Teachers Out in Force Against Legislative Inaction

When you drop off your kids at school Monday morning, expect to be greeted by a teacher, nurse or counselor.

Before the first bell rings, staff at every school in Castro Valley will talking to parents as part of a statewide Week of Action intended to unite people against legislative inaction. A PDF of the flier being handed out is available at right.

Temporary tax hikes in effect since 2009

Gov. Jerry Brown wanted voters to decide in June whether to implement a five-year extension of temporary tax hikes that have been in effect since 2009. But Republican legislators blocked his push to put a measure on the ballot. On May 16, the governor is expected to unveil a revised budget that won't include the tax extensions, resulting in $9 billion in cuts for existing programs in 2010-11.

The temporary tax increases are: 

• A surcharge of 0.25 percent to the state personal income tax rate.
• A reduction in the dependent exemption credit in personal income tax to the same level as the personal exemption credit. 
• An increase of 1.15 percent in the vehicle license fee rate.
• An increase in the state sales and use tax rate to 6 percent.

If allowed to expire, schools statewide are expected to take 44 percent of the cuts.

In Castro Valley, that would be nearly $3 million in cuts for 2010-11. That's on top of $9 million in cuts over the past three years.

Extension alone won't reverse the trend

Passing an extension will "stop the bleeding," John Green, president-elect of the Castro Valley Teachers Association, said in a press release.

But the association also wants parents to demand a reversal of the negative trend through "long-term solutions addressing tax fairness in California," Green said in the press release.

T-shirts, a rally and an occupation of the state capitol

Throughout the week in Castro Valley, expect to see staff wearing T-shirts that say, "Value Kids. Fund Education."

On Friday, local teachers will join a rally at the Civic Center in San Francisco.

Daren Wilkerson, an English teacher at Castro Valley High School, will join hundreds of educators who intend to occupy the state capitol all week.

Statewide, teachers unions, school boards and parent groups have banded together to stage public-outreach activities from May 9 to May 13.

On May 4, the Castro Valley Unified School District board of trustees declared a "state of emergency" in a resolution supporting the statewide "Week of Action."