Schools
$1.4B San Diego Unified Budget Boosts Arts Funding
"Not everybody got everything they wanted, but people were able to have their voices heard," said Board President Michael McQuary.
San Diego, CA — A $1.4 billion budget for the 2016-2017 fiscal year was unanimously approved Tuesday night by the San Diego Unified School District Board of Education.
"Not everybody got everything they wanted, but people were able to have their voices heard," board President Michael McQuary said.
"It was mentioned several times tonight that we're all about the money, and we're not. But the money does allow us to attack and address the issues and provide a quality education."
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The board also approved the state-mandated Local Control and Accountability Plan that determines how the money will be spent.
The budget included more money for being spent on visual arts, performing arts, music lessons, instruments and band uniforms.
Find out what's happening in La Jollafor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Restorative justice will be used district-wide when handling student discipline in an effort to reduce suspensions and expulsions that have typically been meted out to black and Hispanic students more than others.
A few members of the public appeared before the board to express their concerns over the lack of resources being allocated to the city's expanding refugee community.
"Please help us. We came from a trauma. We came from a war. We need someone to hear us," Miriam Ali told the board before the 5-0 vote. She described herself as a Muslim mother whose children are being bullied in school because they are Muslim.
"You've given us more problems than we came from," Ali said.
City News Service
(Photo: San Diego Unified students perform at Crown Point Junior Music Academy, February 2016. Credit: San Diego Unified Newscenter)
