How Will Eureka District Cuts Affect Your Child's Education?

When I was in elementary school, some of my favorite school days took place in the library.

I loved the days when our class would trek down to the school library and the librarian would read to us. She always had a way of bringing the story to life with her voice. Looking back, I'm sure that's when my love of reading and writing began.

For some children, their passion for music and sports start at school. But what happens when those activities are no longer offered? How can a student be expected to be well rounded in arts, music, athletics and other activities when those programs are cut from the school day?

For me, it's hard to imagine a school without a librarian, school sports and music. But that may become a reality at Eureka Union School District. The district's board of trustees voted on March 7 to issue layoff notices to all district librarians, according to Eureka Schools Foundation President Warren Holt in a letter to the community.

Holt's letter asks the community for help in funding district programs. According to Holt's letter, they need to raise more than $700,000 to maintain all of these programs for next year.

Can you help? Make a donation to the Eureka Schools Foundation Annual Giving Campaign here.

Read Holt's letter here:

On Wednesday night (March 7), the Board of Trustees of the Eureka Union School District voted unanimously to issue layoff notices to all district librarians, technology support staff and two music teachers. Other ESF-funded programs, including junior-high athletics, will not be offered next year unless ESF was able to pay the full cost of those programs, the Board of Trustees decided.

“While we are extremely disappointed that the Board of Trustees does not place a higher value on these key programs, we are confident that our community will rise to the occasion and see that our children will not be the ones to suffer because of their choices,” said ESF President Warren Holt.

“We appreciate the gravity of the cuts that the Board of Trustees is making, but we feel that as a community we must respond by saving the programs that are a crucial part of a quality, well-rounded education and part of what separates our district from others in the state. Checking books out of the library, playing on a school team, and accessing a computer every day are things that our children should not be deprived of because of bad government decisions,” Holt added.

ESF is in the midst of its Annual Giving Campaign. ESF is asking local business, parents, and other members of the community to all make a tax-deductible cash donation to support ESF-funded programs. “We are asking the entire community to be part of the solution to the state’s continued lack of regard for public education”, Holt said.

“The bad news is that we face a serious problem as a country and state in that our elected officials are not adequately funding public education,” Holt said. “But the good news is that at the local level we have an opportunity to be part of the solution because we refuse to let bad government decisions derail our children’s future.”

For the current school year, ESF is providing over $550,000 to cover enrichment programs, including libraries, technology support, music, band and choir, junior high athletics and Spanish language education. ESF also is providing over $30,000 in cash grants to the district’s seven schools and pays for a summer training program for district teachers. The total cost of these programs is $165,000 more than what ESF was able to provide this year, Holt said. “Given the actions taken by the Board of Trustees, we need to raise over $700,000 to maintain all of these programs for next year. While it may seem daunting, I have confidence that our local businesses and families will make it happen.”