Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1544915
I N T H E F I G H T for public education, securing stable funding is absolutely essential. Proposition 55, approved by voters in 2016 but set to expire in 2030, generates almost $15 billion annually for California schools and community colleges. Our locals successfully gathered signatures to help qualify a permanent extension to Prop. 55 on the November ballot (see next page). Now we must work to pass it. Without an extension, schools and community colleges will be hit with an immediate 15% cut in funding; one in six of our colleagues will lose their jobs.. Anaheim Secondar y Teachers Association (ASTA) is focusing on coalition-building that can power not only Prop. 55 extension efforts, but lon- ger-term support for public education. "A lot of Orange County locals have good rela- tionships with their school districts, and coming together around Prop. 55 is a way to strengthen those bonds," said ASTA President Geoff Mor- ganstern. "We're in a political landscape where we have to work together to save public education and that means putting our differences aside to do what's best for students." Leaning into the same principles that guide their trailblaz- ing community schools work, ASTA is bringing together other locals, students, school districts and community. e coalition first met at a joint education/training around the Prop. 55 per- manent extension campaign in January, with the presidents of six CTA locals, student leaders from area school districts and superintendents. Co-hosted with Anaheim Elementary Educa- tion Association, the event was a huge success, said Morganstern. "We had six superintendents in that room who now understand the issue surrounding Prop. 55 and why we need to do something together about it. is fight is something that everyone can come together around." C o a l i t i o n c h a p t e r p r e s i d e n t s a n d t h e i r superintendents will visit local State Senate and Assembly members at their offices in April and May to share the need for continued and increased funding for public education. "e experience of engaging our community at open houses, LCAP meetings, school board meetings and community events taught us important les- sons in approaching our community to help pave the way for ASTA brought together other locals, six superintendents and student leaders in coalition to fight for Prop. 55's permanent extension. P R O P. 5 5 E X T E N S I O N By Julian Peeples The Power of Many 26 cta.org Feature Geoff Morganstern