Cotati Rohnert Park Board of Education 1/27/09

On Tuesday, January 27th, I attended the CRPBOE special meeting. This was to share the grim financial status with the public, and to hear the public's opinions.

With a deficit of $6.2million there were two options printed out and distributed. The first (yellow paper) reduced or eliminated staff, increased class size by two, reduced special ed, eliminated middle school sports, and reduced the high school graduation requirements, reduced high school sports budget by 25%, eliminated k-5 music program, limited library hours, and many special projects including counseling, tutoring, and GATE programs. The second included an 18% paycut accross the board, eliminating or reducing some staff, increase class size by two, reduce special ed, eliminate middle school sports, and reduce the high school graduation requirements.

About 30 people spoke from the audience. Many about the music or sports cuts, some threatening to take their students to another district. It was very painful.

Another meeting on 2/10.