 | | | Springhill students and parents blow bubbles at recent "Don't Blow It" rally
Photo courtesy Jennifer Paul
| | | | | | Despite gray skies and drizzle, a group of Springhill Elementary school students came out to blow bubbles before class March 15 as part of the "This Budget Blows" campaign to encourage parent support for adequate and timely funding for Lafayette's schools. The date was chosen specifically because it was pink slip day - a day when thousands of teachers throughout the state received preliminary lay-off notices. The main message of the morning rally, sponsored by parent-led, grassroots organization, Educate Our State was "Don't blow it! Pass a budget that funds education now."
Funding for the next school year is uncertain - it will depend on the outcome of the state legislature budget negotiations this summer and the passing of a proposed tax measure on the November ballot. At stake is a statewide $4.8 billion trigger cut to education funding that is included in the governor's budget. Proponents argue that it's impossible for schools to plan for teachers and programs with money that may or may not arrive, months after school officially starts.
"Parents want to bring attention to the crisis facing our schools," said Jenifer Paul, co-founder of Lafayette for Education, a group that is locally trying to raise awareness about the state of education in California. "Because the proposed budget is dependent upon an initiative passing long after school begins, districts are looking at cutting 20,000 teachers statewide, and shortening the school year. Enough is enough. Education must be a priority in California. We must adequately fund all of our schools and do so consistently."
The Lafayette rally was one of many throughout the state from Burlingame to Sherman Oaks. Organizers encouraged parents to send letters to state legislators to voice their concerns by signing on to ThisBudgetBlows.org.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA