Teachers and their supporters on Nov. 28 waved signs at five major intersections across the Edmonds School District to protest proposed state budget cuts to education, part of a statewide “Day of Action” organized by the state teachers union.
“The things on the chopping block are just unacceptable,” said Andi Nofziger, president of the Edmonds Education Association.
Schools across the state have seen millions of dollars in cuts in recent years, and the latest forecasts put another $500 million in budget crosshairs, including shortening the school year, reducing levy equalization payments and cutting state funding to colleges and universities by up to 17 percent.
The statewide Day of Action – highlighted by a raucous rally and protests in Olympia by different groups – coincided with the first day of a special legislative session meant to deal with the state’s persisting red ink.
Local demonstrations were expected to include teens from Edmonds-Woodway and Lynnwood high schools concerned about rising college costs.
Educators and administrators stood at each corner of the 196th Street Southwest and 44th Avenue West intersection in Lynnwood.
“The level of cuts to public education has been brutal,” said Tony Byrd, assistant superintendent of the school district.
Funding education means finding a better revenue stream, Byrd said.
“Teachers deserve support and students deserve an education,” he said.
Class sizes are too large and students aren’t receiving the individualized time with teachers required to succeed, said Julie Petterson, a guidance counselor at Mountlake Terrace High School.
“Students are our hope for the future and it’s pretty shocking this year how things have fallen apart,” Petterson said.
Cedar Way Elementary teacher Kristyn Staal invited state Rep. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, to spend the day coteaching her fourth-graders to help Liias understand the diversity of students’ needs. State Rep. Derek Stanford, D-Edmonds, also toured the school, visiting with several classrooms.
“I’m here standing up for my students and saying, ‘No more cuts,’” Staal said.
Staal is hopeful more teachers invite lawmakers to teach with them.
“I wanted him to see my students’ faces and how their decisions impact them,” she said.
After slashing through nearly $18 million in cuts the past two years, Edmonds voters last summer threw the district a $7 million life ring by approving a supplemental levy. Fewer teachers and more furlough days were still needed to help balance the books. Then a surprise $2.1 million gap due to lower than expected enrollment needed to be plugged.
Larger class sizes are teachers’ main concern. Second- and third-grade classes now have as many as 30 children. One kindergarten class started the year with 34 children until some were reshuffled to other schools, Nofziger said. In addition, there’s no extra money for paper or library books and less assistant time to help struggling students in the classroom.
“We’re going to take to the street corners to try and raise community awareness,” Nofziger said.
Legislators have a tough job, said Dory Weber, a teacher at Mountlake Terrace High. But protecting education funding now means bolstering students’ futures, Weber said.
“We want them to not make more cuts to education and find a new source (of funding),” she said.
Gov. Chris Gregoire has recommended the Legislature allow voters to decide whether to approve a temporary one-half cent sales tax increase to offset cuts to education, public safety and health care. The reception so far has been mostly lukewarm. Democratic leaders in the House and Senate are to produce their own plan in the coming weeks.
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