San Lorenzo Valley District officials, as well as teachers, are honest about their goal of getting more funding. Teachers there have been left behind, and the goal is to get them more money. A big part of the problem is the complex and often inequitable method of funding school districts. Although schools receive a variety of funding in a variety of ways, the biggest portion comes from property taxes and is based on a formula that takes into account schools' average daily attendance. But in reality, the funding is inequitable and it varies from district to district.
Some wealthy areas do much better than poorer areas, but the system is more complicated than that.
Santa Cruz County is suffering because high housing prices have driven away families with school-age children. That cuts down on the average daily attendance, and the community is less able to support its schools. Obviously, the system of funding schools isn't working. We have serious doubts about the proposed charter-school plans in each of the districts. San Lorenzo Valley seems to be rushing into its plan, because it needs one in place soon so it will get funded by next fall.