Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1546952
Why is Prop. 3 so important? "If Prop. 3 doesn't pass, that's major for our district and means less money available for wages and bene- fits and increased workloads — and that's already an impact on us." What's at risk in your district if this funding expires? "We have 500 paraprofessionals who work directly with our students and if we lose one-in-six jobs, that will be a big impact. All of our classifications are already short-staffed. Schools aren't going to look as good, maintenance requests will go unfilled, Redlands Education Support Professionals Association (RESPA) PRESIDENT LIZ HUERTA- BREWSTER (Funding at risk: $7 1 million) PEA President Stan Ennis, left, and Enrique Chavez. " Email and mail are impersonal, but when you see educators at your door sharing their stories about the impacts of your vote, it really goes so much further." Why is Prop. 3 so important? " There are a lot of people who live at the poverty line here in the San Joaquin Valley, so we need additional support. This funding directly supports our students, so they have equitable opportunities. I was hired in 2010, when there were teacher layoffs. After my first year, Prop. 30 was on the ballot, and if it wasn't approved, I would've gotten fired." What's at risk in your district if this funding expires? "Close to a quarter of our funding will be gone and if a quarter of our educators and classified disappear, it's going to be very difficult to meet the needs of our students. They won't be able to hire teach- ers, and all rookie teachers are going to get let go. Our classroom sizes are going to increase, and with students with a lot of needs, it's going to be very difficult. I worry about our teachers' mental health because this would burn a lot of teachers out." What are you doing to ensure Prop. 3 passes? "We're going to walk door-to-door in our neighborhoods and edu- cate folks about Prop. 3 as well as our candidates for school board. Email and mail are impersonal, but when you see educators at your door sharing their stories about the impacts of your vote, it really goes so much further. We're going to talk to the com- munity and do public education — and we're going to be strategic about it." Thoughts as we push onward to victory? "Regardless of where you're from, we need to support the needs of all our students. I'm fighting for the same opportunities that were given to me to be provided to the next generations of kids." Porterville Educators Association (PEA) VICE PRESIDENT ENRIQUE CHAVEZ (Funding at risk: $58.5 million) 26 cta.org Liz Huerta-Brewster Feature