OAKLAND – Alameda County Schools Superintendent Sheila Jordan and the County’s 17 district Superintendents joined together to send a clear message that the proposed $4.8 billion cuts to education are unacceptable: “Governor, You’re Breaking Our Hearts!”

At a news conference on the day before St. Valentine’s Day, the Superintendents agreed that further cuts can not be sustained without hurting students. The statewide cuts would mean approximately $7.76 million less for every school district; resulting in increased class sizes, reduced per-pupil spending and massive lay-offs of teachers, bus drivers, janitors, food service workers, and other education professionals.

“As educators, it is our responsibility to ensure that every child can learn, every day, in every classroom; we cannot accomplish this without skilled teachers and trained educational professionals,” said Alameda County Schools Superintendent Sheila Jordan. “California’s financial health depends on how we invest in our children’s education; the best economic stimulus is having an educated population, well equipped to compete worldwide.”

The news conference, which was held Feb. 13 at Westlake Middle School in Oakland, included a speech by 6th grader Jabari Valentine, who admonished the Governor for not making education a priority.

“Everybody tells me how important education is,” Jabari said. “Teachers stress the importance everyday. I hear athletes on TV saying education is the key to a great future. But how can I believe what they say when the governor of this great state downplays the importance of education by proposing to cut the budget. This sends a message to me and every other child that maybe education is not that important.”

Westlake’s after-school program has allowed Jabari to learn Spanish, computers, creative arts and theater. “I am sad to say that because of Governor Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget cuts, other students may not get to experience the same opportunities that I have,” he said. “I feel like the governor is trying to rob me of my future. He declared 2008 the ‘Year of Education.’ I guess he’s sending the message it’s OK to lie, too.”

Also at the news conference, Superintendent Jordan and the 17 County Superintendents issued the following joint opinion/editorial:

“Twelve months after declaring 2008 the Year of Education, Governor Schwarzenegger now proposes $4.8 billion in cuts to education funding. The Year of Education is fast becoming, as noted by State Superintendent Jack O’Connell, “The Year of Evisceration.” … Read more …