BURLINGAME - Wayne Johnson, president of the 330,000-member California Teachers Association, issued this statement on Jan. 10 about the state budget and public education funding:
"The budget proposed by Governor Gray Davis does a good job of protecting public education funding, which is critical to maintaining the momentum of school improvement. Despite hard economic times, the governor is making students a top priority. He has increased funding for kindergarten through community colleges despite a $12 billion shortfall in the budget.
Although the governor has made cuts in some education programs, these cuts are in areas least likely to affect the classroom. The governor's budget provides funds for the Proposition 98 guarantee, provides for a full cost of living adjustment for schools, and includes funding for enrollment increases. These measures protect the foundation of ongoing education funding.
The governor has also committed to $30 billion in new school facilities bonds by 2006. These bonds are critical to improving existing facilities and providing for full implementation of class size reduction.
We strongly support the governor's education budget proposals and will fight to maintain them. We share his belief that students must remain a top priority in California."