"Too Much to Carry: Don't Balance The Budget on the Backs of Our Children!"
Alameda County Superintendents Tell Sacramento

Hayward - On Wednesday, February 4th at 10.30 a.m., Alameda County Schools Superintendent Sheila Jordan will be joined by the county's 18 District Superintendents, board members, parents, community activists, labor representatives and business leaders in a press conference at Roosevelt Middle School, 1926 19th Avenue, Oakland, to discuss the local impact of the Governor's drastic budget proposal to slash $2.5 billion in education funds statewide.

District superintendents and education board members will be available to speak to the media to address the specific impact the budget cuts represent for their districts. The potential direct effects are unprecedented: layoffs of 140,000 teachers, increase of class sizes by over 50%, and layoffs of 240,000 bus drivers, janitors, food service workers, maintenance workers, and other education support professionals.

"Alameda County wants stable funding for education; investing in children is a crucial economic growth strategy and should be our priority," said Alameda County Schools Superintendent Sheila Jordan. "We need to think long-term, our children--our future workforce, will significantly impact the economic strength and fiscal sustainability of our communities and country; they hold the key to the future, investing in their competency is critical."

Jordan and the district Superintendents have signed a letter outlining what the cuts mean to California's future. "Once again, California's schools are forced to carry more than its fair share in budget cutbacks. As Superintendents, we are responsible for the health of our districts and are entrusted with providing strong and stable learning environments for the students we serve. We join together to oppose the proposed cuts to our education programs and to suggest a strategy to defend public education for future generations," the letter states.

On Wednesday February 11, Alameda County district Superintendents will take their message to Sacramento. They will join Superintendents from across California for the "Save Our Schools" rally from 9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. Organizers invite state-wide participation from all county and district superintendents to give maximum impact to their simple and urgent message: "Protect Our students, Protect the Revenue Limit, Protect Prop. 98". For more information about the "SOS" rally in Sacramento contact the Los Angeles County Office of Education at musgrave_marilyn@lacoe.edu.

WHAT: Press conference on the impact of the state budget cuts to Alameda County children and schools

WHERE: Roosevelt Middle School, 1926 19th Avenue, Oakland, 94606

WHEN: Wednesday, Feb. 4th, 10.30AM

WHO: Sheila Jordan, Superintendent, Alameda County; Alameda County District Superintendents; board members; parents; students; and community members