We're in this together

Whether you started in July, August or September, it's a new school year. Excitement and opportunity welcome back the more than 8 million students in our California public schools and colleges.

While hope and promise should be the theme of my first column as your new president, we start the fall semester surrounded by uncertainty and chaos - some have compared it to a circus.

After a ridiculous amount of posturing by legislators, the state budget was passed at the end of July. It's not a budget that makes you want to jump for joy, but we won a major victory by keeping the more than $1.5 billion cuts to education funding as far away from the classroom as possible.

Hard work by you, your chapter leaders and CTA had an impact on the budget deliberations. You lobbied, wrote letters to your lawmakers, held news conferences in your local communities and sent more than 12,000 e-mail messages to the Legislature and to Gov. Gray Davis. Strong local chapters made this happen at the state level. And you will hear me repeat this often - strong local chapters are the foundation of a strong CTA.

But for too many of you, the local budget fight now begins. As part of the state budget package, school district administrators have been given the flexibility to use reserve funds to put more money into the classrooms. Many administrators consider these reserves to be their own private savings accounts where they stash money to pay for their own pet projects. We must make sure our students are not punished for the follies of adults.

Local chapters will be negotiating for classroom resources and CTA will be there with you, providing training, expertise and staff to help. We are in this together. Our collective strength made the difference in the state budget fight and our collective strength will make the difference in local school districts.

While you are working in your classrooms and fighting for the resources to help your students, political chaos surrounds us.

The Oct. 7 special election includes 135 people who want to be governor and two ballot initiatives. There are a lot of easy laughs to be had around the recall, but this election is very important to the future of our public schools.

Gray Davis is not the most charismatic guy you'll meet and we certainly don't agree with all of his education proposals, but this recall election is not about Gray Davis. It's about good government and economic stability. Recalling a democratically elected governor who has not been accused of any crime sets a dangerous precedent that will throw our state government into disarray, harm the economy and endanger funding for our students and schools.

The CTA State Council of Education voted earlier this year to oppose the recall. It's still the best course to ensure the long-term future of our schools and state.

But the recall ballot has two sections, and it's important that you vote on both parts. After voting no on the recall, CTA is recommending that you support Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante should the recall pass. A panel of teachers interviewed the viable candidates and recommended this endorsement, which was approved by CTA's Board of Directors. Cruz Bustamante has a strong record of supporting public schools and teachers, working to get adequate funding for education, and expanding opportunities for more students to attend college.

As for the two ballot measures - vote NO on Prop. 53 and Prop. 54.

Prop. 54 is Ward Connerly's latest brainchild. Connerly was also the author of Prop. 209, which outlawed affirmative action programs. He makes a lot of money promoting his initiatives and receives substantial funding from extremist groups. Prop. 54 would make it impossible to ensure that all California students and schools are getting the resources they deserve. It would also reduce accountability by preventing schools, districts and the state from collecting the information they need to help close the achievement gap. That's not the California public school system I want for our students.

Meanwhile, Prop. 53 takes billions of dollars out of the state general fund at a time when we are cutting funds for our schools, raising college tuition fees and slashing health care programs.

One out of every 10 voters is a teacher or someone who knows a teacher. Our vote does make a difference and our voices must be heard on Oct. 7.

I wish you all a happy and successful year. In the midst of the chaos and turmoil, I know hope and promise will prevail, and you all will do what we do best - TEACH.