My name is Brian Wheeler. I am the parent of two children at Murray Elementary where I serve as PTO President.

Tonight the budget process kicks off in earnest as you provide direction to the Superintendent as to how he should proceed in building his proposal.

I want to encourage you to direct Dr. Castner to present a fully needs-based budget. PERIOD. Why not ask for reduction strategies AFTER you get a precise presentation of this system's needs, if reductions are required. To do otherwise will only encourage a repeat of the budgets of year's past, documents that play into the cycle that needs to be broken between you, the Board of Supervisors, and the State.

I know you are unanimous in your belief that the state won't step up to the plate this ELECTION year and fund its share of the education budget. You are probably equally skeptical of our Board of Supervisors having the leadership to raise revenues when the state will not.

But, what I think is missing is the vision from this board about what our needs are. Ask Dr. Castner for such a needs-based budget, and leave it at that. Determine if it will meet your goals. Challenge the public to support you. We will, if you put the children first, the teachers first, and our community first.

The tough choices will have to be made, but let's make them with a clear vision for the year ahead, as we think it should be, to achieve this board's goals and to meet this community's expectations.