Teachers union mobilizes to boost turnout for education-related initiatives
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson promotes Props. 55 and 58 at CTA voter turnout event in San Jose on Saturday.
With less than three weeks to go before the Nov. 8 election, the California Teachers Association this weekend mobilized teachers, elected officials and other supporters to boost voter turnout on behalf of two ballot measures — Propositions 55 and 58 — that will have a direct bearing on schools and community colleges.
According to CTA estimates, over 1,000 teachers and other school staff walked precincts Saturday in several communities from San Diego to Santa Rosa on Saturday, joined by a slew of elected officials who are supportive of public education and allied with the teachers union, including Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León and Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendón. There will be a similar mobilization on Sunday.
“Public schools face a destructive $4 billion cut to public school education funding if Prop. 55 doesn’t pass,” CTA president Eric Heins said at a kickoff event in San Jose Saturday.
Many of those speaking out on behalf of Prop. 55 were motivated by the specter of the brutal budget cuts inflicted on schools and community colleges during the Great Recession as a result of the state’s budget crisis.
“We know that without Prop. 55 we will backslide, not just on education, but on other services and the safety net important to many Californians,” Rendón said.
Backers of the initiatives face the hurdle of getting voters’ attention in an electoral season that has been completely dominated by the most contentious Teachers union mobilizes to boost turnout for education-related initiatives | EdSource:
money for schools at stake in two state measures
