Priorities Misplaced: How Leadership Failures Are Hurting Our Students
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Priorities Misplaced: How Leadership Failures Are Hurting Our Students 〰️
The Real Cost of Mismanagement: How Franklin-McKinley's Children Are Suffering
The Franklin-McKinley School District is facing a crisis, and it’s the students who are bearing the brunt of mismanagement by the current school board. Instead of focusing on raising academic standards and supporting teachers, the board has diverted attention to secondary issues, leaving students behind. Here are some of the biggest challenges and how they are impacting children in our community.
Declining Academic Performance
Test Scores: Franklin-McKinley schools rank in the bottom 50% of California public schools. With only 29% of students proficient in math and 37% proficient in reading, students are struggling to meet basic educational standards. Over the last decade, student performance in Science (80% below grade level), Math (73% below), and Reading/Writing (65% below) has consistently declined.
Neglect of Core Educational Resources: Mismanagement has led to funds being diverted from essential academic materials. For example, $50,000 was spent on Nintendo Game Boy switches for after-school programs, raising questions about prioritization when students lack basic educational resources like books and learning aids.
Focus on Non-Essentials
Spending on Non-Essential Programs: Rather than focusing on enhancing core subjects or investing in teacher support, the district has allocated $250,000 to an unproven distance-learning math tutoring program, and tens of thousands more are being used for after-school programs teaching gender roles—a subject many argue should be addressed by families and communities instead of the school system.
Prioritizing LGBTQ+ Programs Over Core Subjects
LGBTQ+ Mandates: The board has imposed mandatory LGBTQIA+ events, requiring all students, even those in Transitional Kindergarten (TK), to participate in events like Pride Month, National Coming Out Day, and Transgender Day of Remembrance, without parental consent. This additional focus has led to overcrowding the curriculum at the expense of essential academic subjects, contributing to the continued academic decline.
Ignoring Cultural Relevance: With over 60% of the district's community being Hispanic or Filipino, the board's decision to overlap LGBTQ+ History Month with Hispanic and Filipino Heritage months has alienated significant portions of the community, further eroding trust between families and the school district.
Misguided Financial Management
School Closures and Property Misuse: While student enrollment continues to decline, the district is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on surveys and land testing for a potential school site on Communication Hill, a project that has yet to materialize despite years of investment. Meanwhile, there are ongoing discussions about closing existing schools—disrupting students and their families.
Proposed Property Tax Increase: A $191 annual property tax increase is on the ballot, despite record-high per-student spending of $23,715, compared to the state average of $19,801. This increase has not translated into improved student performance or conditions, and taxpayers are being asked to fund a failing system.
Key Figures Contributing to Mismanagement
George Sanchez: A board member for 30 years, Sanchez has overseen the district's decline, approving decisions such as the 0% teacher raise, and contributing to the prioritization of non-educational initiatives over academic performance.
Milan Balinton: Appointed after losing the general election, Balinton has supported initiatives like placing feminine hygiene products in boys’ bathrooms and adding LGBTQ+ observances without adequate parental consent or community input.
Teacher Compensation and Support
Teacher Salaries: Despite a nearly 4% increase in the cost of living in Santa Clara County, the current board approved a 0% pay raise for teachers over three years, while senior management continues to receive salary increases, with Superintendent and Cabinet members set for a 5% raise next year. This lack of support and recognition for teachers is contributing to lower morale and high turnover rates, negatively impacting the students.