Thread by @hamill4pv

I just had to sign a declaration to the State of California explaining why we had to deprive students of three days of instructional time at Miraleste due to power failure. We have REPEATEDLY explained our dire facilities needs to the State legislature, and they do not care 1/12

School districts in California receive the majority of their funding from state allocation of tax dollars. The state uses a formula (called LCFF) to allocate money. PVPUSD receives the lowest amount of funding b/c we're "higher income" 2/12

For facilities funds, in order to tap into state funding for capital projects, districts have to provide a local match. That local match is done by passing a local bond. Districts that have been unable to pass a bond have been unable to access capital facilities funding. 3/12

Long story short, the method of funding school facilities is inequitable because it relies on the ability of a local jurisdiction to pass an additional tax, and each district has a different limit for the amount of revenue they can raise via bond. 4/12

Most problematically, in districts like ours, where we have dilapidated buildings, failing plumbing, electrical, and heat, flooding, and other massive infrastructure problems, the state tells us we're on our own. They will not give us any money. I've asked directly. 5/12

Why should ANY child in this state be forced to sit out of school due to facilities failure? Does it matter where the school is located? Local wealth DOES NOT translate into facilities dollars. Our kids are suffering because our state government does not understand this. 6/12

As part of his plan to cut the budget and address the multi-BILLION dollar deficit, Newsom just decided, in conjunction with our legislature, to CUT SCHOOL FACILITIES FUNDING. 7/12

Not only are we on our own for a local bond, but now the state matching money may not even be there. In the meantime, we can barely keep some of our schools open due to infrastructure failure. This is criminal. Your tax dollars are taken and reallocated to other districts. 8/12

For example, if certain legislators are able to convince their colleagues that a certain district is in need, somehow the state manages to cobble together emergency facilities funds. 9/12

But @BenAllenCA and @AsmMuratsuchi told us that the State WILL NOT HELP PALOS VERDES. I believe it was Muratsuchi who phrased it as a "bail out." 10/12

We're not seeking a bail out. We are simply asking for functioning, safe school facilities for children using the tax dollars we pay in Palos Verdes. How much income tax does the state receive from the Palos Verdes Peninsula? Where is it going? 11/12

I am beyond enraged and at a loss. If you want to talk about what we can do to help our kids, please reach out. We need a wide range of perspectives and ideas to fix this crisis. 12/12