Letters to the editor

First-responders short-changed

What galls me (as it should us all) is the fact that our first-responders are making cuts because of a commodity that should come to them at a "base" price (instead of inflated retail-pricing).

Our military, police, rescue and fire departments are seeing bankruptcy because they can't afford to do their jobs (as guaranteed post-9/11). Our school districts are closing down bus routes (when it should be easier for children to attend their schools).

Why are the gas companies allowed (yet again) to steal our precious tax dollars at the expense of our most vital resources? The above-mentioned nonprofit entities and our military should be receiving this vital lifeblood at no profit to the oil companies.

And it should be done with those companies' complete and utter gratitude.

- Robert Pasch, Fair Oaks

Foster care needs full funding

Re "Foster care cuts challenged," May 4: Kudos to The Bee for reporting on those who will be the most affected by the governor's proposed budget cuts: foster children.

The governor's cuts will deprive foster children of the quality care and services they need to succeed and thrive. Children and youths in foster care remain the most vulnerable population in our state. We must work to support them in every way we can.

To that end, California is engaged in numerous new successful efforts to improve their lives and assist their families. We must sustain our progress. There is still a long way to go and much at stake.

Just last fall, the governor stated, "Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and permanent home, surrounded by the nurturing influence of family and friends. It is California's goal to ensure that this happens for all our young people, and especially those in foster care." To do so, we must stabilize our funding and avoid any cuts to the care of foster children.

- Carroll Schroeder, Sacramento

Executive Director, California Alliance

for Child and Family Services

Charter schools' worker rights

Re "Time to professionalize charter school practices," May 4: In order to professionalize charter schools, the first prerequisite is to employ professionals. When a school is managed by those who have no knowledge of education law and mandated requirements, then problems will arise.

Parents who enroll their children in charters often do not know the difference between a district-managed charter and an independent charter.

Collective bargaining is frequently the process that charters want to dodge by becoming an independent charter and primarily for the purpose of paying employees less than negotiated agreements.

If charters petition to be included on a district Web site and in publications, then the school should also provide a salary schedule, job descriptions and other aspects regarding working conditions and qualifications of employees at the schools.

Districts have this information available to the public on Web sites, but many charters do not.

Employees who are represented by a union are guaranteed due process before termination. Employees in a charter may be "at will" and terminated for any disagreement with administration.

- Linda Tuttle, Sacramento

President, Sacramento City

Teachers Association

Who pays for charter schools

Re "Time to professionalize charter school practices," editorial, May 4: The writer of the charter school editorial obviously does not realize that Kevin Johnson's charter schools, PS-7 and St. HOPE, are using Sacramento City Unified public monies to educate children who do not live in the Sacramento City Unified School District.

The schools are in Oak Park, but they serve families as far away as Elk Grove and North Highlands.

Because of the extended day-care opportunities, parents who work downtown – but who do not live in the area – bring their children.

With layoffs, one-month furloughs without pay for hundreds of staff members at year-round schools, increasing classroom size from 20 to 33 students, and doing away with arts programs, approving and giving money to any more of Kevin Johnson's semi-private schools for children who do not live in SCUSD's boundaries is criminal and would warrant a grand jury investigation of the district's fiscal practices.