Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed cuts to education haven't gone into effect -- but the state's top education official says they're already hurting schools anyway. This week school districts are required to send notices to teachers who would be laid off under the governor's proposed $4.8 billion in cuts.
State Superintendent Jack O'Connell says schools are struggling.
O’Connell : Just in terms of the morale -- these March 15th notices, and many districts already taking actions to eliminate summer school this year, in anticipation of summer school not being funded or perhaps the budget resolution not being addressed.
O’Connell says many school administrators are already slashing services in anticipation of the cuts. However, Democrats have made it clear they won't support any spending reductions for education -- and they control the legislature.
Democratic Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez is proposing a tax on oil companies to help fund teachers’ salaries and avoid layoffs.
Governor Schwarzenegger has said he'd consider eliminating some tax breaks -- or “loopholes” as he’s called them. But Republican lawmakers are dead-set against that.
