California..

It used to be the golden state, with beautiful beaches, cheap housing, plentiful jobs, great schools, excellent infrastucture and Americans moving in in droves.

The potential seemed limitless, and when California grew so much that it alone became the world's 6th largest economy, well then the dream that was California was indeed golden.

The shine is off now, isn't it? Look at the list...

Crowded freeways and long average commutes
Crumbling infrastructure
Internicine warfare in Sacramento
Closing hospitals
Failing schools

California now spends almost 50% of it $100 Billion annual budget on education. Over 80% of these funds go to salary and benefits of teachers, administrative staff and support staff. We spend more in per pupil funding that ever before, we receive more federal dollars than ever before and yet, here we are. 50% of California high school grads need remedial help when they get to California universities.

We need solutions - not protests. We need leadership, not legislation. And we need to get to work!

What does it take to run a school financially?
How are books and supplies purchased?
What grants are available?
How can we better evaluate success?
How can we more successfully spread successful programs that work?
How can we get more people at the table?
Should we start over???

As taxpayers and parents, these are our kids in our schools. What would you do to bring them up to par?

Excellent schools that turn out educated and thinking adults are the future of our state. How do we get there?

What say you?