Police in Schools, Adult Ed Budgeted for Next Year

The West Contra Costa school district has tentatively budgeted funds to preserve police officers in El Cerrito schools and adult education programs, including those serving senior citizens in El Cerrito, school district officials said Tuesday night at a joint meeting of the school board and the El Cerrito City Council.

Appeals to save the programs came from several community members who spoke during the public comment period at the meeting at El Cerrito City Hall.

Classes for older adults

Councilwoman Janet Abelson was among members of the council and school board who also voiced support for retaining the programs.

On classes for older adults, Abelson called them "much needed." She said she's spoken to different senior groups in El Cerrito a number of times, adding, "One thing they've consistently told me across the board is how vital to their well-being those services are."

School board president Charles Ramsey responded, "It's in the budget. It's funded. ... We're one of the few districts in the state of California to fund senior programs." He said it's difficult for board members to understand why they are continually lobbied to save the program when the board remains committed to preserving it.

"I think it's because it's been reduced," Abelson said, adding a "thank you for not reducing it any further. I know that these are very difficult times."

Police officers in the schools

On saving the three School Resource Officers from the El Cerrito police department in the local schools – two at El Cerrito High and one at Portola Middle School – Abelson said the introduction of the officers at the high school in 2005 has significantly improved safety at the school.

"I can't speak highly enough of the positive difference that it made," she said. Violence was so prevalant that she didn't feel safe in the halls, she said.

"We understand safety comes first," Ramsey said. "So we fully funded throughout the school district, not just El Cerrito, but Richmond, Pinole and Hercules. So we have a steadfast commitment to ensure that our campuses are place were kids can learn safely," he said.

The school district has paid for these School Resource Officers in the past but gave notice last year that it may not continue funding them past June 30 this year. El Cerrito has been keeping three vacant positions in the police department in order to be able to absorb the cost of paying for these officers if the school district funding is not renewed.

The district has funded officers at several schools in West County cities — El Cerrito, Hercules, Pinole and Richmond. The district sent notice of cancelation of all its contracts that subsidize officers in district schools, not just those in El Cerrito.

After last night's joint meeting, schools Superintendent Bruce Harter told Patch that school district funding for the currently funded officers in the district is included in the working budget for the upcoming fiscal year. He noted that the budget is not final until the school board officially approves it in June.

City Manager Scott Hanin told Patch after the meeting that the city considers the district's intent solid enough, so that the city is proceeding to hire police officers to fill the three vacancies in the department.

Schools parcel tax on June ballot

Harter also gave a presentation at the meeting on Measure K, on whether to extend and increase the current parcel tax for schools. He said the district has endured draconian cuts in excess of $40 million in the past five years.

Measure K would not make up for the cuts, since it would generate only $4 million extra a year, but it would nevertheless make a substantial difference by allowing the district to preserve its current class sizes and librarians and improve teacher recruitment and AP course offerings, Harter said.

He said the tax would cost the typical El Cerrito homeowner "a little more than $3 a month" in addition to what is currently being paid.

The current tax, first adopted by voters in 2004 and renewed with 79-percent voter approval in 2008, is 7.2 cents per square foot of building area and is due to expire June 30, 2014. The new tax would be increased to 10 cents a square foot, effective July 1 this year and last five years. Seniors would be exempt.

WriterCoach Connection program

Following several speakers who asked for support for the program, in which community volunteers work one-on-one with students at the high school and middle school, Councilwoman Ann Cheng asked if Measure K funding could be used for the program.

Harter said the district tries not to spend money that it doesn't have and indicated that the express purposes of Measure K do not include the writer-coach program.