BURLINGAME – Outraged by the damage being done to public schools by the record state budget stalemate, teachers, parents, administrators, school board members and other supporters will be holding “Day of Action” protests across the state Friday to demand that the Legislature pass a fair state budget that protects school funding and balances cuts with new revenues.
The news conferences, picketing, leafleting, and protests outside offices of state lawmakers are organized by the 340,000-member California Teachers Association and the statewide Education Coalition. Due to the budget gridlock, schools have not received more than $600 million.
“At a time when California already ranks 46th in the nation in per-pupil spending, teachers are demanding that lawmakers pass a fair and responsible budget now that protects students from even deeper cuts,” said CTA President David A. Sanchez. “Enough is enough. Lawmakers should listen to voters and pass a budget that balances cuts with new revenue sources, and that does not destroy voter-approved Proposition 98, the minimum funding for education law that millions of students depend on.”
The protests Friday will stress that lawmakers should pass the original Conference Committee budget proposal that restores $2.4 billion of the governor’s $4.3 billion in proposed cuts to education. It also restores funding for critical programs such as Class Size Reduction. It’s what teachers will demand again Friday when they will call legislators using the CTA toll-free “Cuts Hurt” hotline number of 1-888-268-4334.
CTA President Sanchez Media Availability: President Sanchez is available all day Friday for radio and print interviews by phone. To arrange interviews, call Mike Myslinski at 408-921-5769 (cell) or 650-552-5324.
Here is a sampling of the Friday budget protests across the state:
Day of Action Advisory
San Francisco: 7:45-8:15 a.m., Argonne Elementary, 680 18th Ave., San Francisco. Speakers: CTA Vice President Dean Vogel, United Educators of San Francisco President Dennis Kelly, California School Board Association state Vice President Frank Pugh, Argonne teacher Andrea Peterson, Rachel Norton, a school board candidate endorsed by UESF. Contact: Mike Myslinski at 408-921-5769.
Richmond: 7:45-8:15 a.m., Richmond High School, 1250 23rd St., Richmond, 94804. Speakers include United Teachers of Richmond (UTR) President Pixie Hayward Schickele, UTR-endorsed school board candidates Tony Thurmond and Antonio Medrano, and administrators. Contact: Pixie Hayward Schickele at 510-541-4090.
Walnut Creek: 7:15-7:50 a.m., Foothill Middle School, 2775 Cedro Lane, Walnut Creek, 94598. Event will target GOP Assemblyman Guy Houston. Speakers include Mt. Diablo Education Association President Mike Noce and a deputy district superintendent. Contact: Mike Noce at 925-250-6557.
Fremont: 8-8:30 a.m., Forest Park Elementary, 34400 Maybird Circle, Fremont, 94555. Speakers: Fremont Unified District Teachers Association President Jeff Poe, Interim Fremont Unified School District Superintendent Milt Werner, school board President Ivy Wu. Contact: Jeff Poe at 510-791-8366 or 510-331-1663.
San Jose: 7:15-7:40 a.m., in front of Franklin-McKinley School District offices, 645 Wool Creek Drive, San Jose, 95112. Speakers: CTA Board member Don Dawson; Deputy Superintendent Rudy Herrera; district California School Employees Association President Donnell Fassler; Franklin-McKinley Education Association President Scott Shulimson; Diane Foote, member of California State PTA Board of Managers. Contact: Scott Shulimson at 831-325-0465.
Glendale: 4 p.m., CTA Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Vaughn and the mayor of Glendale will join a news conference on state budget cuts with leaders of the Glendale Teachers Association at City Hall, 613 East Broadway, Glendale, 91206. Contact: Frank Wells at 562-708-5425.
Burbank: 1-2 p.m., United Teachers Los Angeles members, state workers, parents and other members of the “Stop the Cuts Coalition” will hold a demonstration about the budget deadlock and a news conference at the offices of the California Republican Party, 1903 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, 91506. Contact: Marla Eby at UTLA, 213-368-6247.
Orange: 4-5:30 p.m., local teachers and other supporters will protest in front of the offices of Republican Assemblyman Todd Spitzer at 1940 North Tustin St., #102, Orange, 92865. Spitzer will be urged to put partisan politics aside and support a balanced budget solution. Contact: Bill Guy at 619-709-0028.
Lancaster: 3:30 p.m., teachers, parents and others will march from the CTA offices at 1027 West Lancaster Blvd. to the nearby offices of lawmakers Sharon and George Runner. Sharon’s is at 747 W. Lancaster Blvd.; George’s is at 848 W. Lancaster Blvd. Contact: Frank Wells at 562-708-5425.
Rosemead: 3:45 p.m., parents, teachers, administrators, classified workers and other members of the Alhambra and Garvey Education Coalition will hold a news conference at Margaret Duff Elementary, 7830 Dorothy Ave., Rosemead, 91770. Students and employees in Alhambra and Garvey districts folded 1,000 paper origami cranes that will be presented to elected officials because legend has it that making the cranes means a wish can be granted – their wish being a state budget that properly funds education. Contact: Terry Skotnes at 626-289-1933.
San Diego: The 8,000-member San Diego Education Association is asking teachers to use the CTA hotline number – 1-888-268-4334 – to call their lawmakers and demand a fair budget solution. SDEA President Camille Zombro is available for interviews from 9-10 a.m. and from 3-5 p.m. at the SDEA offices, 10393 San Diego Mission Road, #100, San Diego, 92108. Contact: Camille Zombro at 619-283-4411.
Sacramento: 10 a.m., CTA Board of Directors member Michael Bustos, a Sacramento teacher, will join other members of the Education Coalition in delivering a “Budget Pop Quiz” to lawmakers in their legislative offices in the Capitol. Contact: Robin Swanson at 916-204-6890.
Fresno: 4-5 p.m., teachers, parents, administrators and other Education Coalition members to hold news conference and protest against Republican Assemblyman Mike Villines for holding up a fair state budget solution. A mobile billboard will be used to draw attention to Villines. The event is at the offices of Villines at 6245 North Fresno Street, # 106, Fresno, 93710. Contacts: Kara Buchanan at 916-457-5546 or Lisa Edelheit at 559-408-4911.
Modesto: 4:45 p.m., educators will be picketing about the budget crisis at the “Budget Rally in the Valley” event, corner of Briggsmore and McHenry avenues, with the staging point being the Safeway parking lot. Contact: Annie Aquino at 209-482-0666.