Dear Editor,
I’ve been waiting for a chance to bring this perhaps forgotten
topic that deals with the amount of money contributed to Gilroy
School District by the California state lottery back to the front
burner. I have the utmost respect for teachers and it irks me to
read that our teachers have to spend their own money on class
instructional material.
Dear Editor,
I’ve been waiting for a chance to bring this perhaps forgotten topic that deals with the amount of money contributed to Gilroy School District by the California state lottery back to the front burner. I have the utmost respect for teachers and it irks me to read that our teachers have to spend their own money on class instructional material.
Here is my complaint with the district. Does anyone remember Proposition 20? Does anyone remember what percent of the lottery money was supposed to go to schools and for what purpose?
Gilroy school district has received $18,322,313 total from 1985-2003. The total for 2002-2003 is $1,124,678. This is not pocket change. Seeing reports like this and knowing teachers that have spent their own money on classroom material really burns my rear. Allow me to reintroduce everyone in the school district to Proposition 20.
Prop 20: California State Lottery. Allocation for Instructional Materials. Legislative Initiative Amendment
• Amends Government Code section 8880.4 which provides that at least 34 percent of the total annual state lottery revenues shall be allocated to benefit public education.
• Provides that beginning with 1998-99 fiscal year and each fiscal year thereafter, one-half of the amount of the share allocated to public education that exceeds the amount allocated in fiscal year 1997-98 shall be allocated to school and community college districts for the purchase of instructional materials.
• The funds are distributed on the basis of an equal amount per unit of average daily attendance.
Summary of Legislative Analyst’s Fiscal Impact:
• In the near term, tens of millions of dollars in annual lottery revenues that go to public education would be earmarked for instructional materials. Amounts earmarked in future years would depend on changes in the level of overall lottery revenues.
So why are the teachers spending their own money for classroom instructional material?
David Kaeini, Gilroy
