Rally highlights demand for increased education spending

By: ANDREA MOSS - Staff Writer | Wednesday, April 27, 2005 11:23 PM PDT ∞

POWAY ---- More than two dozen parents staged a rally Wednesday near Valley Elementary School to highlight their demand that Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and state legislators increase funding for public schools.

Held at the southern end of Bowron Road, which runs in front of the school, the event was one of nine that organizers said were held around the state. Together, the rallies signaled the kickoff of a major lobbying effort that is being called "Caravan for Kids."

The campaign will go full blast today when hundreds of parents, students and other public school supporters ---- including more than 250 from San Diego County ---- board buses and planes and join carpools for a trip to Sacramento. Once there, participants plan to rally on the steps of the state Capitol.

The parents hope to pressure the governor to deliver on a pledge he made last year to pay back to schools $2 billion that was diverted from the state's education budget. Schwarzenegger is now suggesting the payment be spread out over 15 years, as part of his budget proposal for fiscal year 2005-06.

Opponents say a proposal from the governor also could do away with minimum spending requirements for education that are spelled out in Proposition 98. Passed in 1988, the measure was supposed to guarantee that schools receive about 40 percent of California's annual budget.

Education spending has increased each year since, but that did not always happen at the rate required by Prop. 98.

Speaking at Wednesday's rally, Palomar Council PTA President Carolyn Epple said several consecutive years of slowdowns in education spending pushed California near the bottom of all states in terms of per-student education dollars. The council oversees PTAs throughout the county.

Epple and other speakers called for elected officials to start investing in children and their schools.

"Specifically, we are calling on (the governor and state legislators) to honor their promise to restore $2 billion to California schools, uphold Proposition 98 ... and rebuild California's commitment to education," Epple said.

"To make California schools great again, we must ensure that our public education system is the number one budget priority for the state of California, protect Proposition 98, and ensure that student achievement and per-pupil funding in California schools shall place among the top 10 states in our nation again by 2015."

Poway Unified School District board members Penny Ranftle and Linda Vanderveen, Cardiff school board member and 50th Congressional District candidate Francine Busby and Poway Federation of Teachers President Don Raczka lent their support at the rally.

The governor and his supporters have argued that his budget gives schools $10,000 per student per year, but teachers and schools say they end up getting far less because costs once borne by the state or the county have been shifted to the schools.

Busby told those at Wednesday's rally that Schwarzenegger needs to remember that Sacramento is not a movie set and, instead, keep his promise.

"We are living in reality here," she said. "And the governor needs to realize that our children are not actors."

Linda Cialeo, co-chair of the Palomar Council PTA's legislative group, said parents have to be the voice for the state's children.

"That's why we are going to Sacramento," she said.

Contact staff writer Andrea Moss at (760) 739-6654 or amoss@nctimes.com.