Our students come first, says Sanchez

The governor’s budget proposal “is not just talking about mortgaging the academic future of our students,” says CTA President David A. Sanchez. “It’s more like a foreclosure.”

Anne McCaughey of Stockton addresses Council.

In his address to CTA’s State Council of Education, he said he was stunned that in this so-called “Year of Education,” the governor is proposing to cut $4.8 billion from public school funding.

He challenged the governor and lawmakers to do what is right, and to exercise leadership by setting priorities and implementing a balanced approach to the state’s financial crises. Any talk of program cuts, he said, must also include talk about revenue increases.

“Our students didn’t create this budget crisis, and their education shouldn’t be ransomed to solve it.”

In a recent meeting between the governor and Education Coalition representatives, Sanchez warned against making devastating cuts. “I told him that this is not how you put students first. It is not how you show that education is important. And it’s not how you build a stronger California.”

It might be an uphill battle to convince the public that a state budget crisis actually exists, he told Council.

“We’re going to have to start the same way we did in 2005 — by educating the public and our colleagues about what is at stake for our public schools.”

CTA has launched radio ads in conjunction with the Education Coalition and developed a new publication, “Budget Watch,” to keep local chapters informed. In addition, a “Budget Crisis” section has been created on the CTA website.

“You can e-mail Governor Schwarzenegger and your state lawmakers — because this fight is bigger than the governor this time around,” said Sanchez. “Tell them to put our students and schools first. Tell them our children count!”

Presenting the Friend of Education award to Assembly Member Gene Mullin (center) are CTA Executive Director Carolyn Doggett, Director Larry Allen, Vice President Dean E. Vogel, President David A. Sanchez, and Secretary-Treasurer Daniel R. Vaughn.