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Community Corner

Locals Rally Against Education Budget Cuts

Numerous schools and organizations across California protested against planned budget cuts.

Thousands of teachers, students, administrators and supporters of public education packed into Pershing Square late Friday afternoon for a rally protesting further budget cuts in education.

The rally was one of five being held concurrently throughout the state and was also in conjunction with a series of week-long actions intended to point out the state of emergency within the public schools system.

“Classes are too crowded and the teachers are overloaded. Our families are at stake, we’re losing our jobs, there’s teachers that are being riffed and going on unemployment. I don’t think it’s doing the government good for all of us to go on unemployment either,” Aschara Moranon said.

Moranon, a physical education teacher at , and her daughter Joy stood at the Pershing Square entrance on the corner of Olive and Sixth streets, raising their signs and getting nearby motorists to honk in support.

“I just hope that California comes up with an idea like putting a stamp tax on L.A. parcel. Other districts have done it and been successful, so why not L.A.?” Moranon said.

Governor Jerry Brown’s proposed budget for K-12 education during the 2011-12 school year is projected to be $63.8 billion, including a $2.1 billion deferment to 2012-13 for K-12 and community college costs. Gov. Brown will release a revised budget on May 16.

According to a document on the United Teachers Los Angeles website, California schools are facing $4 billion in budget cuts, while the Los Angeles Unified School District could see $400 million in cuts.

Peter Swelch, a teacher at Franklin High School’s small learning community Arroyo Seco Academy, attended the rally at Pershing Square. He expressed his frustration with the rally, stating the entertainment and activities weren’t necessarily helping the current situation.

“I did not come here to sing, dance or eat," he said. "I came here to either do something or leave. I don’t care about the turnout, what I care about is action."

“I think the UTLA and the teachers here have to take control of what’s going on. No matter what the budget cuts are or what the situation is, if the people here don’t take it on as their own project, then we’re not going to get anywhere,” he added.

UTLA members and teachers Monica Whalen and Mauricio Cortez spearheaded a rally held outside of FHS prior to the Pershing Square rally.

“In our state, K-12 schools have already taken more than $18 billion in cuts over the last three years. We have already lost 10 instructional days in the past two years,” said FHS science teacher Jomel Villamil. “And more furlough days are in the plan which translates to salary cuts for teachers and less instructional days for our students.”

As a result of the impending budget cuts, Villamil said FHS will have to increase class sizes, let go of teachers and clerks, and cut extracurricular activities such as arts, music, sports, and career technical programs.

“I am deeply saddened that some of my colleagues have to be let go due to budget cuts. In my personal opinion, teachers should be the last one on the chopping board. Teachers are portrayed in the media as the cause of our failing educational system and sadly, some of the public buys into this,” Villamil said.

In LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy’s most recent newsletter, Deasy acknowledged the difficulty in trying to reduce a $408 million deficit. Deasy said by working together, the negative impact the deficit will have on LAUSD’s students can be minimized.

“I think it was a good event. It was the first step to come out and show the public that we are not going to take the cuts,” said UTLA board member Ingrid Villeda.

Villeda said, “We’re going to fight for something and although this wasn’t a strike or a walkout, we’re letting the public know that we care about the kids, we care about the classroom and we are willing to do whatever it takes next time.”

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