Family Values Bring Alameda Community Together to Save School Programs and Graphically Label Schwarzenegger Proposed Education Cuts as “Garbage”

The Foundation has raised funds for the Alameda Unified School District for 25 years and passionately believes that every child in the District deserves a well-rounded, high-quality education. Their funding has enabled schools in the district to provide programs such as visual and performing arts, sports, AP classes, and scholarships.

Although this group has been tirelessly fundraising for years, the campaign kicked off yesterday is focused on making Alamedans aware of what they’re about to lose under the governor’s proposed budget. Briggance observed that while “this is Alameda’s demonstration today, I believe this California’s problem. We’re hopeful that other districts will join with us in advocating for something new for public education.”

The entire campaign—from conception to design to printing—was done by volunteers, noted Kevin Lee, founder of Wrecking Ball, Inc. “Given the devastating budget cuts AUSD is being forced to make, I felt strongly that I had to do everything within my power to raise awareness around this crisis in our public schools. Not only are we facing severely overcrowded classrooms and drastic personnel layoffs, but our students are now saddled with a curriculum sorely lacking in music, art, athletics, technology and so much more.”

In comments directed to the district’s 10,000 students, Briggance said, “I want you to know that Alamedans will fight for your rights. We will not stop fighting on your behalf until you get the public education you deserve.”

“We want to put a face on the people who are being trashed by the governor’s proposed budget,” Briggance explains. “We want people to see that the budget will affect real students, real teacher, real staff, and real programs.”

The groundbreaking campaign also includes giant decals on the sides of Alameda’s garbage trucks and curbside cans, as well as signs placed throughout the city.

The Governor’s proposed $4 billion cut to public education translates into a $4.5 million cut to AUSD. To absorb that cut, the district passed a budget earlier this month that slashes high school sports, music for grades 1-3, and reduced class sizes for 9th graders this year, as well as the end of small classes for K-3 and potential school closures next year.

To get more of a feel for this, watch the ABC broadcast news on yesterday’s events.

What is heartening about this is that while educational funding is primarily controlled out of Sacramento and there is a push across the state to stave off cuts to schools, these folks have a parcel tax on the ballot, have raised money, and everyone is pitching in as best as they can--because they believe in this as an important issue.