We are now learning that the Mariposa County Unified School District was audited by the Kemper CPA Group, and the district is budgeted to have a 13.2 percent reserve. That’s $2,466,371 dollars. You can find this information on page 135 in the Jan. 21 board packet. And yet, the very people who make the school district function on a daily basis are going to be asked to give up more of their paycheck.

CSEA believes this is ridiculous and grossly unfair to the dedicated hard working folks who keep this place going. Classified workers provide the teachers and the students with an environment for a successful educational experience. Classified workers transport and feed our children, clean, fix, and maintain the classrooms, buildings, grounds and busses, order and receive supplies, process enormous amounts of state mandated paper work, assist the administrators, manage the school libraries, help the teachers educate in the classroom, test and maintain the water supply, and a myriad of other important tasks. Classified workers do essential work that literally keeps the school district running.

What is a reserve for anyway? It is to help an entity get through tough economic times. I would say that we’re in rather tough times, wouldn’t you?

CSEA believes that layoffs and/or more furloughs are not only not needed, but cruel to the very people who can afford it the least. Layoffs and furloughs would also reduce services to our children which would not be fair to their educational experience. This district needs to invest in the people who take care of their students and teachers. Classified workers have families to care for also and they have the right to the American dream as well. And remember, classified workers aren’t just school employees. We’re members of the community, parents with children enrolled in the school district and tax paying citizens as well.

So, you have a choice. Invest in your workers or let the services dwindle and down grade our children’s education.

CSEA will not stand idly by and watch our educational services continue to deteriorate without some form of action.

Mariposa #609 CSEA