Cupertino needs to have Schools represented on City Council

By Homer Tong

State financial crisis will eventually cause our schools to be distressed. Homer has financially viable solutions for getting the City to take on extracurricular programs, etc.

Cupertino is all about its high performing schools. Real Estate prices are still strong because of the desirability of living near our schools despite foreclosures elsewhere.

The State, where the vast majority of school funding comes from, is in the midst of its worst financial crisis. School districts throughout the state are laying off teachers and closing school sites.

However our schools remain solvent due to good school boards management and money from parcel taxes. But the elementary schools averted a teacher layoff last year because residents raised $3M for them. Our schools are hanging on a thread of parcel taxes which will not last forever. Eventually our schools will become distressed like most Statewide.

Economic recovery will be slow. In the meantime we cannot allow our schools to fail. The consequences will be less brighter futures for our children and plummeting prices for houses, a recipe to disaster.

City Council is currently represented by businessmen and high tech interests; not one is an educator. Homer Tong has decades of experience helping to manage a $100M budget school district and manage strategic plans for district wide programs. Homer has the experience, passion, and contacts to fill that void on City Council and lead the city to effectively and proactively devise solutions to help save our schools.

An example of his vision for helping save schools:

He wants Parks and Recreation to take on extracurricular programs to replace those most at risk of first being eliminated. This includes athletics, arts, music, drama, dance, science projects, etc. The city would not need credentialed teachers but could use some hired laid off teachers and a lot of volunteers.

There are already many residents who tutor students. They can be pulled into this program and still be paid by parents but have proper facilities which they will pay a fee to maintain. Underutilized school facilities could be used. The city has many highly talented and distinguished members who could be called upon to help. Parents could be required to put in so many volunteer hours per child to have their kids participate. Seniors are among the most underutilized resource that could volunteer to help. Programs could be run at far less cost than running them in schools.

This example is just to whet the appetite. Homer can make such complex programs successful and models for other cities to follow.

For more information go to: http://homerforcupertino.com