The following information was shared with members of the school community on Tuesday, March 26 by Gabe Kessler, president of the Association of Piedmont Teachers (APT) and school board trustee Megan Pillsbury:
The Alameda County Office of Education and the Easy Bay Coalition for Public Education are holding a rally in support of public education in Sacramento on Wednesday, April 3. The rally will take place from 12:00 pm – 1:30 pm on the south lawn of the Capitol.
Background: On January 12, APT members, PUSD School Board Members, and administrators joined with thousands of others from the East Bay Coalition for Public Education at a rally in Oakland to demand greater funding for public education. Since then they have joined forces with the Alameda County Office of Education, Alameda County Superintendents, School Board Members, and CSEA in these efforts. It is immensely inspiring to see all these groups gather together to fight for a common cause. California ranks 41st in per-pupil spending so there needs to be change to the state funding structure in order for public schools in California to survive.
Why April 3: We recognize the challenges holding a rally in the middle of the school day holds for all involved. So why this date and time?
- It is important that Governor Newsom and the legislature hear our voices early enough to consider changes to the May Revise of the Governor’s Budget.
- It is crucial that the rally occur during the weekday and during business hours when legislators are present.
- Many schools will be out on break at different times in April.
- May is complicated by schools wrapping up, taking the CAASPP, and administering AP testing.
See below for more information:
- https://www.acoe.org/
- There is also an ACOE Facebook page that has more information.
- The event is being sponsored by Assemblymember Ron Bonta and many other Assembly Members will be speaking