Teachers build support for state budget proposal

"If we have midyear cuts again, we will have massive layoffs in our district," said Mount Diablo Education Association President Mike Noce in a meeting with Assembly Member Loni Hancock (D-Berkeley). "This is the second year with no COLA and no growth, and we are still without equalization."

Noce was among the 300 chapter presidents and leaders who turned out en masse Jan. 28 for CTA's Lobby Day, their hopes high that they could persuade legislators to vote for Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed education budget. The budget, which protects students and schools and targets cuts away from the classroom, was hammered out between the governor and the statewide Education Coalition, which includes CTA.

The reality of the budget crisis - and the threat it poses to schools - left little doubt that teachers in California are committed to working with the new governor and the Legislature in support of the plan.

United Teachers of Richmond President Terri Jackson told Hancock that her district is facing $20-$23 million in cuts, and is planning to close four elementary schools, combine two alternative schools and drop sixth period at the middle schools.

"It's going to be disastrous," she said. "They are talking about more cuts in the classroom and decreasing counselors. Students will lose out tremendously. They won't have the classes they need for higher education - or the counselors to help them get into college."

When Hancock told the East Bay contingent they could count on her for a yes vote on the budget, it was music to their ears.

Elsewhere throughout the Capitol, the budget proposal was a tougher sell.

Sen. Sheila Kuehl (D-Santa Monica) told teachers that she is sympathetic to the needs of schools, but will not approve the budget unless it includes a tax increase.

Kuehl also said she's skeptical about the proposed budget's built-in provisions to protect the integrity of Prop. 98 and its guarantees that any money cut from schools will be restored in subsequent years.

"We have to hope that the economy will turn around and that things will improve, so Prop. 98 money will be returned," Hueneme Education Association President Maria McDonell told Kuehl.

The media has portrayed the budget proposal as one that "spares" public schools. But in reality, schools are sharing the sacrifice that must be made to deal with the largest deficit in the history of California. Funding for California public schools has been cut by more than $4 billion over the past two years, and California continues to rank well below the average in per-pupil funding.

"These are tough times," said McDonell. "To protect students in our classrooms, we all have to hurt a little bit. We all have to feel the 'ouch.'"

But last year's midyear cuts were devastating, and teachers don't want to see the same thing happen this year.

"We would really like to see this budget pass," Elk Grove Education Association President Maggie Ellis told Assembly Member Alan Nakanishi (R-Lodi). "We can't afford another set of midyear cuts. We have pared down as much as we can. Even our district office has taken hits. There's an incredible number of empty desks over there."

"During the last round of budget cuts in our district, there was talk of taking away class size reduction," said Ellis. "The fact that we are an extremely high-growth district is the only thing keeping us from losing teachers. But without an adequate budget, we are going to lose qualified staff and won't be able to attract qualified new teachers."

Nakanishi, who serves as vice chair of the Assembly Education Committee, told the teachers they could count on him for a yes vote on the budget.

During a visit to Sen. Jackie Speier (D-Hillsborough), San Mateo Elementary Teachers Association President Jim Remington said, "Our district doesn't have the money to fully fund things that we think are necessary. The district says it must increase class size and cut counselors at the middle school. If this happens, kids won't have anyone to talk to - or teachers must take over the job." His chapter members are so upset, they voted to strike rather than accept such cuts.

Daria Pennington, a member of the San Mateo Union High School District Teachers Association, told Speier the budget cuts are having an impact on student morale. "I teach college prep English at San Mateo High School. We try, as teachers, to inspire our students to go to college and tell them that they have options. But the news that they are raising fees and cutting classes at the California State University and University of California campuses is disheartening for my students."

Elsewhere around the Capitol, members of the Community College Association (CCA), an affiliate of CTA, told legislators that with massive cuts happening at four-year colleges, community colleges need passage of the governor's budget plan to take up the slack. Community colleges serve more than 1.6 million students and represent the largest system of higher education in California. Those numbers are expected to grow as qualified students are turned away from four-year colleges next year.

The budget proposal would restore the $200 million that was cut from community colleges last year, as Dwight Lomayesva, president of the Riverside City College Chapter of CCA, told Assembly Member John Benoit (R-Palm Desert). "While we would be pleased to have our funding restored, we are concerned that the increase in community college fees will limit enrollment and access to college."

Over the last year, student fees have increased from $11 per unit to the current $18, and are now poised to increase to $26. The increase, said faculty members, has already left thousands of poor and minority students unable to afford the cost of a higher education. And higher fees, proposed for those who already have a bachelor's degree, will be cost-prohibitive for people who have lost their jobs and need retraining at community colleges.

"We are not meeting the community college challenge in my district now," said Lomayesva. "I teach in a very high-growth area. Last semester, we had to cut 600 class sections - or classes. I am very concerned that we won't have enough facilities or instructors - and will have to turn kids away - in the future, when demands become even heavier."

Sherry Posnick-Goodwin