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• Delta Blood Bank questions Sacramento group hosting drive

• Are you ready to get wet?

• Lodi seeks residents' feedback on General Plan

• Galt high school district to vote on reducing developer fees

• Regional Roundup

November 20th, 2009

• Real estate market gets on more solid ground

• Advocacy groups sue East Bay Municipal Utility District over Pardee expansion

• National Guard troops return home in time for the holidays

• Salvation Army Kettle Kickoff

• Regional Roundup

• Stable southeast of Lodi approved

• Acampo woman killed

• One year after a heart attack, Lodi's Judy Mims thanks rescuers

• Galt plans to help residents with energy-efficient projects

November 19th, 2009

• Logbook

• Water surges in Mokelumne River yield more salmon

• Suspect arrested after hiding in fridge

• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22

• Operation: Christmas

• Corrections

• Sales tax hike yields dividends: 5 new officers join Galt Police

• Chase ends in crash

• Lodi Unified School District board votes to cancel summer school for 2010

• Lodi City Council will consider redevelopment next June

• Galt Joint Union High School Distric hires new superintendent

November 18th, 2009

• Congress allocates money for local water projects

• Lodi man finds wife's ashes during police display of stolen property

• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react

• Regional Roundup

• Galt City Council rejects study on rent stabilization

• Paranormal group conducts second investigation of building

November 17th, 2009

• Lodi Budget and Finance Committee to look into ways to save money on employee benefits

• Redevelopment to be discussed by Lodi City Council again

• Paying tribute to a Lodian

• Regional Roundup

• Court reinstates death penalty for killer of Lodi grad

• Clements gets free water rescue boat

• Clarification

• Decision on summer school expected at tonight's Lodi Unified School District meeting

November 16th, 2009

• Sierra Adventure store to close after four years in Downtown Lodi

• Regional Roundup

• Correction

• Lodi's First Sip event showcases area wineries' latest vintages

• City Council 'triple-dog dared' to ditch cars, use Lodi buses

• Three members of Lodi-area family fall ill after eating poisonous mushrooms they reportedly found at Lodi Lake

• Public Meetings

November 14th, 2009

• Regional Roundup

• Despite an increase in homeless students, school districts look to bolster enrollment, raise revenue

• A first look at 2009 vintages at Lodi's First Sip wine-tasting event

• Watchful neighbor in Lodi helped bust suspected burglars

• New Galt city manager juggles job, family

• Galt school district narrows superintendent search to one

• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise

November 13th, 2009

• What to expect with new homebuyer tax credit

• Lodi Muslim: Local mosque not involved

• Regional Roundup

• Burglary suspects are under arrest

• Lodi veteran recounts close calls in Vietnam

• Mayor Larry Hansen points out Lodi's economic progress

• First phase of Lockeford park by 2011?

The following stories have received the most reader comments during the last 7 days.

• The country's mess is our fault (130)
• Obama is not a moderate (129)
• Sarah Palin's book hits the shelves: Locals react (60)
• Despite budget cuts, some Lodi Unified School District salaries continue to rise (49)
• Lodi City Council plans to cap number of taco trucks at 22 (45)
• Lodi Flames slim playoff chances vanish in setback to Tracy Bulldogs (25)
• Tokay in, traveling to unbeaten No. 3 Grant for football playoffs (25)
• The haves should help the have-nots (25)
• Tokay Tigers blow late 27-point lead in loss to Wolf Pack (22)
• Nightmares about America's future (21)

ADVERTISEMENT

One program shouldn't jeopardize many

On Jan. 10, 2008, the Galt High School Board promised to build Liberty Ranch High School without borrowing any money.

Galt parents, students and community members need to be aware that the board plans to borrow over $2 million to complete a Career Technical Building at the Liberty Ranch site, essentially breaking its earlier promise not to borrow money. Even under the least costly scenario, this loan will encumber our district for at least the next 15 years, with interest of over $1 million for a total cost of $3,142,938. Annual payments would amount to $210,000.

So what is wrong with a Career Technical Building? Nothing, as long as we can afford it. However, just like a family who must live within their means, this project is simply not within our budget given the current financial circumstances. Just this year, the board faced many difficult decisions to balance the district's budget.

Due to financial constraints class sizes were increased at all schools, many academic programs were denied funding, department budgets were squeezed, and some elective courses were eliminated — all of which affected the quality of education in the classroom for our students.

And now the board is considering borrowing money which will exacerbate our budget shortfall. How will they balance next year's budget with an additional $210,000 loan payment AND more state cuts; with further increases in class sizes, elimination of counseling services, elimination of more electives, reduced maintenance at the three schools sites, elimination of library services, and cuts in English language learners support curriculum?

So what can be done? The board needs to hear from you, the public, that you don't want your children's schools encumbered with a loan that will impact the quality of education within Galt High School District for the next 15 to 30 years. Our students deserve the best educational opportunities that we can provide them, but we can't let one program jeopardize the quality of education available to all students.

Attend the special board meeting for this topic on Oct. 26 and make your voice heard on this ill-conceived loan.

Galt Joint Union High School District Staff Concerned About the Fiscal Future of Our District
Alex Bauer, Gayle Alvarado, Craig Anderson, Phillip Arieas, Thom Bradley, Oscar Corona, Sean Duncan, Steve Gardner, Franki Hernandez, Alejo Padilla