Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/740763
Keep Schools Moving Forward DAN RE YNOLDS, MT. DI AB LO ED UCATION A S S OC I ATION Between 2009 and 2012, we had about $59 million in cuts. Hundreds of preliminary pink slips went out — more than 600 in the 2008-09 school year. Class sizes went up, most dramatically in elementary school. The district laid off more than 200 educators, including 60 elemen- tary teachers, 24 special education teachers, and 23 school librarians. Busing was cut back, athletics were eliminated, special education assistants and school classified employees had their hours slashed. School libraries were shuttered; elementary music programs were com- pletely wiped out. The school year itself was shortened, and teachers took unpaid furlough days to help the district make ends meet. The funding that has been restored in recent years has allowed us to undo some of the massive damage. Class sizes are beginning to come back down. We reopened school libraries, but many for only two days a week. Slowly, elementary music is coming back. Athletics are back. Hours are being restored for our vital support staff. But we are not even close to where we were, and we shouldn't be working just to be where we were. We should be striving to move our schools forward. Educators tell why we must pass Prop. 55 How CTA Recommends Candidates CTA's process of recommending candidates starts with you. Recommendations are made by local educators focused on what will best serve California's public education system and the needs of our students, as outlined in CTA's Advocacy Agenda (cta.org/advocacyagenda). The basic steps: Can't Ever Go Back! Dan Reynolds testifies before the State Assembly Education Committee in support of Prop. 55. Photo by Mike Myslinski. 28 cta.org # C T A G O T V 28 cta.org Members of Tulare Joint Union High School Teachers Association standing strong for Prop. 55. Madera Unified Teachers Association on parade.