California K-12 education and Governor Elections

I was surprised to hear these two facts:
1) California ranks in the bottom of per student spending in USA
2) California teacher's average salary is in top of bracket in USA

Anyone can easily make out why K-12 education in California is in such a bad state. Whatever money we are getting is going for salary. I wouldn't have mind second fact if our students were performing really great. Good salary is essential to attract good quality teachers. It may be true as well. However, there is another fact with above two facts. Once teachers are tenured in California, there is no relationship between there salary hikes and performance. That can and actually leads to complacency. We as a parent see it all the time. Definitely there are so many good teachers. Actually, most of them are pretty good. However, once in a while you do get teachers which you wish were not your child's teachers. Problem is that, nothing can be done against these kinds of teachers. Even if there track/performance record screams that they shouldn't be here.

Unfortunately nobody can do anything. When there is budget cuts, teachers are laid of based on seniority or I should say juniority.

I wish it can be changed.

Is it possible. As of now it is next to impossible. Not that it can't be done. Teacher's union is toooooo strong and won't let this happen.

However, sooner or later it has to be changed.

May be it can slowly be made election agenda and who so ever supports linking of performance and teacher's job or salary hikes. We need to do it.