"I question the statement he is protecting public education with his proposal," said Joe Ovick, superintendent of the Contra Costa County Office of Education.
A San Mateo County school leader was more succinct.
"It's clear at this point that it's completely untrue that the governor is protecting education," said Craig Baker, interim superintendent of the San Carlos School District. His district had braced for a $1.5 million loss but now anticipates losing at least $600,000 more.
Other education officials statewide echoed those sentiments as they realized the budget proposal would mean cuts of more than $200 per student in most districts. The Mt. Diablo school district saw its projected deficit balloon from $17 million by 2012 to $35.3 million, due to the governor's budget and declining enrollment.
"We're taking things away that should never have been taken away," trustee Paul Strange said Tuesday before voting to eliminate some librarians and music teachers and to look at school closures.
