Statewide awareness addresses budget cut crisis

The wave California’s budget crisis has hit the Davis Joint Unified School District, as the school board foresees a $5.6 million budget gap for the 2010-11 school year that could potentially lead to 103 layoffs and a shorter school year.

To address the grim prospect of public education in California, the school board approved a resolution to endorse “Start the Day of Students” on March 4. “Start the Day of Students” is a statewide observance to support education.

“The event increases awareness of the impact of the budget cut on the school,” agriculture teacher Amy Schulte said.

Although Schulte has not personally received a pink slip, her teaching partner and first year teacher, Grant Ermis, has received the slip.

“It will affect our department next year [if Ermis is laid off],” Schulte said.

According to Stand Up for Schools website, $17 billion was cut from schools and colleges in California in the last two years, and more than 16,000 educators were laid off.

Parent volunteers passed out flyers that outlined the budget crisis to parents as they dropped off their kids. Signs acknowledging March 4 as the “Start the Day of Students” and “Stand Up for Education” were posted on campus.

Schulte added that teachers and staff were encouraged to wear pink garments-sweaters, hats or ties-to represent DHS staff who have received pink slips and to speak out against the lack of funding in education.