Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1546952
CVTA leaders, including President Carissa Carrera at right, make fun, informative videos to get the Prop. 3 message out to members. Why is Prop. 3 so important? "Our district has made some extreme cuts over the past couple years, the majority of which were to teachers and staff. This year, we have a historically high number of combo classes and if we were to lose another $60 million, I don't even want to know what would happen. The deficit we're facing now is already impacting students every day. We have a population with very high needs, so it would be pretty drastic." What's at risk in your district if this funding expires? The district has already decimated classified staff, so they 'd have to go after programs. All of the extra duties teachers do like sports, after-school tutoring and other programs outside the school day might be at risk of elimination. Our CTE programs are so neces- sary for our students, but they 're not required, so they would likely go — we'd have to cut everything down to the required classes." Coachella Valley Teachers Association (CVTA) PRESIDENT CARISSA CARRERA (Funding at risk: $59.6 million) What are you doing to ensure Prop. 3 passes? "We visited every school site for bar- gaining and talked about Prop. 3 with our members. We're going to be precinct-walking for Prop. 3 and our school board candi- dates every Saturday through Election Day, as well as weekdays in neighborhoods around our schools after students get out for the day. We also have a social media campaign and two of our member-leaders have a very popular TikTok account that is focusing on Prop. 3 and the election." Thoughts as we push onward to victory? "I hope all CTA members will band together and help pass Prop. 3 even if it's not a huge drain on their own district because it impacts our students across California. Don't just look at what you stand to lose but what California stands to lose." " We're precinct- walking for Prop. 3 and our school board candidates every Saturday through Election Day, as well as weekdays in neighborhoods around our schools." Jeraldo Martinez, Sanger Unified Teachers Assn. (SUTA); Judee Martinez, Fresno/Madera Service Center Council Chair and Central Unified Teachers Assn.; and SUTA President Janelle Reetz ready to canvass for Prop. 3. 24 cta.org Feature