More Than 200 People Protest Proposed Education Cuts

More than 200 people turned out Wednesday in Palm Desert to protest proposed teacher layoffs in schools districts across the Coachella Valley.

“We’re here to support the children of the state of California,’’ said Michael Duran, president of the Desert Sands Unified School District.

The board member said his district has already cut transportation and extra curricular activities.

“We have children who need everything from lunch to tutoring,’’ Duran said.

Organizers of the rally, which began at 5:30 p.m. at Civic Center Park in Palm Desert, encouraged local residents to reach out to their local representatives.

“They need to know that what we want is a chance to vote,’’ said Tom Burbank, president of the Desert Sands Teachers Association.  

Burbank and others at the rally advocated for voters to approve a tax extension that would lessen proposed education cuts.

Eighty-five educators have received initial lay off notices in the DSUSD, but those will not become final until after the state passes its budget.

Representatives from the Coachella Valley Unified and Palm Springs Unified school districts also attended.

In all, about 250 teachers, counselors and administrators have received layoff notices across the Coachella Valley.

Laura Hernandez, a first grade teacher at Cesar Chavez Elementary School in Coachella, brought her three children to the rally.

"We're here because we are very supportive of education,'' Hernandez said. "Our schools need the resources."