By Frank Wells
Guillermo Sandoval
Guillermo Sandoval loves being a high school Spanish teacher and enjoys being the Montebello Teachers Association treasurer. He volunteered to be released from his classroom this fall to visit schools and talk with colleagues about Proposition 30 and Proposition 32.
What motivated you to get involved in this campaign?
Both initiatives have huge consequences for teachers and students. If Prop. 30 fails, Montebello is looking at more furlough days and more cuts of over $13 million. And if 32 passes — that pretty much ends our ability to impact things like class sizes, merit pay, and school funding.
It was tough to start the year out of the classroom and miss the beginning of the school year, but this election is too important not to do all I can.
How are colleagues responding?
Members are aware and see the need to pass 30 and defeat 32. Some members are so stressed out with all they are expected to do with even fewer resources, that it takes some encouragement to get them motivated to campaign. But they really get how important this is and what it means for students if we don’t do all we can.
We’re up against well-funded corporations that want to silence us and take over the playing field more than they already have. Our students will pay the price if we fail.
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