Databus Issue: 2003 3 07/17/2003
Survey Finds Budget Crisis Could Undermine Technology Access and Innovation in California Schools
Joel Heinrichs CEO
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To better gauge the impact of the California budget crisis, Lightspeed Systems surveyed 50 superintendents and board members representing small schools districts throughout California on March 27 and 28. The focus of the survey was the impact of the California state budget crisis on the use of technology in California’s small school districts.
The results indicate the budget crisis has already impacted technology programs within small districts:
• 33 percent of respondents have cut or frozen the hiring of personnel
• 22 percent expect technology staff layoffs in the coming year
The prognosis is for more pain in the months ahead. The percentages of respondents who believe the following are fairly likely or very likely to occur:
• 50 percent expect to draw down reserve funds
• 50 percent expect personnel cuts and increased workloads
• 40 percent expect teacher and administrative staff layoffs, salary freezes and increased class sizes
• 36 percent expect to delay technology purchases
• 27 percent expect to cancel technology purchases
Delayed or cancelled technology purchases could significantly impact the educational experience, as the percentages of those who indicated the following are fairly likely or very likely to occur indicates:
• 41 percent of respondents expect the teaching of advanced computer skills to suffer
• 39 percent expect the teaching of basic computer skills to suffer
• 38 percent expect extracurricular activities to suffer
• 27 percent expect the core curriculum to suffer
• 20 percent expect special education to suffer
In addition to harming classroom curricula, respondents expect delays or cancellations of technology purchases to impact Internet related-activity. The following percentages of respondents indicated the following are fairly likely or very likely to occur:
• 37 percent expect increased downloads of music and/or video files
• 33 percent expect an increase in “spam,” or unsolicited commercial email
• 25 percent expect increased access to inappropriate Web sites
• 21 percent expect an increase in sending and receiving inappropriate email
When asked, “On a professional level, what's the most painful part of this budget crisis for you?”
• 28 percent said personnel cuts
• 18 percent said program cuts
• Others mentioned the uncertainty and tough decisions they face, increased classroom size, long-range effects on students and staff, and loss of IT funds.
California has greatly expanded the use of technology in education through the efforts of CETPA members and others. The current budget crisis creates new challenges for IT staff, but the longer term trends of expanding use of computer-aided learning, distance learning, and related innovations is likely to continue. In the meantime, CETPA members need to provide support and encouragement to each other through sharing “best practices” and other resources to the maximum extent possible.
