THAT’S DEBATABLE:

A blue-ribbon panel is about to propose a $6.1-billion plan to overhaul public education in the state; but with a looming deficit up to $10 billion, experts think any major changes that cost money will just be shelved. Among the findings are that the state’s schools are “hobbled in red tape, riddled with inefficiencies and impossible for parents and students to understand.” Recommendations include performance-based pay for teachers and empowering elected superintendents for public instruction. What do you think of some of these recommendations? If there’s no money for deeper reforms, what can lawmakers do now to help schools improve?

There are two separate issues here: the amount of taxpayer money we spend on education and how that money is spent to achieve good results.

Proposing to spend $6.1 billion more for public education when we are facing a $10-billion deficit is irresponsible. Public education has benefited from an infusion of billions and billions of dollars of additional tax funds in the past few years alone.

We can reform public education within our current budgets. Reducing red tape and inefficiencies as suggested by the blue-ribbon panel would save taxpayers’ money. Performance pay for teachers wouldn’t cost any more either – if poorly performing teachers were paid less or fired, something that is nearly impossible to do given the enormous power California has ceded to its strongest union, the California Teachers Assn.

True school reform would free teachers to educate, free superintendents to innovate, and free parents and students to choose from among schools.

Chuck DeVore

Assemblyman

(R-Newport Beach)

To the extent that schools are “hobbled in red tape, riddled with inefficiencies and impossible for parents and students to understand,” no amount of money will fix this. California has increased per pupil spending by almost 70% in the last 10 years, but pupil achievement has not kept pace.

What Californians want is for schools to meet their needs. The Legislature needs to stop micromanaging every aspect of schools and establish a foundation for local school boards, principals and teachers to flourish. In my visits to schools statewide, where I see success, it is often in spite of what we mandate in Sacramento, not because of it.

Tom Harman

Senator

(R-Huntington Beach)

Education should always be an absolute priority, and I feel strongly there is enough waste and inefficiency in our state government that could be cut to enable us to live within our means and still invest in our future.

We are spending more than $64 billion a year on education. What is not acceptable is spending this kind of money and not seeing it translate into real results in our schools.

How can students expect to receive a first-rate education without first-rate learning tools? We need to increase funding for in-class supplies while cutting spending on our out-of-classroom expenses.

It is far better to fund the technology and advancements of the 21st century than a failing bureaucracy of the 20th century.

Van Tran

Assemblyman

(R-Costa Mesa)