Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/32596
STATE OF EMERGENCY TAKE ACTION CALL 1-888-268-4334 E-MAIL YOUR LEGISLATOR Loud and clear C Californians raise their voices for school funding alifornians have been waiting since February for lawmakers to pass Gov. Brown’s balanced and responsible budget proposal. Since then, lawmakers have made $12.5 billion in cuts, but re- fused to counter that with $12.5 in reve- nue extensions, forcing schools and colleges to plan for the worst. More than 20,000 layoff notices were issued to teach- ers by March 15 while legislators still couldn’t reach an agreement. Educators said “Enough is enough” and declared a State of Emergency. A week of action was planned for May 9-13. d r Nearly 500 CTA member volunteers converged on Sacramento. The week kicked off with a march to the Capitol with community and faith groups. Later, activi- ties escalated, spurred on by the release of the Republican leaders’ budget proposal. In response to the Republican plan, which was full of budgeting tricks and would eliminate funding for the successful Quality Education Investment Act (QEIA) program, CTA members protested outside the offices of Senate Republican leader Bob Dutton and Assembly Republican leader Connie Conway. When the Capitol closed and educators were asked to leave, 28 made the personal decision to stay behind. Among them was CTA President David A. Sanchez, who explained: “I am not willing to sit idle while a handful of Republican lawmakers in the state Senate and Assem- bly refuse to face the realities happening in the classrooms and communities across California. Today, I took a stand for the LEFT: In Los Angeles, more than 6,000 people packed in Pershing Square to rally for education. 10 California Educator | MAY 2011 CTA Photo by Sheri Miyamoto