Staff, Students In State Capital Lobby Against Education Cuts
Friday, April 23, 2010
Category: News > City > Local Schools
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Email/ShareAbout 300 Berkeley teachers and students gathered in Sacramento Wednesday along with thousands of others from school districts across California to rally against state budget cuts to public education.
Union leaders, teachers and students spoke out against proposed state cuts to public education-totaling $1.5 billion-before the crowd of approximately 7,500 people who gathered in front of the Capitol building.
The Berkeley Unified School District faces an estimated $2.7 million cut to its budget, which could force administrators to lay off staff members, curtail summer school funding and increase the number of district furlough days.
"Our state is basically in a state of emergency," said Cathy Campbell, president of Berkeley Federation of Teachers. "We're cutting education, while at the same time increasing corporate tax loopholes. This is a devastating formula in terms of a state, particularly for young people."
The rally was also the culmination of a 365-mile march sponsored by the California Federation of Teachers. Six people marched from Bakersfield to Sacramento for 48 days starting March 5 to "reach out to the Central Valley itself" about budget cuts, according to Jim Miller, a teacher at San Diego City College and one of the six marchers.
During the march's final mile, the six marchers were joined by thousands of people, about 50 of whom were