Prepared for the Worse?

Ironically, the Vallejo school district's past poor financial health has local officials feeling more confident about weathering the state's budget storm.

Since, you know, managing your finances so badly you lose millions of dollars is good experience for not having alot of money.

"We've gone through levels of devastation," Grant-Dawson said. "We've gone through a tornado, a hurricane and a flood. Because of that we're better prepared."