Reporters, keep digging! We're learning something new every day. In tonight's San Mateo Times, John Horgan's column was called "Monetary Morass". He reports that:
…not all trustees voted in favor of the precarious budget. One board member, Peter Hanley, tried to ring the alarm bell…that's because the budget [that was approved in late June] indicated a minuscule ending balance of barely $215,000. Hanley urged an immediate cap on health care costs and a $1.4 million boost in the reserve. It didn't fly. The board members voted 4-1 to OK the new budget. The rest, as they say, is history.

– Written by Joanne

Many are saying that the SMUHSD is a wonderful "teaching opportunity" for our kids and a way for them to learn "real life lessons". But what is being taught and what are the lessons?

– Written by Joanne

Letter to the Editor in the Daily Journal from Nels Johnson, English Teacher, San Mateo High School

"I am an English teacher at San Mateo High School, but I am writing this on behalf of the assistant principals in our district. Seriously. It is a tough time for our APs, who, because of the $3.5 million district deficit we are facing, now have the double burden of evaluating new teachers then firing them thereafter. It is APs who will have to figure out a way fill the various positions left vacated because of the cuts, as they become quasi-deans, counselors, librarians, and even computer technicians, just to keep their schools afloat. As our district's 12 APs find themselves directly in the line of fire at their school sites, facing angry parents and trying to maintain order in chaos, they will undoubtedly envy the comfort of their brethren at 650 N. Delaware St.: the various managers, directors and associate superintendents who inhabit the district office. More than half of our district's management budget goes to these off-site administrators. Ten of the district's directors and assistant directors are paid at the same salary range as our APs (top step $125,852); two others make nearly $15,000 more. The superintendent has suggested cutting one, smaller manager position, but all of his proposed cuts leave the higher paid directors and managers intact.

As the certificated (teachers) and classified (aides and support staff) endure the vast majority of these cuts, each of our schools will be affected directly and dramatically. Yet, at the district office, far from the classroom, there is no talk of collapsing or eliminating any of these costly director's positions. If I were an assistant principal, I'd feel pretty insulted."

– Written by Fiona

San Mateo County Times, Saturday, September 23, 2006 by T.S. Mills-Faraudo
…Teachers at the Thursday meeting said the district would have saved money if it hadn't started the seven-period day program at the high schools this year…But district officials deny that that's the culprit of their budget woes.
In fact, the district has 12 fewer teachers this year than last, said Mark Avelar, associate superintendent of instruction…

– Written by Joanne

Burlingame Daily News, Saturday September 23, 2005 by Will Oremus
…On Friday, Johnson took on a number of the claims leveled against the district by speakers at the meeting, such as the oft-repeated allegation that the implementation of the seven-period day earlier this year put the district in a financial hole.
"The seven-period day is not the culprit in this," Johnson said. He said the extended schedule, designed to give students more options, was implemented by reshuffling teachers, not spending money from county coffers.
"If we were to stop now and say, 'Oh, it was a mistake, let's take it out,' we would immediately have to fire 16.6 teachers," Johnson said, "and if we do that, we are going to have to close some classes."
Childress [The Union President] conceded that point Friday, but noted that the shuffling of teachers led to staffing reduction that has now put teachers in a much tighter spot.
Also, Friday, San Mateo County Superintendent of Schools Jean Holbrook refuted a claim that Johnson had implemented the new schedule over the recommendation of a committee she chaired, which had advised the distrit to fund the change through a parcel tax. Holbrook said she was just the committee's facilitator and had no role in its recommendation…

– Written by Joanne