KCBA - Monterey, Salinas, Santa Cruz - News Weather-Despite Cuts, Teachers Support Budget
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Members of the California Teacher's Association gathered at the Asilomar Conference Grounds as they wrapped up a week-long meeting Friday. They urged the Assembly to pass the bill, despite it cutting six billion dollars more from education.
CTA presidents said the bill promises to repay the schools $11 billion once the economy turns around.
"What we're saying is approve this so at least school districts will know what amount of money they should be getting," said San Jose Teacher's Association President Janice Allen. "We all know it could change mid-year and have more budget cuts, but we don't want to go into this school year with the districts not knowing how much money they have to plan for."
It's the best of the worst, said CTA President David Sanchez.
"It's a big mess right now in Sacramento, we're extremely disappointed that the Assembly is holding students hostage by refusing to do the right thing and that is to pass this budget," said Sanchez.
More than $12 billion have been cut from California schools and colleges in the last two years.
Teachers like Karina Curiel have felt the pinch.
"I don't even have enough desks right now," said Curiel, who teaches 3rd grade at Gonzalez Elementary School.
At 26-years-old, she said she knows this is the career she wants. It was education that gave her a better life and she wants to give her students that gift.
"I get emotional talking about it," said Curiel. "If it wasn't for a teacher, I would still be living in the East side of Salinas."
But it's proving to be a big challenge to give them everything they need.
"It's sad because that's the reason I became a teacher to inspire them to let them know that."
CTA educators said this is the single largest cut to education since the Great Depression.
