Perhaps the district could begin funding the school libraries. I don't think parents, staff and PAUSD board members realize that the district currently gives no monies to the elementary school libraries. We rely on the PTA (and a few other things like book fairs or parents donating at the start of the year.) for our budgets. Some schools receive $10,000 a year and others $2,500. Some of our non-fiction collections are quite out of date!

To support the school board's goals for the Every Student Reads Initiative, librarians should have some money they can rely on year after year to keep our shelves stocked with current, relevant, diverse and engaging books. PAUSD loves to talk about the fact that they have credentialed teacher librarians at each site, but don't financially support our collections. Something to ponder...

When I first read this, I thought this was an April Fool's joke. But wait, it's October. It's good to have some good news in these bleak times.

I think it is high time PAUSD put more thought into getting the students to school. It is no longer just expecting parents to get them there on time with no help from the district. Our schools have grown in size but our streets have not and our traffic has increased. The shuttles have gone, and for approximately half the high school students have to cross Caltrain tracks and often at very busy intersections. Crossing guards, although helpful, do not solve the problem of getting children to school safely. Schools do not stagger the starting bell and the window for students arriving is much too narrow. When schools are close, eg JLS, Fairmeadow and Hoover, there is overlap commutes on busy streets. All schools are bigger than the campuses were originally designed to hold. Too many tardies, even for 1st period, are problematic so chances are taken to get to school on time. All this should stop for the safety of all road users.

It is time to rethink school buses.

I agree with providing some money to each school library, these are great learning centers!
I also think some money should be held on reserve.
Why race to spend money; why not save some and consider future expenditures thoughtfully.

I am thrilled to hear : "Board member Shana Segal asked if math specialists could be added as a consideration."
I had ask about this for quite some time. It makes no sense in a district that is pushing to add advanced math classes when there are students struggling in the basics that cannot get the needed help. There are reading intervention specialists, why oh why can't there be math intervention specialists in the elementary school?
I do hope this is given consideration prior to adding advanced math classes. We are not addressing the need that exists, instead focusing on getting college math classes in high school. Please focus on needs versus wants.
Cecilia

Great news. Glad to see PAUSD ahead of the budgeting curve. Let's hope that this windfall finds its way into the classroom at the end of the day.

@cmarg the math discussion is not about *adding* math classes. It is about PAUSD *canceling* dual enrollment advanced math classes. Those classes were offered by Foothill College at *no cost* to the district. See here for a student-led explanation on that:
Web Link

I am all in favor of providing much more supplemental education for our disadvantaged students. PAUSD’s achievement gap is one of the buying the country by some metrics. PAUSD is rich, which makes it more embarrassing.