Editor:

Where is the money for the school education for the city of Brentwood going? Over these past years, we have been having huge budget cuts in Brentwood schools such as Los Medanos College, Heritage High, Liberty High, Adams Middle School and many more.

I’m sure this isn’t breaking news to the Brentwood school district, but why are we continually going downhill instead of coming up with a solution? Teachers are nervous wrecks, unsure of keeping their jobs; sports and art classes have almost become nonexistent; and the cost for necessary supplies has been harder to purchase.

Shouldn’t it be a high priority to educate the young minds that will later become the next generation’s decision makers? How good are we feeling that we are slowly taking students’ education away, then later down the road, need to rely on their decisions when the older generation has to step down?

One solution could be to take a small portion of money from several projects and give it to school funds or have huge fundraisers to help raise money. We shouldn’t leave it up only to the parents to try and come up with money. We need to do our part as well, and giving the extra effort will make strong a difference, and would be a step toward the right direction.

We should not take this issue lightly. If it continues to be overlooked, we are digging a deeper hole, which is the last thing we need. As a student, I have seen and experienced this issue up close and personal. When attending Heritage High School, I remember teachers telling us how they were concerned about losing their jobs, and how it was possible for them to receive a pink slip at any moment. I also recall paper shortages, and how we needed to re-use packets and test handouts.

Two years later, nothing has gotten better. Colleges seem to have taken a harder hit as well. The student-teacher ratio has significantly increased due to these budget cuts; students now need to print out handouts online instead of receive them in class; and pay higher prices in both books and tuition. The list goes on and on.

This issue will not go away unless we, as a community, take action together. This will surely turn the heads of other cities as we set a good example to solve this major problem. It’s time to give students the education they rightfully deserve.

Natalia Philbin, Brentwood