FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Castro Valley – Local members of the California Education Coalition today discussed the impact of Governor Schwarzenegger’s broken promises on education at a new conference at Independent School in Castro Valley.
Alameda County parents, teachers, school employees, school board members and school leaders highlighted the fact that Governor Schwarzenegger has broken his word to California’s students and schools on two fronts, withholding $2 billion in this year’s budget and proposing changes to the voter approved Proposition 98 – changes which would eliminate the minimum funding protections for schools.
“Last year at this time, the California Education Coalition, representing more than one million members, worked with this governor on a solution for the state’s budget problem – a problem that was not created by our students,” said Carol-Ann Koch-Weser, president of the Peralta District PTA. “This governor promised that $2 billion in funding for our schools would be restored and that our students would receive their fair share of any additional state revenues.”
Eric Heins, an East Bay teacher and a member of the CTA Board of Directors, added, “Keeping your word is a cherished principle we teach our students. Many of our schools lack basic supplies and instructional materials. How can the governor break the promise he made to our schools and our 6.2 million students?”
The governor’s budget proposal underfunds Proposition 98; it reneges on his promise to our schools and students by withholding $2 billion; and will only lead to more school closures, larger class sizes, additional layoffs of teachers and school support personnel, and the elimination of key student programs.
“In Alameda County we have suffered millions of dollars in cuts in the last several years,” said Superintendent of Alameda County Schools Sheila Jordan. “Our students deserve better. The governor needs to keep his promise to our schools.”
“The governor’s proposals ignore the will of the voters and weaken school funding protections by allowing multiple, devastating mid-year cuts to our schools,” said Jo Loss, president of the Alameda County School Boards Association and vice president of the California State PTA. “The governor’s current proposals would be disastrous for schools and students in California.”
The Education Coalition consists of organizations representing more than a million parents, teachers, school employees, school board members and administrators.