Teachers protest cuts - Redlands Daily Facts

Teachers protest cuts - Redlands Daily Facts

These same teachers vote not to increase taxes THAT PAY THEIR SALARY!! The communities do not want tax increases to pay teachers salaries. Teachers need to quit bitching to the State Government and cry to the people that vote tax increases in if they want their cushy union jobs with decent pay and basically free medical coverage that I wish I could get!!!!!!

Redlands joins rally to say 'no' to education budget cuts

David James Heiss, Staff Writer

Sue de Bord Sanders was horrified to discover a letter in her box at Redlands High School, where she teaches English.
The letter, addressed to Ima Teacher, claimed "that your services be terminated at the close of the current school year pursuant to the Education Code."

She was a little more relieved to see the mock signature of U.R. Laidoff.

At the end of the letter was a message from the Redlands Teachers Association to join them in a rally to protest state budget cuts at the end of the day - on a day recognized as Day of the Teacher by the state.

More than 200 teachers, classified personnel and administrators joined swarms of concerned educators to protest Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts to education, at the busy intersection of Waterman Avenue and Hospitality Lane in San Bernardino.

On Wednesday Schwarzenegger released a revised budget proposal that seemed to offer a glimmer of hope for educators, but according to Redlands' superintendent Lori Rhodes, the budget "may look good on the surface, but they need to follow through and have responsibility to fund education at an even higher level."

Rhodes joined some of her staff and colleagues at the rally, which included several Redlands principals, school board members, district office staff, teachers and classified employees.

"What's happening with the way the state is funding education is terrible," Rhodes said. "We need to stand together to say, `This is not right,' and this was a great opportunity for us to come together and do that."

State Superintendent Jack O'Connell came down from Sacramento to address the crowd, standing side by side with County Superintendent Herb Fischer.

"I think it's clear the governor has heard the outcry from the education community over his initial budget proposals," O'Connell said. "It seems like every year education is put through the wringer during the budget process, and this needs to stop."

He expressed concern about the May revised budget, which reportedly proposes a heavier reliance on the state lottery to fund education, and echoed a sentiment of others that he was not pleased about Schwarzenegger's intention to not reverse a 10 percent cut in categorical programs such as class size reduction and counseling programs.

Speaking to local reporters, O'Connell said he came down from the rally because this area is reputed to support education.

"These communities continue to put education first, in election after election," O'Connell said. "This area passes school bonds education is still woefully underfunded. This budget is less than treading water, but it's a beginning. We need to invest in our future and expand the economy - to do that, we need a well-educated, analytical workforce."

Fischer also offered remarks on the governor's latest budget.

"While the revised budget vows to maintain Prop. 98 minimum funding, schools will still lose about $4.3 billion in anticipated revenue because no (cost of living adjustment) is being paid," Fischer said. "It's time to get our priorities straight with voters of the state."

Paula Monroe, formerly president of the Redlands Education Support Professionals Association and now one of the nine members of the National Education Association in Washington, D.C., was at the rally to join her colleagues.

Addressing the crowd on behalf of the National Education Association, she said, "It's unacceptable that one of the largest economies in the world - California - doesn't place higher value on education."

Referring to the governor, she said, "The `Terminator' is at it again. We need to remind him that this isn't a movie script. This is real for public schools, this is real for our educators, and this is real for our children.

"It's going to be a long fight," she said. "We're ready for the battle. We can do this."

Sue Sander, who was inspired at the last minute to join the rally after being shocked by her mock letter, was glad she attended, despite being tired and still having to go home and grade papers later.

"I was blown away by that" letter's statement, she said. "It took my breath away. What a painful place to be in. These are real letters people are getting across the state."

As hundreds lined the four corners of the busy intersection, shouting and blowing whistles at honking vehicles snarled in traffic, Redlands district staff members convened at El Torito on Hospitality Lane to unwind.

Tim Hoch, principal of McKinley Elementary School, stood in the crowd listening to people on a makeshift stage above a truck express their concerns about the proposed budget cuts.

"His May revision today demonstrates he's listening a little bit," Hoch said. "It's a slight improvement over his January budget proposal, so you like to think he's listening."

School board member Neal Waner, who arrived with his son Tyler, a fifth-grader at Mariposa Elementary School, came to support his district.

"Per pupil funding is 47th in the nation, and it's getting cut again," Waner said. "Collectively, our voices need to be heard in Sacramento. This affects everyone: teachers, administrators, board members, sports staff, children. It affects more than just our 22,000 students" in the Redlands school district.

Monica Solis, a math teacher at Clement Middle School, carpooled to the rally with her mother Yolanda Solis, who works as the office manager for the Redlands Teachers Association.

"We have to be very, very concerned and do something about it," Solis said. "If we want California to be a leader in education, we need to educate our future leaders and support each other."

According to Redlands Teachers Association President Rich Laabs, nearly 200 people from the Redlands Unified School District were at the rally.

They were joined by hundreds of others from several school districts.

"It was the right message, but we've got a long way to go," Laabs said, commenting on the remarks made to the demonstrators by O'Connell and others. "The governor is just starting to move in the right direction. Attendance was beyond expectation, and it made Redlands look really proud."

E-mail Staff Writer David James Heiss at dheiss@redlandsdailyfacts.com