PITTSBURG -- The state Board of Education moved Wednesday to withhold about $450,000 from the Pittsburg Unified School District until it makes progress in fixing classes and tests designed to help students who don't speak English well.
Monthly distribution of the money, more than half the budget of Pittsburg's programs for students who are trying to learn English, will be cut off in January. The funding could be reinstated if the district takes steps to fix its problems.
The punishment follows 1999 state and federal investigations that found the district was failing properly to assess and teach students with poor English skills.
Pittsburg interim Superintendent Paul Allen, on the job since October, said Wednesday that state education officials and the district will meet soon to agree on steps to improve programs and reinstate funding.
He said actions may include completing proficiency testing of students at the high school, completing a master plan for language programs and other definable goals.
Allen predicted it will take a short time to fix problems, and that enough progress will be made soon to restore the flow of at least part of the money. He said programs for limited-English-proficient students will not be hurt while the funding is withheld.
Ruben Rosalez, who will be sworn in as a school board member next week, said he believes the funding break may be necessary to drive change. He was a leader of the parent's group that first identified the problems.
"Something has to be done to make sure the staff takes this seriously," he said.
Marc Sternberger, president of the district's teacher union, said the district is making progress on the limited-English programs under Allen, but has been "stalling for years" on fixing the troubles.
