Local Parents Lead Education Caravan

By Ann Williams
Special to TheLookout

April 28 -- Stand back Governor Schwarzenegger. The Santa Monica PTA moms are coming to Sacramento to get the money they say you promised for their children’s education.

That is the message sent by local parents itching for a showdown on the Capitol steps, and they vow not to leave until everyone in the state has seen their rally on TV this Thursday.

What started with a handful of Santa Monica parents who formed the Community for Excellent Public Schools (CEPS) to push for more local funding has turned into “Caravan for Kids,” a statewide mobilization of parents and students that’s converging on the State Capitol to demand more money for California’s schools.

Organizers Fran Kaplan and Kim Eyler lead the Santa Monica contingent though the downtown streets. (Photos by Ann Williams)

“People are definitely getting riled up and speaking out,” said Barbara Inatsugu, President of the League of Women Voters of Santa Monica. “The governor keeps going out” putting his policies before the people.

“It's like one long campaign,” Inatsugu said. “So others are responding in kind… I haven’t seen people quite this angry and feeling betrayed. He (Schwarzenegger) is bringing people together, just not as he meant.”

A crowd of about 50 parents and students boarded the bus at the Civic Center at 10:30 Wednesday morning amid cheers and chants of “Get on the bus!”

“Never before in the history of the PTA” has there been a mobilization like this, CEPS organizer Lynne Leavitt told the excited busful as they pulled out. “You guys are total pioneers!”

A roster of speakers was waiting for the crowd which now numbered more than 60, and TV news crews were on hand to film their speeches.

“We will not tolerate mediocrity for our children,” Denny Zane, a former mayor and member of CEPS, told the crowd. “We want our governor to get on the bus with us.”

Former mayor Denny Zane rallies crowd at Governor's Office in downtown L.A.

“PTA has become a world class fund raising machine,” complained Maria Rodriguez, Santa Monica-Malibu PTA Council president.

“We pay for salaries, librarians, nurses, playground equipment, computers.” These are not frills, “they are vital to basic instruction,” she said, calling for the State to fully fund education for all kids in all districts.

Rally organizers say the Governor has reneged on his promise to restore $2 billion to California’s school. Education officials and activists had agreed to the shortfall last year on the condition that Schwarzenegger promised to pay back the money this year.

They also are protesting the Constitutional Amendment Initiative proposed by the Governor that would repeal features of Proposition 98, the measure approved by voters in 1988 that ensures that schools enjoy a large share of any increase in state revenues.

The parents will meet opposition. “This was a responsible balance in a difficult budget year,” said H.D. Palmer. Deputy Director for the State Department of Finance, speaking for his boss Tom Campbell.

Education will get the largest increase of any item in the budget, Palmer said, adding that inflation is about 3 percent at most, and the general fund increase of 7.1 percent is more than twice that.

But angry parents aren’t buying the math.

“It’s not an increase, it’s quite a bit less” than the cost of living that would allow districts to stay even, said Rebecca Kennerly, the spokesperson for Caravan for Kids.

In addition to under funding, the proposed budget would shift teacher pension costs to local school districts, Kennerly said.

Over the past four years, $9.8 billion guaranteed by Prop. 98 has failed to reach the schools, resulting in a net loss of $1500 per pupil, said School Board Member Julia Brownley.

The statewide event “Caravan for Kids” was the brainchild of CEPS, the Santa Monica organization that recently reached an agreement with the City to guarantee at least $6 million a year in municipal funding to the Santa Monica-Malibu School District.

Once the idea had been developed by CEPS, Lewis-Fanali contacted the California State PTA which was happy to take the “Caravan for Kids” project on and provide their one million member volunteer network for the cause.

At a community meeting during his campaign, Bobby Shriver -- City Council member and the Governor’s brother-in-law -- said of CEPS, "I was so scared of them after forty minutes that I would have done anything they told me.”

Citing their confidence, leadership, hard work and conscientiousness, Zane praised the 18 members of the dynamic organization, calling them “a hell of a crew and frankly a lot of fun.”

PTAs around the state held simultaneous local rallies Wednesday before converging on Sacramento.

The students who attended the rally in Downtown LA got a taste of political empowerment.

Edison school students Frankie and Simone said "Protesting is fun!"

The kids were having a field day. “Protesting is fun!” said 10-year-olds Frankie and Simone from Edison Language Academy, the district’s bilingual elementary school.

“I think Arnold’s going down,” said Frankie. “He’s doing too bad, he’s already weak.”

“If people see enough of this Arnold’s going to get in trouble,” agreed Simone.

Frankie is a veteran protester. He once told the School Board not to fire Coach Carlos.

“That worked,” he said. “This is going to work too. Only it’s in reverse -- we’re going to fire the Governor.”

“I like to convince people,” he added.

Olympic High Seniors Marissa and Joanna said protesting was fun, too.

“This was our idea,” Marissa said. “He took our dollars, he broke his promise. He opened jails with our money.”

Her history teacher Deborah Siemer agreed, “The only reason we’re here is because of Marissa.”

When the bus got downtown, organizers shepherded the children safely across city streets to the Governor’s office at Ronald Reagan Office Building on Spring Street.

After the 45 minute rally, most of the parents and children got back on the bus for an eight hour ride to Sacramento. Frankie had already ascertained that the TVs on the bus would be turned on for the kids.

Thursday they will hold a mass rally on the Capitol steps at noon where they will confront the Governor with their demands to honor his promises to restore $2 billion dollars to California’s schools and uphold Proposition 98.

After the rally, PTA members will visit their legislators and ask them to sign a pledge to “Make California schools great again.”

At least two School Board Members, Julia Brownley and Oscar de la Torre, will be going to Sacramento Thursday to join the Capitol steps rally, and Kathy Wisnicki was at Wednesday’s event.

“The good people of Santa Monica are known for progressive politics. This will go down in history as a highlight of our collective activism.” De la Torre reflected while walking to his car after the downtown rally.