Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,
 

I’m outraged with the State Budget Proposal that you have put forth.  You have called this the “Year of Education” for California, yet the budget you’re proposing does not reflect this priority.  My school district alone will be losing $7 to $11 million in funds for 2008/2009.  The school district and the local school board did not bring this shortfall upon itself, and it’s not fair that our students, teachers, and communities are going to suffer because of a decision made in Sacramento.

Our state ranks 46th in per student spending, before even considering these proposed cuts.  California has received a D+ in state funding for education, and the budget proposal means that grade will go even lower.  A report commissioned by the state's legislative leaders last year concluded that California needs to invest up to $25 billion more a year in education. How can we explain to our kids that they are a low priority for the governor and legislature, and that schools will have less to offer them next year? 

I’m concerned too, that many teachers may be cut from school districts.  California’s kids have made a lot of progress in the last few years, and making bigger classes and running schools with fewer teachers can only be a step backwards.  The economy is bad in Riverside County, and letting people go without another district in the state that can hire them means more foreclosures on houses and more families moving into poverty.

I am urging you to please re-work your budget proposal. Put our students first, set a realistic state budget and create a balanced approach of spending cuts and revenue increases to close the billion dollar budget hole.

I vote in every election, and I’m expecting you to listen to your constituents.  The 1100 teachers in my district will continue to fight this budget cut proposal and will fight to protect the integrity of Proposition 98.  Rework your budget so California gives priority to its children.
 

Sincerely,