Students, schools face real harm without tax extension, educators tell lawmakers
More than 200 come to Sacramento to share human costs of cuts
Published: March 15, 2011
More than 200 school leaders, superintendents, principals, other educators and parents joined forces at the state Capitol Monday—the eve of the March 15 deadline for layoff notices to educators—to discuss with lawmakers the financial emergency facing schools.
The Legislature is running out of time to put a measure on the June ballot to extend temporary taxes due to expire this year. Without the extension, K-12 education funding could be cut an additional $2.3 billion to make up the shortfall.
The leaders of the Education Coalition joined State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson on the Capitol steps in urging lawmakers to approve Gov. Jerry Brown’s budget plan, which includes the extension of several existing taxes due to expire this year.
“We’re here for a simple reason,” Torlakson announced: “Our schools face a financial emergency–and they can’t wait any longer for our help.”
California School Boards Association President Martha Fluor, a board member in Newport-Mesa Unified School District in Orange County, agreed that the situation is urgent.
“We can't sit back and watch as our districts are forced to eliminate the very programs that ensure student success,” Fluor said. “Something must be done to retain the revenue that enables us to invest in our schools and students.”
Each education leader, in turn, addressed the crowd that braved the blustery March morning to come to speak with their legislators to share their concerns.
“We’re sad and scared for this generation of students,” said Bob Noyes, President of the Association of California School Administrators. “We expect students to rise to meet high levels of academic achievement, but ongoing budget cuts deny them programs and support to make it possible. We’re asking lawmakers to vote to extend the revenues that are currently in place. It’s for students. It’s for their future and it’s the only conscionable thing to do.”
Toby Boyd, a kindergarten teacher in the Elk Grove Unified School District and a California Teachers Association board member, said he’s never seen cuts this deep in his 18 years as a teacher. “Teachers are struggling to give students the time and assistance they need to learn, which is especially critical in our early grades, but these massive budget cuts and growing class sizes are making that impossible,” said Boyd. “Lawmakers must approve the governor’s tax extension plan to give our students a chance at a better education.”
“Parents are understandably upset about the conditions in many of our schools,” said Allan Clark, president of the California School Employees Association. “Maintenance, security, custodial and other critical support services in our schools have already been cut down to bare bones. The more we cut education funding, the harder it becomes to meet the health and safety needs of our students.”
Jo Loss, president of the California State PTA and a board member in Castro Valley Unified School District, also shared examples of how students in California are impacted by the current budget crisis.
“It’s time for the adults to step up,” she said. “Our nearly one million PTA members throughout California are expecting decisive action by our elected representatives. Let the voters decide!”
Renee Hendrick, president of the California Association of School Business Officials and executive director of business services for the Orange County Office of Education, pleaded with Democrats and Republicans to put the tax extension on the June ballot.
“Let us tell voters what life in our schools will be like with the extension versus life without the extension. We support the budget that sits in the Senate and Assembly awaiting a final vote because it protects schools. But it also depends on extending the temporary revenues,” Hendrick said.
Dennis Smith, secretary-treasurer of the California Federation of Teachers, put the matter squarely on the legislators’ shoulders: “For legislators who have failed to provide adequate education funding to block a vote of the people is the height of irresponsibility.”