Classes are cut, teachers get laid off, and schools lack the funding they need to be efficient. These are situations that high schools all over the country have to deal with on an ongoing  basis. Beginning with the Class of 2013, graduation will require fewer credits.  The recent economic downturn has caused schools to take the fall with state funding, and because of this the credit change was an option the district had to consider. This change had nothing to do with making it easier for some students to graduate. The main reason for the change was the district’s budget.                

In the last four years, the state cut approximately $148 million. The district has not recovered from that enormous cut, and because of that the district is spending more money with less money available. The County Office requests that the district prepares a balanced budget for the next three years. Because of this the district has to come up with a budget that will be balanced for years to come. The deadline for the district’s budget plan is Dec. 15. Their urgency to find a solution that is efficient has been a challenge, but in the end they say they have resolved that problem.                                  

Without a quick solution, the possibility of the state taking over the district could happen. If the state were to take over, the district could spend 15-20 years and millions of dollars, trying to get control back. Their decision would be the credit change of 230 credits to 210. Some students worry that if you change the requirements, people will slack off in school.

“They won’t really have the motivation to work hard because there are fewer credits,” junior Carol Amaya said. University of California “a-g” requirements, will not be affected by the credit change and they still will be offered at school. Therefore, students who want a higher education beyond high school will have the classes they need available to them. Deputy Superintendent Julie Penn said, “There will be no change in the amount of teachers they hire, but they will have more flexibility in hiring teachers.”            

The district sets up their budget through something called general purpose funds. General funding is money used specifically for students, while categorical funding is money used for special programs and purposes. A class like drama could be paid for out of categorical funding instead of general funding because it is a special program, a non-core class. “Electives are taught in non-core and are paid out of categorical funds,” Penn said.                                      

When they use categorical funding they are able to staff more general funded positions. The 30 credits that will be identified as non-core, will make it more flexible for the district to bring back classes or add new programs that the schools want, like Small Learning Communities and magnet programs.                                  

“It’s a good thing everyone has the opportunity to take classes they want,” junior Cathleen San Marcos said. “Other graduates got to take classes they wanted to.”

Junior Ramon Alvarez said, “I think it’s a good move, people have more options to do what they want to do. It allows students to show their true potential in those certain areas.”