Despite the passing of legislature which allows California school districts to participate in the federal Race to the Top educational reform program, the majority of those in Siskiyou County have made the decision not to.
“We’d be committing ourselves to quite a number of obligations that we felt weren’t good,” Siskiyou Union High School District superintendent Mike Matheson told board members during their regular meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 13.
“For a limited amount of potential resources, that are, at this point, unknown, we felt it wise not to participate.”
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed several bills into law on Jan. 7 which made California schools eligible to compete for $4.35 billion in grants as part of the Obama administration’s program.
In order to receive grant funds, school districts would have to commit to a number of reforms, some of which would involve bargaining with teacher’s unions, Matheson said.
Requirements such as merit pay for teachers whose students perform well, tying student test scores to teacher evaluations, new standards and the need to purchase new textbooks to meet those standards are a few of the regulations which would be difficult and possibly expensive for small school districts.
“At this point, we have a great relationship with the bargaining units,” Matheson said. “To be at odds with them at this time wouldn’t be in our best interest.”
Matheson added that the SUHSD was not alone in the decision to forego the program.
“No districts in Siskiyou County, as far as I know, signed the [memorandum of understanding to participate]. Everyone expressed the same concerns... there are just too many unknowns.”
Castle Rock Elementary, which lies in Shasta County, will be participating in the program, said superintendent and principal Mark Telles.
“Many of the requirements [of Race to the Top] are things we already do,” Telles said. “Of course, it’s just a process right now. The state needs to put in its application and have it funded. A lot of states are going for it, and we don’t know what our chances are.”
However, if California is lucky enough to obtain the grant, Telles said it would be a big advantage for Castle Rock.
“Right now there’s not a lot of sources of income, but we do have a lot of expense. With budget cuts at the state level, we need to do all we can to provide revenue streams, especially in these financial times.”
