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Schools

Millbrae Parents, Students Rally Against Classroom Cutbacks

Millbrae PTA Council and Educate Our State bring attention to how state budget deficit could jeopardize schools.

Lining the corners of Millbrae Avenue with bright signs like “Cuts Hurt Kids” and “Fight For Our Schools” about 100 parents, students and teachers on Tuesday protested additional state budget cutbacks to the Millbrae School District.

“We want the community to know that the schools are at their wits end,” said Judy Louie, a fourth and fifth grade teacher at Green Hills Elementary School, while holding a rally sign at the intersection of El Camino Real and Millbrae Avenue.

Louie said K-3 classroom sizes have increased from 20 students to 30 students and that there is no longer a P.E. teacher, so she has to teach P.E., losing valuable prep time.

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But since the state has a $10 billion budget deficit and Gov. Jerry Brown is counting on voter approval of extending taxes to make up much of the deficit, California schools could see deeper cuts next school year.

“Without the tax extensions, I can’t even fathom how bad it will be,” Louie said.

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The Millbrae PTA Council and statewide campaign Educate Our State organized the rally to “Wake Up California” to the schools budget predicament. Rallies occurred in 20 other sites across the state.

“We have had far too many cuts already,” said Patty Koel, president of the Millbrae PTA Council. 

District officials have proposed and laying off more teachers and staff to offset a projected $2.4 million budget deficit in the 2012-2013 fiscal year. This hole could grow to an additional $780,000 if state voters don’t approve tax extensions.

The state budget remains in flux. Last week Brown that calls for $3 billion in additional funds for education. But the state legislature still hasn’t passed the budget and Brown has yet to win approval to put the tax extensions before voters.

Taylor Middle School students Cambria Warfield, Maggie Dennehy, and Clara Althaus said that due to teacher layoffs they have lost some of their best educators. 

The students added that they are against a proposal to shorten the school year by 20 days to save money. The Millbrae School District shortened its year by five days this year.

Green Hill School’s Running Club ran up and down Millbrae Avenue waving their signs and chanting slogans like “No More Cuts!”

Marie Althaus, a fifth grader at Green Hills, said she really values her education and doesn’t want to see it jeopardized by the budget. “I don’t want to see anymore of the teachers lost because they help us learn,” she said.

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