In The Schools: Educators and parents express concern about governor's proposed budget
Gov. Schwarzenegger's proposed budget cuts could be disastrous for California public schools.
Schools and educators react to proposed budget cuts
An article posted March 18, 2008.
California’s public schools are facing a $4.8 billion cut to their budgets that could result in the lay off of more than 107,000 teachers, increased class sizes, and the elimination of music, art and career technical education programs statewide. Concerned parents, teachers and school employees gathered at Gratts Elementary School in downtown Los Angeles last February to discus the impact on local schools.
“It’s always the poor and the middle class that pay the tab for the rich and the powerful. And the time has come where we have to not just fight the cuts, but fight the root causes of these cuts,” said A.J. Duffy, president of United Teachers Los Angeles, at the rally.
Duffy was part of a county-wide coalition calling on the state legislature to uphold Proposition 98, the minimum school funding guarantee, and reject the governor’s proposed budget cuts.
If Gov. Schwarezenegger’s proposed budget passes, $460 million would be cut from Los Angeles Unified School District’s revenues. The education funding cuts are a response to a $16 billion statewide budget deficit. For more information, visit www.lastudentscount.org, a Web site created by the district featuring information on the budget crisis and its impact on students.
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