Protestors Rally In Redwood City To Support Schools

Hundreds of local education advocates rallied in Courthouse Square in Redwood City this morning in an effort to show support for the state's public education system and increase awareness of the dire condition of the state's funding crisis.

Students, parents, local administrators and elected officials who joined together for an hour in front of the San Mateo History Museum at 7:30 this morning. Those who gathered waived signs, chanted, petitioned and spoke in favor of passing the tax extensions proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown to balance the state's budget in order to avoid cuts to the state public school system.

"We need a change. We need tax extensions. And we need a budget that doesn't cut schools one more time," said Shelly Masur, a School Board member.

Gov. Brown has proposed extending $10 billion worth of taxes by gaining voters consent in the November election to balance the state's remaining budget gap, but he has faced resistance from conservative legislators who favor service cuts rather than taxes.

Similar rallies to the one in Redwood City took place in 20 other cities across the state, including Burlingame and San Francisco locally. The events were part of the Educate Our State protests, in which organizers attempted to gather support for Gov. Brown's ballot proposal, which features kindergarten-12 grade public school funds being spared from the budget chopping block.

Tia Knuedler, a Redwood City resident, sat with her son Rocky at the rally holding signs proclaiming a willingness to be taxed in order to prevent cuts from the school system.

"It's not that much money and its worth it to me because education is the most important thing for our kids," said Knuedler, whose son attends a public school in Redwood City.

Knuedler said she would be willing not only to support a tax to balance the state's budget, but also to vote that is being proposed locally to residents in the Redwood City School District.

Her sentiments were echoed by fellow Redwood City resident Tina Najbjerg, who held a sign that read "Zacramento, pleeze edukate mee!"

Najbjerg, who sends her child to a public school Redwood City, said she fears students will suffer should the state school system face funding cuts.

"I find it sad and disgusting," she said, of the unwillingness amongst some state residents and lawmakers to support the tax extensions.

Najbjerg was born and raised in Denmark, where she said the philosophy amongst citizens' willingness to accept taxation in return for social services is much different than in the U.S.

"In Denmark, when people are asked to support more taxes, they don't blink. People are more short sighted here," she said.

Redwood City City Councilwoman Rosanne Foust spoke briefly to the protesters and encouraged them to use technology such as text messaging to inform friends and members of the local business community of the dire state of the state education fund.

She also advocated for a collaboration between the local education advocates and business community to get the state budget passed.

Josh Griffith, principal at John Gill School in Redwood City, said the state of education funding was the worst he has ever seen in the nearly 30 years he has been working in the education system.

"Education is not a priviledge, it is a right," he said.

Many local students even joined the rally before classes began in order to advocate in favor of saving the programs at their schools that are at-risk of being cut should education funding get chopped.

Matthew Personette, a 12-year-old student at North Star Academy in Redwood City, said he feared the school would suffer in the future if the budget does not pass.

"I think we're going to lose our right to education," said Personette, who intends to participate in a bake sale to generate funds for local schools.

"This rally is going be effective, but I'm not sure if will do the full job," said Personette. "We needs to get our hands dirty."

Abby Hartzell, a 7th grader at North Star academy, also said she's afraid the school's music program will be cut if the budget crisis worsens.

Hartzell, who plays clarinet, said the high schools arts programs will suffer if the same kind of programs are cut at the elementary level.

Hartzell was collecting petitions with fellow school mates from protestors in favor of Gov. Brown's budget.

Megan Pockalny, a 15-year-old freshman at Woodside High School, handed out stickers and suckers to supporters. She said she was worried about the severe negative impact on students should cuts come to the public school system.

"Kids are the future, but if we don't get the money, the future in front of us will be ruined," she said.