Comments on: Saving our schools in SF: call for solution ideas

By: Dan Carlin

Dan Carlin — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 05:37:42 +0000

Hello Guillaume,
I'm a community reporter for KALW.org and I'm working on a story about Bernal Bucks and Bernal Heights' attempt to construct a neighborhood economy. I haven't been able to find an email address for you, so I decided to contact you this way! Since you're one of the architects of Bernal Bucks, I'd enjoy speaking with you about the original thinking behind BB and your observations on how the project has worked thus far. I am hoping we could set up a time to speak in the next couple of days if you are available. Please feel free to contact me at dan.carlin [at] gmail.com

Thanks in advance for your time.

By: Guillaume Lebleu

Guillaume Lebleu — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:11:26 +0000

Hi Tom. Yes, I'm aware of the Saber currency, but it requires the backing of the Universities. That said, the contributions of students could be accounted for in Charles Brass model so that they don't have to pay the increased fee. Corrected link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saber_(sectoral_cu…)

By: Guillaume Lebleu

Guillaume Lebleu — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 03:09:00 +0000

Thank you Charles. Yes, this is essentially what I had in mind. It amounts to a new tax/fee but that people can pay with what they have in abundance of, which isn't the case of banking money in periods of deflation. Why was the idea canned? what was it replaced with? increased fees in legal tender?

By: HeresTomWithTheWeather

HeresTomWithTheWeather — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:10:21 +0000

the saber currency proposal gives an opportunity for students to earn currency by teaching younger students. the oldest students can spend the currency at universities with spare capacity. the government might, therefore, pay the college tuition cost when it accepts the currency back from the universities but at a discount.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saber_%28sectoral_…

By: Charles Brass - Australia

Charles Brass - Australia — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 02:07:35 +0000

10 years ago at an individual school facing just such a crisis we created a community currency in a quantity which exactly covered the shortfall. Then we increased parent contributions to school fees by the deficiency, but offered parents the opportunity to provide services to the school so they could earn sufficient community currency to cover the increased fees. Then we went to the local business community and got their agreement to take some proportion of their charges in community currency.

So, those who could afford the extra fees paid in dollars. Those who could not could do useful work around the school (including non educational work like plumbing etc) and 'earn' their extra fees, and those who had sufficient time could work around the school and earn more than they needed to pay the fees and spend this in the local community.

The currency stayed alive for four years until a new principal arrived and canned it.

But the idea is solid.

By: kenlynch

kenlynch — Sun, 21 Feb 2010 09:35:01 +0000

Local school bonds are a natural backing to a local community currency. rather than kids selling candy bars for $2/each to raise money, they should be selling school community currency. I believe a well organized drive could raise $10k/student. bonds could be retired within 5 years, though many might choose to let the paper expire, esp. if they are recognized for being a local school patron.