BAKERSFIELD, CA - Governor Jerry Brown was in Bakersfield Tuesday morning to meet with community leaders about his recent budget. Not mentioned in his latest proposal is funding for agriculture programs in local schools.
That has students and teachers concerned, like the coordinator of the agriculture program at the Kern High School District, Ralph Mendes.
"We don't just teach ag in the classroom. Our students go outside the classroom and have hands-on projects, and they also learn leadership skills through the FFA. So, those will be severely curtailed if this funding is discontinued," said Mendes.
The governor says schools are getting more money this year.
But this year, he has nothing to do with how the money is divided up. He's leaving that up to district leaders statewide.
Schools normally count on an Agricultural Incentive Grant from the state to pay for programs, in which 6,000 local students are currently enrolled. But, the governor's proposed budget would give all of the money to individual districts to decide how it will be best spent.
"The state capital would have all of these rules called 'categorical programs' and then we'd dictate to the local school districts. The new philosophy is to impose greater responsibility and accountability at the local level," said Governor Brown.
"I think what the governor has done is he's given us the flexibility to either continue those programs and improve on those programs, or make changes to those programs," explained the Superintendent of the Bakersfield School District, Robert Arias.
Thanks to personal income tax increases from Proposition 30, the governor's budget gives schools K through 12 $4.8 billion more this year. And, what they do with it is up to each school district.
"I think we have to have faith in our own local leadership that we are going to support those programs because they are important to Kern County," said Arias.
"You're on your own baby," said Governor Brown.
Lawmakers will vote on his budget in June.