What is the main reason that IUSD is under-funded? What is the elephant in the room for this issue? What can you do to help to solve the problem?

What is the main reason that IUSD is under-funded? What is the elephant in the room for this issue? What can you do to help to solve the problem?

Response: The mayor of Irvine meets with IUSD board members regularly. I’ll have the city continue to contribute the IPSF, and also work with IUSD to get more funds for the school. IUSD has the lowest funding amount per student in the State of California for two main reasons:

1.      IUSD is put in the wrong category of Agriculture for state funding allocation. Irvine is NOT an agricultural area anymore. This is the elephant in the room, and the main cause of the funding shortage. IUSD has been trying to fix this for the past 15 years by lobbying Sacramento, but has NOT been successful. Maybe it is time to play hardball with the State of California and force them to put IUSD in the correct category for funding purpose. As the Irvine Mayor, I’ll face the problem head-on, and be a problem-solver. I’ll work with the city council to help IUSD fund this lawsuit in order to fix the problem.

2.      Many students are English Learners, but they are afraid to check the box of English Learner on their registration form. As a result, IUSD gets less funding from the school because each English Learner is allotted more money than an average student. We need to work with IUSD and make sure that students and their parents understand this. English Learners need to tell the truth in order to get proper funding for IUSD. 

Please see our campaign website (GangChenUSA.com) for my platform and solutions for Irvine.

Paid for by Gang Chen for Mayor 2016 (GangChenUSA.com)， FPPC# 1379051