Governor’s Proposed Budget Results in More Than $2.2 billion in Cuts to Schools
West Sacramento, Calif.
– After pledging to protect education funding in his State of the State address on Wednesday, Governor Schwarzenegger proposed a budget today that would cut more than $2.2 billion from schools. These cuts are absolutely unfeasible for schools to absorb after the $17 billion in reductions endured by K-12 schools over the past two years.
“In the past, the Governor and Legislature have manipulated the minimum funding guarantee to lower levels and then claimed to have “protected” schools by funding them at that new, artificially reduced level,” said CSBA President Frank Pugh. “This year, it looks as though nothing has changed.”
Ongoing cuts to schools have caused devastating consequences that students, parents, teachers, administrators and other school staff have had to bear. The results of these horrific cuts were outlined in the 500 handwritten letters from school board members and superintendents across the state that CSBA delivered to the governor’s office on Wednesday.
Education officials used the letters to describe the current education condition as “hemorrhaging,” “dismal,” and “in crisis.” Others explained that schools are closing, class sizes are growing, teachers, staff, administrators, janitors, nurses and librarians are being laid off and vital education programs are being eliminated because there is nothing left to cut.
“During his state of the state address, the governor gave families across California hope that their local schools would be protected from further cuts,” said CSBA Executive Director Scott P. Plotkin. “This proposed budget makes it clear that we still have our work cut out for us. Now, it is up to all of us to work with the Legislature to right this wrong and make the education of our youth a priority.”
For more information, please contact Brittany McKannay at 916-669-3244.