents, businesses, teachers and students in any decision making.
“One of the things I really like about it (LCAP) is that a lot of groups will be involved,” Sanchez said.
Assemblyman Luis Alejo, D-Salinas, said the budget means the state is on the right track economically – and education spending priorities can be restored as a result.
“Certainly, some of the major aspects (of the budget) will have a very positive impact on San Benito County,” he said in an interview with Free Lance. “K-12 schools and universities are big winners in this budget.”
He said $6 billion more will go toward schools and universities in this year’s budget compared with the previous budget.
“Our schools should have more resources to provide better education to our kids,” he said.
