Posted on 04/03/2009 11:12:54 AM PDT by NormsRevenge
Among the special election propositions that Californians will consider as part of the 2009-10 budget plan is a measure that puts at odds the needs and interests of two groups responsible for providing much of the preschool education offered in San Joaquin County.
Voters in 1998 approved the 50-cent-per-pack tobacco tax that sends millions of dollars to First 5 commissions throughout the state to pay for health and education programs focused on children 5 and younger.
Proposition 1D, which will appear on the May 19 ballot, seeks to help fill California's gaping budget hole by sending much of that tobacco-tax money to the state general fund rather than to First 5.
In San Joaquin County, that could mean the loss of more than $5 million in funding next year - a roughly 50 percent reduction - for programs that serve thousands of children. Those programs include preschools that were opened in close collaboration with local school districts.
Public school officials have said the loss of First 5 funding would be a discouraging blow to early education. But the situation is thorny. If Proposition 1D fails, their own budgets - already painfully trimmed - will be at further risk.
At a protest rally last month, county Superintendent of Schools Rick Wentworth was critical of a California budget that has led local districts to issue hundreds of layoff notices, scale back services and, in some cases, shutter campuses. The ballot measures that have been proposed to bolster an already shaky state spending plan aren't necessarily palatable, he said, but ultimately, educators likely will give them reluctant support.
Jim Thomas is deputy superintendent for business services at the county Office of Education.
"It's a hard, hard thing to do to support this proposition that we know is going to take programs away and hurt kids, hurt employees," he said. "Yet the state has relied on this as a part of their solution to keep the cuts to education in general from being any worse. There is no right answer."
Over recent weeks, First 5 officials have been developing contingency plans that mean drastically curtailed spending should Proposition 1D pass.
A possible scenario for next year is that organizations receiving First 5 money - to operate preschools, offer smoking-cessation programs, promote prenatal care, prevent child abuse and train child-care providers, among a wide range of other services - would all see their funding cut by more than half.
"I think in this budget, there's no easy answer," said Lani Schiff-Ross, executive director of the local First 5 office. "And I'd love to meet the person who has the easy answer. I wouldn't believe them. ... Knowing that there's no easy answer, we all need to be working together. How can we all share resources? Sometimes with less money comes more creativity. No one likes it, but they understand."
At a First 5-funded preschool in Weston Ranch on Thursday morning, Denise Morland led children in an activity that helped her gauge their ability to estimate volume.
A box of sand, an empty bucket and a measuring cup were set on a table. Morland asked a little girl how many scoops of sand she thought it would take to fill the bucket. The girl guessed 10. They counted together: "One. Two. Three..."
In 2004, First 5 awarded the Manteca Unified School District, which serves Weston Ranch, a $3 million grant for preschool programs. The grant has helped support Manteca Unified's ambitious plan, unveiled later that year, to provide free preschool to every 4-year-old in the district.
"We think, of our incoming kindergartners, 46.8 percent will have been enrolled in an MUSD preschool program," said Nancy Leal, who oversees school readiness for the district. "It will be very disappointing if we have to move back."
First 5 money funds 16 preschool classes in Manteca Unified. (There are other public preschools in the district that have different funding sources.) If Proposition 1D passes, there will be seven; that means, of 384 First 5 preschool openings now available in Manteca Unified - these are openings that serve families who don't qualify for state preschool, Head Start or other free early education options - only 168 will remain.
Administrators have not decided which schools would lose First 5 preschools, and Leal said they are investigating ways to keep classes open.
First 5 programs throughout the county are confronting similar cuts.
A recent poll from the Public Policy Institute of California shows Proposition 1D just shy of the majority it needs to pass.
"Part of getting through it is not to take it personally," Schiff-Ross said. "If Proposition 1D doesn't pass, there will be ripple effects elsewhere."
and it is deja vu again too.. I guess... the legislators have done it before, re-directing funds to cover their sorry arses and still do.
when they get done no one will not have been raped by their blatant financing a socialist utopia at any expense to serve as the fruits of their misguided labors.
People don’t need “early education” anyway. Pre-school aged kids should be raised at home. If the parents can’t do that, they shouldn’t have kids. We’ve got everything backwards. Let the government raise your kids for you and they will be indoctrinated into the governments way of thinking.
I dont know much about this program, but keep in mind, there are some really poorly skilled or capable parents, so this my well be a good program and saves money in long term, (say prevents a repeat of first grade). however like all government programs, eventually it will be bloated, corrupt, ineffective, and wasteful.
Typical Liberal pattern, cut the children first, then police, fire, hospitals, library hours, etc.... yet City staff runs along at full steam, politicians receive their pay, fancy cars, and bribe money, the bribed union contracts still go thru on wasteful projects.
Situation normal.
I hear ya. In principle, I don't like them redirecting funds from a previous initiative.
On the other hand, taking money away from Rob Reiner's First5 operation warms my heart.
(Hey... what ever happened to all of those allegations of wrongdoing and malfeasance -- was anyone ever charged? Was the money returned?)
In torn on this too.
I find it amazing that our forefathers built this country without such programs. We need to take a step back and get back to the basics. Early education is control of the minds of the kids.
Agreed. It stinks.
I dont know much about this program...
First5 is a program run by the liberal meathead, Rob Reiner. If you scroll back to the keyword index, you will find that there was a large controversy involving the misuse (and disappearance) of funds in the mid-2006 time period.
Redirecting funds from a voter approved intiative turns my stomach. Taking away funds from Rob Reiner warms my heart. Call me conflicted. ;-)
I'd be interested in knowing more about where the funds are proposed to go. That may end up being the decision point for me.
Are kids dumber or smarter after going through this program or is it just another make work venture to increase union membership for locking up more votes for the left. I see stories from time to time that more kids are dropping out before graduation...
I really don’t follow education issues that closely so I don’t know the answer to your question. I suspect that they do some good for a small minority that really need help but that the vast majority of it is a waste.
I object to Rob Reiner’s program because I see it as a movement to create universal preschool and put children at the mercy of these leftists who want to model their young maleable minds so they grow up to be good little liberals.
I remember the battle over FF but my worldly experience tells me anything bureaucrats get involved in suffers greatly. Schools are a good study as more regulations and mandates come out of Sac and the non teacher payroll grows to feed the beast...
You are very wise! ;-)
“Those programs include preschools that were opened in close collaboration with local school districts.”
“Pre-schools”, so that Marxist indoctrination can begin sooner and offset the early learning of values from mom and dad.
In central California the I5 Program almost exclusively serves the needs of the children of illegal, Mexican aliens. Some of these children are viewed as US citizens by contemporary, US District Court rulings and others are clearly Mexican nationals.
In our county, First 5 has provided core funding for 10 family resource centers throughout the county (6,300 square miles of mostly mountainous terrain.) The centers provide parenting courses, play groups, nutrition education, Path 1 early child abuse intervention (it is a voluntary program.) Home visitation services may be provided.
A new parent kit is given and welcoming contact is made with every new parent. Pregnant women are encouraged to get prenatal care and dental care. Some family resource centers offer special teen parenting courses and hold a community baby shower to connect young parents with support and resources.
Families in need of help are given emergency food and shelter or are referred to services provided under various programs. For instance, they found speciality services for a child who was profoundly deaf. First 5 provides incentives for early child care providers to attend college and courses in their field.
Our First 5 funds dental screenings and restorative treatment for children under 5. (They found that some children did not see a dentist until they were in high school and had severe problems. There is no medi-Cal dentist who will do children’s restorative work for hundreds of miles.) They also sign up eligible families for Healthy Families Insurance.
Fisr 5 funds kidergarten boot camp to acclimate children to kindergarten and to make sure they are prepared. For instance, pre-school teachers will meet with the kindergarten teachers to make sure there is a smooth transition. A school bus will pick up parents and kids at a summer event and take them to the school. The children will visit their new school room and meet their teacher. Each child will get a special backpack with supplies.
Personally, I think our local use of First 5 money is well spent. We have been able to leverage the money to get additional grants for our communities and it has provided us with an infrustructure to deliver other services locally.
Can’t stand Mr. Reiner, but this is a good program.
i’d give to a church that provided these things for kids, but not the government
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.