Build schools, not prisons

Xavier Perez

It does not surprise me to hear of another budget modification to the San Antonio Independent School District to "improve" the quality of education for their 55,000-plus students.

SAISD has announced numerous school closures to historical campuses, including the 130-year-old Fox Tech Campus and the 107-year-old Bowie Elementary School. Recently the school district announced they would once again cut back on school lunches.

School Lunches? Yes school lunches.

As of January 2009 students of the ailing district will go from nine choices for an entree to two choices. Damn. As if cafeteria food is not bad enough now students get the choice of steaming crappy food or warm crappy food. (Sounds like our political system, this election excluded.)

They will also cut back on breakfast menu to a grab-n-go/bagged breakfast to ensure all students participate in the federal meal program in hopes of boosting revenue. Their announcement goes on to say that eliminating the amount of choices cooks have to prepare will allow more time for them to focus on improving the taste of the two choices.

Has this economic crisis pushed our own schools over the edge so much that they have to cut back on crappy cafeteria chow? How about a bailout for our public school system? Perhaps we should just blame W.

Although blaming Mr. Blockhead Bush would be justified, it still does not provide solutions to the problems with our public school system. Perhaps if Dr. Robert Duron (superintendent) had not given $1,000 bonus to all employees, last year’s students could get their chef salad and fresh fruit (as if kids need fruits & vegetables).

I am sure those bonuses helped some struggling employees but those who really need the help are the children of our community.

How is it that we have a lottery gaming system that provides 27-percent of its total earnings to the Texas Education Fund and school-age children are only allowed two choices of food? Yet food is the minor issue. How is that we spend more locally on law enforcement than provide for the education system of our community?

I know that those making budget increases for law enforcement know that when people are educated the less likely they are to commit crime. Budget allocations such as these beg the question: Is their more revenue in law enforcement than investing in the education of the children of our community?

I guess a bulletproof vest is a better investment than one backpack full of school supplies; Oh wait, it's not?