Street Rally Protests State Budget Cuts for Education

About 50 parents, children and educators gathered at a busy Lake Forest intersection Friday afternoon, waving signs and protesting potential state budget cuts for schools.

The group – organized by the PTA at Gates Elementary – held placards and posters saying “Cuts Hurt Kids” and “Say No! to Education Budget Cuts.”

“We can’t really handle any more budget cuts," said Gates Principal Yvonne Estling. "We have to stand up and say enough’s enough. To me, the frustration is: If we want a better future, then we need to invest in children.”

Across the state this week, teachers, parents, administrators and others have been lobbying legislators to protect K-12 education from additional budget cuts. The goal of the campaign – dubbed “State of Emergency” – is to persuade lawmakers that Gov. Jerry Brown’s proposed tax extensions are vital to maintaining adequate funding for education.

On Monday, several dozen teachers and parents from the Saddleback Valley District Education Coalition rallied in front of the Fullerton office of state Assemblyman Chris Norby. On Tuesday, coalition members attended a Saddleback Valley Unified school board meeting, at which the board unanimously approved a resolution in support of the weeklong demonstrations.

The board’s resolution noted that SVUSD has cut $58 million over the past three years, and might be forced to cut $20 million more without Brown's tax extensions.

The school district has already reduced the number of school days, closed campuses, increased class sizes and cut programs. Some 276 employees have  been laid off, and district staffers have endured $26 million in pay cuts and other reduced compensation, according to the district.

On Thursday, members of the Saddleback Valley District Education Coalition held a “Shout Out” event in which they phoned and emailed local legislators asking them to protect education funding. Saddleback teachers and parents also traveled by bus to a larger rally Friday in San Diego.

Dolores Wirth, PTA president at Gates Elementary, said she wanted to organize a local rally for parents who could not travel. The group gathered in front of the Orchard shopping center at El Toro and Rockfield. Those who came wore red, blew whistles and shouted as passing cars honked in support.

“Education is really the basis of our future,” Wirth said. “If we don’t support it now, we’re going to pay for it down the line.”

Just this week, the district felt new effects from the budget crisis. The board voted Tuesday to close Aliso Elementary in Lake Forest to save $400,000 a year. Also, Assistant Superintendent Kathy Dick said the district is increasing class sizes for fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade teachers to 34.5 students next year.

Brown is expected to present a revised budget plan next week. Since January, he has been pushing for a ballot measure asking voters to extend or reinstate temporary taxes to close the state’s $15-billion budget deficit.

Republican lawmakers argue that the state can prevent cuts to education without taxes by slashing wasteful spending in other areas.