Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/2868
Rural districts score surprise funding with fed bailout F ederal funding for rural schools in counties that hold national forest tracts will not be axed this year, as was expected, thanks to an unanticipated provi- sion in the Wall Street bailout bill. The news comes as a pleasant surprise to a coalition of rural schools and counties that has waged a campaign for the past two years to persuade Congress to ex- tend the funding, but has also been preparing for the elimination of $91.5 million for schools and coun- ty roads. “We were already being hit by the state budget, and for those of us in forest lands, the loss of the federal funding would have been a double whammy,” says Dana Dillon, a CTA Board member who represents much of rural Northern California. “The fact California colleges Continued from page 23 — which is important to im- proving the economy.” Students, besides having fewer classes to select from, may be in store for another surprise: Instructors have been told to limit the number of stu- dents in their classes. Teachers have been told not to pack classes with as many students as can fit into the room (a com- mon practice until now) be- cause the state will not be re- imbursing the campus ade- quately. So students are more likely to be turned away than before. This will no doubt impact the ability of community col- lege students to transfer to that this federal funding came through is huge.” The federal government has been compensating rural counties and schools for their loss in tax rev- enue from national forest tracts since 1908. However, U.S. Forest Service revenues from grazing, timber management and mining have drastically declined since the 1980s, and, along with them, the re- ceipts to counties and schools. The National Forest Counties and Schools Coalition was able to con- vince Congress to continue pay- ments under the Secure Rural Schools and Communities Act in 2000, but those payments were stripped in this year’s budget — un- til the bailout bill was approved. As a result of a rider on the $700 billion Wall Street bailout, counties and schools will continue to receive four-year institutions in a time- ly manner and present huge obstacles to low-income stu- dents pursuing two- or four- year degrees. Even without midyear cuts, the community college budget has not kept up with the de- mands placed on the system and soaring enrollment, says Reel. The budget passed in Sep- tember allowed for a 1.98 per- cent growth in enrollment, but actual enrollment increases were 6 to 15 percent at many community colleges. “We are at a time when laid- off California workers are look- ing to the community colleges for retraining, and we are going to have to turn them away,” says Reel. “We have an obligation and a responsibility to accept everyone, but how can we pre- pare our students without the resources we need to do so?” federal funding for at least another four years. At the end of that time, the coalition will need to present a plan to replace the timber money. “In a rural school, so much of the tax base is tied up in federal for- ests,” says Cindy Brown, co-presi- dent of the Yreka Elementary Fac- ulty Association. “We were losing so much money even without the subsidy from the forest reserves. This will at least prevent further cutbacks.” Brown says her district has al- ready increased class sizes up to 40 students and has been prepar- ing to cut out libraries and the one counselor who contracts with the district. “In my district it’s an additional $400,000, and it really means a lot,” Brown said. Most of the areas that would have been affected by the loss of funding were in the northern part of the state, although rural schools in some other areas, including San- ta Cruz and Mariposa counties, would also have been impacted. As a result, Siskiyou County schools will receive $4.2 million; Modoc County $1.4 million; Trinity Coun- ty $3.4 million; Shasta County $1.7 million; and Tehama County $204,000. Although the amount of funding is to be reduced by 10 per- cent per year, the funding will re- main a significant portion of the schools’ budgets. Dillon hails the extension, but maintains that Congress still has an obligation to provide some re- lief to rural areas in the future. “These lands are still removed from our tax base.” Dina martin SEND US YOUR COMMENTS If any of the stories in the California Educator pique your interest, let us know your thoughts and we may publish your letter. Please include your full name, local association and phone number or e-mail address in the event that we require contacting you. Letters may be sent via mail, fax or e-mail. address: California Educator Magazine CTA Communications 1705 Murchison Drive Burlingame, CA 94010-4583 fax: e-mail: (650) 697-1400 editor@cta.org november 2008 | www.cta.org 33