Hundreds to rally against school budget cuts Nov. 28 in Olympia

Published 3:57 pm Wednesday, November 23, 2011

The Washington Education Association is holding a rally on Nov. 28, the first day of the special legislative session, with hundreds of education supporters on the capital campus in Olympia beginning at noon.

The pro-public education rally theme is “Standing Strong. Standing Together.” It will be held at the West Capital Campus (tent).

Educators from communities across Washington plan to participate in the rally, which is being organized by the 82,000-member Washington Education Association. Educators who can’t attend the Olympia rally will be wearing red at school and sending messages and photographs to legislators.

“Together, educators, parents, and other education supporters will tell lawmakers that enough is enough: Education and students have already absorbed more than their fair share of cuts. It is time to protect school funding and give our students the well-rounded, quality education they deserve,” said representatives from the organization. “Instead of expecting children, teachers and middle-class families to sacrifice even more, profitable corporations and the very rich must be asked to pay their fair share in these tough economic times. For decades, Washington schools have ranked among the nation’s finest. But after more than $2.5 billion in recent school funding cuts, another $1 billion or more in education cuts would tie the hands of teachers and other education professionals and deprive students of the well-rounded, quality education they deserve.”

For more information on the proposed budget, visit Governor Chris Gregoire’s website.