Glendora Unified Leery of Budget Revision Proposal’s Benefits

While Gov. Jerry Brown plans to allocate California schools $1 billion more than proposed in January, Glendora Unified schools may receive very little of that funding.

Glendora Unified Superintendent Robert Voors said that Brown’s proposed budget revision, which advocates for more stringent new "common core" academic standards and additional funding for English learners, foster students and students coming from low-income families, would actually have a negative impact on the school district.

 Under the proposed budget’s formula for funding, districts with a larger population of these students would receive significantly more funding. Because Glendora Unified does not have high numbers of students in these categories, the district does not expect to benefit from the proposed additional funding.

“However, will still have to adhere to guidelines and possibly new regulations with no additional funding,” Voors said.

Voors said the best scenario the district can expect to see for the following academic year is to have the same funding it saw for the 2012 to 2013 academic year. “I believe, as do many legislators, that this major change in education funding – the biggest in 40 years – should be vetted through the committee and hearing process in an effort to get it right – not rushed through as part of the governor’s budget,” Voors said.

Brown plans to use part of the nearly $4.6 billion windfall the state received in the first 10 months of this fiscal year to fund the additional funding to K-12 education.

The revision also includes a proposed $1 billion to help district implement Common Core Standards, including money teacher training, new materials and technology.

While the district has been able to avert layoffs this year, Voors said the district plans a more conservative approach to spending.

“The district will take a very conservative approach to budgeting considering the uncertainty of real funding for next year,” Voors said. “Our goal is still to do more for education with less State and Federal financial support.”