Superintendents, PTA discuss budget cuts

LAURA STARKS/Special to The Acorn MESSAGE- The owners of this SUV parked at Costco in Westlake Village express their opinion about pending school cuts. A volunteer community group called Californians Organized to Rescue Education (CORE) has joined forces with the 12th District Parent-Teacher Association to oppose Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed education budget cuts.

The two groups will host a fivedistrict superintendents' forum at 4:30 p.m. Wed., April 2 at Thousand Oaks High School's performing arts building.

Penny Salomon, co-chair of CORE with Ziona Friedlander, said the five superintendents will speak about the impact of the budget cuts on the Conejo and Simi valleys, Oak Park and Moorpark. The 12th District PTA has 10,000 members.

"We have invited Gov. Schwarzenegger to attend and speak at the event," Salomon said. "We haven't heard back from him."

She said state senators from the five districts have also been invited to the forum to field questions about the proposed $4.8-billion cuts to California schools.

Schwarzenegger in January declared a fiscal emergency in order to deal with the overall $16-billion California deficit.

A session will be held after the guests speak to encourage activism from residents. Also in the works is a letter-writing campaign aimed at the state officials.

"We're looking for a fabulous turnout at our event," Salomon said. "We know that our community beyond the parents of public school children is interested in this issue because our area is known for its fine schools and our property value is in part based on the success of our public schools in our area."

Several leaders co-authored a letter on Feb. 5 urging citizens to take a stand against the proposed budget cuts.

"We cannot continue to allow Sacramento to balance its budget on the backs of our children and their future," the letter said.

"It is important to understand that the situation facing California public schools is not a result of local actions, practices or policies," the letter continued. "The challenge we now face is the result of a structural failure in the state's budget development process."

For further information, e-mail Salomon and Friedlander at COREforum@charter.net.