Dedicated Funding for Higher Education Passes Assembly

A legislative proposal by Assemblymember Das Williams (D-Santa Barbara) to create a non-tax revenue stream for the state’s higher education system cleared the Assembly floor today and advances to the State Senate.

AB 2442, creates a system to better manage some state-owned properties with the goal of increasing the value of those properties and earn revenue for the University of California (UC), the California State University (CSU) and California Community College system.

“I’m pleased that my colleagues have shown their support for our state’s higher education system through this creative approach to returning an investing in the hallmark of our state’s success,” said Assemblymember Das Williams.

The California Hope Public Trust will be able to evaluate and better utilize state property with the proceeds benefitting the UC, CSU and CCC systems.

The bill’s next stop will be the Senate Rules committee.

Website for Assemblymember Das Williams: http://assembly.ca.gov/Williams

Das Williams honored as Outstanding Public Official

Over the weekend, Assemblymember Das Williams was honored by the California Teachers Association (CTA) with a “Gold Award” for being an Outstanding Public Official in his leadership and support of teachers and education in our area.

Williams, a former educator at both the junior high school and university level, was honored at a ceremony held at the Ventura Beach Marriott Friday. Several educators from the area were also honored by the Channel Islands Service Center Council of the CTA, including:

Aline Grossman, a teacher at Ventura High School: Outstanding Educator, Ventura Unified
Education Association.

Ruthann Burnell, a teacher at Serra Elementary School and retired executive board member of the Ventura Unified Education Association (VUEA).

Rae Stevens, site representative from Portola Elementary School and various VUEA committees.

Kathy Riley, with the Hueneme Education Association.

Sandra Kelble, with the Oxnard Educators Association.

Ray Bedoy, with the Ventura Classified Employees Association.

“As we are staring at fiscal Armageddon for the state, there is no group of workers that I am more honored to stand with than our teachers,” said Assemblymember Das Williams.

Website for Assemblymember Das Williams: http://assembly.ca.gov/Williams

Das visits Santa Ynez Valley Union High School

and gets a special tour of their AG program.

The Santa Ynez Valley Union High School FFA chapter received a special hour-long visit April 8 from Assemblyman Das Williams, D-Santa Barbara, who got an overview of the agricultural program and a tour of the school’s welding shop, horticulture garden, green house and livestock area.

Williams was greeted at the school’s flagpole by two ranking members in full-dress uniforms, the chapter’s President Emily Shimamura and Secretary Kylin Costa, who guided him to a classroom where he played student, while vice president Katie Enticknap, Costa and group historian Maryury Diaz showed a PowerPoint presentation highlighting the agricultural department program.

Click for slideshow

Chartered in 1932, the local FAA (Future Farmers of America) focuses on cultivating an interest in agriculture; above all, the aim is to create leaders, whether they end up in agriculture or ag-related fields, such as landscaping, the floral industry and veterinary medicine. This year, about 200 students are participating in the program, which is run through the school’s agriculture department under the tutelage of agriculture teacher, Kathy Bibby.

The visit came about a month after Shimimura attended the Sacramento Leadership Experience conference, where she met with Williams to discuss the school’s program and he promised to come see it first-hand.


....Enticknap, who hopes to attend the conference in Sacramento next year, said she was heartened to see an assembly person take a strong interest in the local agricultural program. “I think it’s really great that he’s coming to our school and looking at agriculture’s perspective on things,” she said, “because agriculturalists are the ones who are feeding the world and giving clothing, and people aren’t recognizing that.” - Santa Ynez Valley Journal

Das Williams Introduces Bill To Protect Local School District Funding

Assemblymember Das Williams recently introduced a piece of district-specific legislation that would allow Santa Barbara schools to continue receiving voter-approved parcel revenues once a move to unify the elementary and secondary school districts is complete.

Assembly Bill 504 would also allow voters to approve the renewal of such revenue extensions upon unification.

“This bill would allow Santa Barbara School Districts to keep current revenues if they unify in an effort to increase funding. That means that the district would receive $6 million more per year, which will prevent cuts that would hurt our kids,” Williams said.

“AB 504 would extend a revenue source for the SBSD that would otherwise have to continue to make cuts. This piece of legislation preserves the will of voters, who supported the school districts with more than 70 percent approval in 2008.”

Over the last 3 years, the Santa Barbara School Districts have made more than $20 million in budget cuts and are faced with making more cuts this fiscal year. They are already moving forward with a plan to unify their Elementary and Secondary school districts based on a study that shows the unification will generate approximately $6 million annual additional revenue, according to school district officials.

Without clarifying legislation, the unification could result in the nullification of their two parcel tax measures, which are used to support programs like music, art, math and technology.

To avoid the potential loss of that revenue stream for the school district, Assembly Bill 504 would authorize the new unified school district to continue to collect the voter approved parcel taxes once their former districts are merged out of existence

“This legislation is imperative for the future success of our schools in Santa Barbara,” said Dr. Brian Sarvis, Superintendent of Santa Barbara School Districts.

Assemblymember Das Williams Announces Committee Assignments

Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez has appointed Freshman Assemblymember Das Williams to the Education Committee, Health Committee, Assembly Rules Committee and the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs.
 

“I am honored by these appointments,” Assemblymember Williams said. “Education policy is a passion of mine and the Education Committee gives me an opportunity to help craft solid California Education policy.” 

“All Californians should have access to affordable healthcare and as a member of the Health Committee I can help clamp down on runaway health care costs. As a member of the Veterans’ Affairs Committee, I will have the opportunity to ensure that the California Department of Veterans’ Affairs is offering quality programs to our veterans.”

Assemblymember Das Williams represents the 35th Assembly District, which includes Santa Barbara, Santa Ynez Valley, Ventura and portions of the city of Oxnard.

Jack O'Connell endorses Das Williams

"The sole candidate we can trust to represent the 35th Assembly District is Das Williams,” said O’Connell. “Das is the only candidate I’m supporting in this race. His background and record of fighting for schools, teachers and students is unmatched, and I know he’ll do an amazing job advocating for a stronger education system in our Capitol. In my view, Das will bring the perfect blend of energy, experience and new ideas to the State Assembly.”

An Arts and Education Reception for Das Williams

Saturday, October 9, 2010
2:00 pm - 4:00 pm


6965 Shepard Mesa Rd., Carpinteria, CA 93013

Dr. Walter Kohn endorses Das Williams

Dr. Walter Kohn, recipient of the 1998 Nobel Prize in Chemistry and local UCSB Professor, endorses Das Williams for the 35th Assembly District.

“It is one of the biggest highlights of my life to have earned the respect, confidence and support of a world class mind like Walter Kohn,” said Das. “Dr. Kohn understands the importance of a strong K-12 and higher education system, as well as the benefits that come from investments in research and in the new technologies and industries that allow for more renewable, cleaner ways of living.”

“I share Dr. Kohn’s commitment to more sustainable growth and creating an educational system that generates more breakthroughs and advancements toward that end. I will work every day to honor his endorsement of my campaign by continuing to fight for our schools and teachers, and for greater reliance on renewable energy,” added Williams.

DAS WILLIAMS knows it takes education

to strengthen lives...to strengthen communities....to strengthen California.

"....The thing that made California so great was our world-class education system, an education system that was the envy of the world. I was fortunate enough to grow up having good public schools and great teachers. I also had great teachers at SBCC, who helped me secure a scholarship to UC Berkeley and I went on to earn a graduate degree from UCSB. Growing up in poverty, I would not have been able to become the person I am now, or enjoyed the many opportunities in my life, if it weren’t for the public school system.

Every child, regardless of where they grow up, deserves access to the same educational opportunities that helped me succeed. For our state and children to remain competitive in the 21st-century economy, we are going to need the best schools and best teachers. We will meet that challenge not only by securing necessary education funding, but also by ensuring that teachers are not hamstrung and can have the opportunity to provide students with an enriched educational experience so they are prepared to compete in an increasingly competitive economy." - Das

DAS WILLIAMS knows about the 35th District Issues

because Das grew up in and around the 35th District!

"I grew up in Santa Barbara and Ventura counties, attending local public schools and solidifying my educational foundation before attending UC Berkeley, where I earned my BA in political science. I followed that up with a master’s in environmental science and management from UCSB’s Bren School of Environmental Science & Management." - Das

Das knows the importance of Community Colleges

He knows that they have an impact on lives and futures of community residents and of the communities themselves. Santa Barbara City College certainly had an impact on his.

"I have several teachers that influenced me at my time at Santa Barbara City College. I was 17 and it was the year I moved out of my volkswagon bus into an apartment, first started in politics and became a Christian. Dr. Craig Fusaro (who now leads efforts to restore local fish species) taught me Environmental Science with an emphasis on the SCIENCE, Dr. John Kay taught me the basics of government, Dr. Peter Haslund international relations and Dr. Manou Eskandari taught me how to teach." (from an interview with Brian Dennert of the Ventura County Star)