FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CTA President Barbara E. Kerr released the following statement concerning the state budget negotiations:
"It's mid-July and our public schools are still waiting for a state budget so they can plan for the next school year. Unfortunately, one obstacle to a final agreement is a demand by local cities that they be protected from budget cuts in future years.
"The California Teachers Association opposes any measure that provides stronger protections for local governments than those provided to the public school children of California.
"When tough economic times hit our state, as in our current budget crisis, there are never any guarantees. Our public schools will have been cut by more than $9.4 billion over the past four years. California teachers cannot support any agreement that would give more protections to local cities than those given to our public schools."