The overwhelming victory for Proposition 47, the $13 billion school bond on the Nov. 5 ballot, is a tribute to the hard work of CTA members and supporters who fought for it, says CTA President Wayne Johnson. Prop. 47 won 59 percent of the vote.
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Reminding voters to say yes on Prop. 47, the school bond initiative, during a phone bank at the October meeting of CTA's State Council are Laura Williams from Norwalk-La Mirada, Deborah Kirk from Elk Grove and Barbara Fry from Dinuba. |
"Teachers made the difference in this campaign," says Johnson. "CTA made good on its promise that this fight would be our top priority."
Teachers were encouraged by the public's strong show of support at the polls for Prop. 47. In addition, all of CTA's recommended candidates for statewide office won their races. Along with congratulations sent to Gov. Gray Davis, Johnson called on him to continue his fight to protect education funding during his second term.
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Patricia Whyte from Vallejo |
Teachers made an estimated 275,000 phone calls to voters and distributed 200,000 door hangers promoting Prop. 47 and other priority races. In addition, they mailed more than 500,000 postcards reminding voters to go to the polls and vote for Prop. 47.
"This is a great first step toward getting many more clean, safe and modern schools," says Johnson. A second statewide bond for $12.3 billion has been approved by the governor and the Legislature for the 2004 ballot.
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CTA/ABC Representative Don Taylor from San Bernardino using cell phone from CTA's portable phone-bank-in-a-box. |
Prop. 47 will help stop the rampant use of portable classrooms statewide, says CTA Vice President Barbara E. Kerr. For example, in the Riverside Unified School District, 9,000 students are housed in 350 portables. The school where Kerr teaches is composed entirely of portable classrooms.
"We know that better facilities will help improve student learning," she says. "Smaller class sizes will help teachers do what they do best - focus on the needs of every child."
Teachers were relieved when the results for Prop. 47 came rolling in on Election Day.
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CTA/ABC Representative Suzanne Vaugine from Orange using cell phone from CTA's portable phone-bank-in-a-box. |
Carol Reinbolt, an Orange County teacher in one of the state's most overcrowded school districts, can't wait to see the fruits of her labors from the successful passage of Prop. 47 - new schools, more classrooms and modernized campuses.
"The funding is badly needed - we have schools built for 500 kids that are holding 1,200 students," says Reinbolt, president of the Anaheim Elementary Education Association.
Like dozens of school districts statewide, hers passed a school bond last year that depends on matching funds from Prop. 47. "This victory will help us fund five projects right away. We are just chomping at the bit - we are so happy."
Voters approved an estimated 96 of 125 school bonds and parcel taxes for K-12 schools and community colleges on Election Day. Many of those will need matching funds from Prop. 47, which provides $11.4 billion for K-12 school facilities and $1.65 billion for higher education campuses.
Mike Myslinski
