Schools
Teachers, Parents, Students Rally for Education
Joining rallies across the state organized by the California Teachers Association to protest state budget cuts to education, the Albany community turned out.
Hundreds of teachers, parents, administrators and students rallied on Solano Avenue on Wednesday afternoon to call attention to the "" for education in California.
Waving yellow signs reading "Cut$ Hurt Kids," teachers and administrators said the is worse than they’ve ever seen in California because they follow $20 billion in education losses over the last three years.
John Bailes, an English teacher at and an officer in the Albany Teachers Association, said California spends less on education than 48 other states. At about $5,000 per student, California also spends less than half of what Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey and other Northeastern states spend, he added.
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“The state budget is at a stalemate and therefore it looks like the governor will have no choice but to slash education again. So, we are in a state of emergency,” Bailes said.
Under consideration in Albany is cutting the teaching staff by eight full time positions. This could include two from elementary schools for science and performing arts instruction, two at the middle school, 3.5 teaching positions at Albany High School and a half time or .6 teaching position at MacGregor High School. At both Albany Middle School and the high school, the seventh period, which allows students room in their schedules for electives and music, might be cut.
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A number of administrative, librarian and custodial spots are also on the chopping block.
At issue statewide is how California deals with a deficit now at about $16 billion. Gov. Jerry Brown in January proposed a state budget that would leave K-12 education alone, although it cut many other social services. His plan depended on voter permission to extend three taxes set to expire June 30. Republicans in the state legislature have refused to go along with that plan, leaving Brown without the two-thirds legislative approval needed for budget matters.
“California is the only state in the nation that is minority-ruled. A Republican minority is holding the purse strings right now and deciding what gets funded. Yet people in California absolutely believe that education needs to be fully funded. They know that taxes are the price we pay for civilization,” said Kerry Dunigan, vice president of the Albany Teachers Association and a teacher.
Teachers were out in full force at the rally, which was organized by the teachers’ union, but they were joined by administrators and families. and school board members and were in the crowd, as were at least 100 parents and dozens of students.
"I think we would do more in Sacramento than here. We’re preaching to the converted here,” said parent Leda Schulak, about the potential effectiveness of the rally.
Superintendent Marla Stephenson urged people to become active on the education spending issue. She urged them to to convince them of the need to fund education.
The rally was part of a “State of Emergency” week organized by the California Teachers Association and the California State Parent Teachers Association.
Similar rallies happened in Oakland, Richmond, San Francisco, and elsewhere on Wednesday.
Another rally is ; some participants from Albany plan to take the 3:30 p.m. BART from El Cerrito Plaza to Civic Center.
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