New partnerships needed to shore up school budgets
Editor: We learned today of imminent cuts to core programs at the Sonoma Charter School. It is emblematic of the state of education in California but one would have hoped not in Sonoma. As it stands, Sonoma Charter School will not have a library next year unless we can find someone to sponsor it to the tune of $7,000. We will also not have access to technology, the cost being $11,000 toward the teacher, music comes in at $6,000 or it is reduced to bi-weekly.
How is this possible? How is this fair? Our school funding cannot rest on individuals at the school who simply can’t afford the $180 request per year per child or one more fundraiser added to the many they are expected to support. Moms – many of whom traditionally made up our PTA and spent the year thinking up bake sales and grants – now work full-time jobs and are no longer able to devote time to fundraising.
I am not willing to see Sonoma Charter School lose its core, its soul and educational offerings any school should have. Frankly, we are a middle class and working class school with the highest hopes for our children. We have amazing teachers and administration and have been able to educate the whole child exceptionally for 16 years. We want a school which has art, drama, Spanish, technology and integrated academics and a library. Is it asking too much to have what we all grew up with?
It is time for a new paradigm for our community. We need to support each other to survive and prosper. We are all patrons of the stores, banks, wineries, restaurants and businesses here. We are a major tourist destination. Yet it seems sometimes we care more about the visitor from Walnut Creek than we do our own people. Some people and businesses give above and beyond the call of duty, but all need to do their share. It is time for all businesses to partner with the schools and nonprofits in Sonoma.
It is time to give back. It is the only way our schools can provide exceptional education to our children and nonprofits can provide the services that are needed for our community.
I invite a new partnership between for profit and nonprofit. I challenge each business to pick a school or nonprofit to help support in any way possible. Adopt one. Just one. Every year, make this your philanthropic responsibility. It is a tax-deductible donation. It is our duty. It feels good. You gain and the school and agency gains.
Most importantly it is up to us to be there for the next generation. To educate them to run our world, take care of each other and be able to think outside of the box to get us out of the situation we are in.
For a school or nonprofit, a little goes a long way. Do a small part, do a big part, give a child a place to borrow a book, give the elderly a meal, give a child someone to help guide them through life. It takes so little to do something really big, really life changing. It does not take millions.
Start tomorrow, reach out, and make a commitment … change a life.
Julie Diamond
Sonoma
Jared Huffman: State parks remain vulnerable
Editor: Regarding The Sun article “How oil spill could affect state parks.” While I am pleased the governor backed off his earlier proposal to fund state parks with revenue from increased offshore oil drilling, it is unfortunate it took a disastrous oil spill in the Gulf to change his mind. Although state parks for once are not facing draconian cuts at this moment, parks funding has been dramatically slashed over the course of this three-year budget crisis, including last year’s cuts, which functionally closed many parks and beaches. Parks will remain vulnerable to abrupt funding cuts and closures unless we implement a more reliable long-term funding solution.
Jared Huffman
Assemblyman, 6th District
Investing in Rural Recovery
Editor: After a long wait, it finally appears that the United States Department of Agriculture is poised to roll out the Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program. It’s a new program which will make grants to organizations that provide training, technical assistance or make small loans to new and existing rural small businesses with ten or fewer employees.
There are several reasons why the Center for Rural Affairs applauds this long-awaited, $13 million investment in rural America. First and foremost, because it is the right program to help rural entrepreneurs and their communities contribute to America’s economic recovery. In most rural communities, a vast majority of new jobs are created in firms with fewer than 10 employees. Entrepreneurship is where the rubber meets the road in rural economic development.
Of course, we’re biased too. That’s the second reason we are eager to see the program rolled out. We fought tirelessly to get this program in the 2008 farm bill and to secure funding for it. Our bias emanates from years of experience with rural entrepreneurial development on the ground. We know it works, and we know rural communities across America have much to contribute to the recovery of our nation’s economy.
We applaud the United States Department of Agriculture for finally implementing this program and we encourage everyone to join scores of rural entrepreneurs, economic developers and community leaders who are already following the progress of this crucial program on the Center’s Renew Rural America Web site cfra.org/renewrural/federal-micro-program and have signed up for future updates by contacting us directly.
John Crabtree
Center for Rural Affairs
Lyons, Nebraska