Adopting funding solutions a ‘must’

SACRAMENTO — California Teachers Association President E. Toby Boyd issued the following statement about the guidance regarding reopening public schools and colleges issued by the California Department of Education (CDE) and the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) and the Governor Newsom Administration:

“We appreciate the thorough guidance to help districts and county offices reopen schools issued by both the California Department of Education and the California Department of Public Health. Undoubtedly, the safe return of California’s six million students and all the educators and staff who work with them remains top of mind for CTA and our 310,000 members. We agree with most of the recommended safety adjustments and hope our schools will have the resources and support necessary. One of the many lessons we have learned throughout the quarantine is that we can do anything when we, as a state, work together, collaborating and listening to one another.

“California has a monumental responsibility to its students and educators to have the proper protocols in place, as well as the supports and safety equipment to ensure schools are safe and sanitary when the bells ring anew. Equally monumental is the state’s responsibility to provide the proper funding to pay for the safety measures and resources detailed in the guidance.

“Recognizing the abrupt economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, we call on the governor and the legislature to consider revenue sources now rather than kicking the can down the road. The legislature’s budget proposal strives to preserve programs for our most vulnerable students and prevents immediate educator layoffs this August. But without federal funding, the deferrals simply kick state budget cuts down the road. We urge you to consider the funding solutions recommended by the Education Coalition that suspend numerous tax expenditures and adopt temporary tax increases.”

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The 310,000-member California Teachers Association is affiliated with the 3 million-member National Education Association.