Colorado superintendents unite in plea for money for K-12 education [View all]

[unhappycamper]

http://gazette.com/colorado-superintendents-unite-in-plea-for-money-for-k-12-education/article/1514693



"There is a lot of merit to the letter. Historically, I have never seen superintendents united like that. Even the Colorado Education Association and Colorado Association of School Boards are on the same side of the letter. Which is pretty historic at the Capitol. And we should really listen," said Colorado State Sen. Scott W. Renfroe, R-Greeley.

Colorado superintendents unite in plea for money for K-12 education
By Carol McGraw Updated: February 15, 2014 at 5:18 am • Published: February 14, 2014 | 8:45 pm

In an unprecedented move, 168 of Colorado's 178 school superintendents - including all 17 in the Pikes Peak region - have asked the governor and legislature to restore vital funding to an ailing education system.

The administrators sent a strongly-worded letter to Gov. John Hickenlooper and legislative leaders earlier this week, underlining that public school funding has plunged by more than $1 billion in four years, creating painful cuts in staff, programs and capital improvements.

The superintendents say that districts remain in a financial quagmire because available money is being withheld, despite a billion dollar surplus in the state's budget, a record balance of $1.6 billion in the State Education Fund for kindergarten through 12th grade and another $1.2 billion constitutionally promised to education.

"The dramatic funding cuts forced painful reductions that have resulted in increased class size, reduced services for children and deferred investment in critical infrastructure needs including safety and security systems," the letter said.