PARTICIPATION was GREAT at GEA's before school 'Informational Picket' on March 4th!

UPDATE: Pictures are now available here.

GEA members from all Grossmont schools prepared for bad weather AND wore their "Students & Teachers Our Priority" Red T-shirts; making clear that the district's reserve "earmarks" should be re-prioritized for the classroom.

Five hundred parent fliers were distributed at every site explaining that two worlds exist in terms of the economic crisis in education.  Though some districts have negotiated take backs due to very low reserves for 2009-2010 (San Diego Unified and Sweetwater) others have not reached agreement, and are still negotiating (Poway, Oceanside, and Chula Vista). The Grossmont District is in much better shape compared to most districts in the State of California (Sup. Collins told GEA leaders in September 2009).

• The Grossmont District's Ending Balance for 2008-2009, reported in the District's September 2009 Unaudited Actuals* -- $32 million (becomes the starting balance for 2009-2010).
• The Grossmont District projects an ending balance of $23.4 million in June 2010 -- with no change to salary and benefits for GEA members (Slide 35-36, GUHSD January 28, 2010 Budget Workshop*).
• The Grossmont District has a "reserve of the reserve" in the 'Materials and Supplies" fund of $16,082,659, which is $11,489,760 more than what was spent in 2008-2009 on 'Materials and Supplies' (comparisons of the Unaudited Actuals & Interim Budget report*).
• Why is GUHSD spending $2,780,497 more on consultants in 2009-2010 ($10.77 million) compared to 2008-2009 ($7.99 million), (comparisons Unaudited Actuals, Interim Report & June Budget for 2009-2010*)?
• Why is GUHSD spending millions of dollars on new computer programs (ED2020, NWMA Assessment Tool, and more)?
• Why is GUHSD predicting a decline of 500 students in 2011-2012 (which would result in an underestimation of ADA) when GUHSD enrollment has been growing over the past few years (Slide 16, GUHSD January 28, 2010 Budget Workshop*)?

* District budget documents and reports are the sources for the above data.

Keep informed.  Check GEA-ACTION.org for future updates.