Wake Up Lamorinda!

Lamorinda’s passionate parents, students and educators are standing in solidarity with their counterparts from all over the state in an early morning effort to raise awareness about California’s budget crisis – and its impact on the local education system.

Talk about real world learning:  Lamorinda’s school kids have been getting a crash course in politics and finances, as California’s budget stalemate drags on in Sacramento.  With no speedy solution in sight, and the threat of draconian cuts to education looming, local youth are getting another valuable lesson:  they’re learning how to take a stand and let their voices be heard.

Skeptic about the students’ commitment to the cause?  Consider what these youngsters plan to do:  participate in a sunrise rally in Lafayette Park Plaza (at the corner of Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Rd.) at 7:00 a.m. on May 24th  - all in the name of education.

Any parent knows it can be a tough proposition to shake a wee one from his or her deep slumber - especially on a school day.  But, the statewide grassroots group Educate Our State is banking on fired up, fed up families to shake the cobwebs perhaps earlier than normal to participate in one of an estimated close to 2-dozen rallies throughout the Golden State.

“Without the passage of the revenue extension measure by our legislature, we will see our schools cut nearly 20,000 teachers statewide,” warned Educate Our State co-founder Linda Shaffer.  “Burgeoning class sizes,” she continued, “and elimination of nearly all enrichment programs.”

Educate Our State boasts Bay Area roots, having been formed in the wake of a widely-attended town hall meeting in San Francisco.  That meeting started out as nothing more than a brainstorming session for parents who were concerned about the state of the City’s education system.  But, that meeting ignited a spark and Educate Our State was officially formed in 2010.  Less than two years later, the group has logged 35,000 supporters from throughout California.

Naturally, plenty of Educate Our State support is coming from Lamorinda, where parents are committed to the cause of a quality education for their children.  It should come as little surprise that when Educate Our State began drafting plans for Wake Up California! – a multi-city, statewide demonstration against proposed cuts in state funding to education - folks from Lafayette, Orinda and Moraga were on board.

“Although each Lamorinda community has a distinct personality, we share more commonalities than we have differences,” reasoned Springhill PFC president and Lafayette for Education member Jean Follmer.  “It only makes sense that our communities join hands to demonstrate our collective support for the schools that have encouraged so many families to call Lamorinda their home.”

And join hands, they will - at least, that’s the hope of the local grassroots parents group Lafayette for Education, which is coordinating Lamorinda’s 7:00 a.m. demonstration – aptly titled Wake Up Lamorinda!

“Our efforts on getting the word out about this event are truly reliant on word of mouth and social media,” one Wake Up Lamorinda! organizer explained.  “We are busy sending e-mails and speaking before school boards and parent organizations to help create awareness about this important day.”

Early indications were that the message was coming across loud and clear, with a handful of school administrators expected to attend.  Lafayette City Councilmember Don Tatzin was slated to speak to the crowd, along with former Lamorinda students who have benefitted over the years from the community’s longstanding commitment to education.

“I hope this is only the first of many times that Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda will unify to demonstrate our collective support for all Lamorinda schools," said Follmer.

Lamorinda parents seemed equally hopeful about the potential impact of the demonstration.

“I know this may not be the perfect answer, and who knows how much of a difference it will make, but it sure beats sitting around and not doing anything but waiting for the next round of cuts,” pointed out Moraga mother of two Denise Duff.

It remained virtually impossible to tell what cuts would ultimately be coming, as the budget deadlock continued in Sacramento, even after Gov. Brown released his “May revise” budget on May 16.  That retooled state spending plan did include a 5-percent increase over the proposal released in January, but the governor’s budget still relied on the renewal of expiring tax increases – something many politicians have steadfastly refused to support.

According to the May revise, California’s revenue – by way of income, sales and corporate taxes – was headed in the right direction.  But, the golden state was still by no means flush with the kind of cash it needs to fund all of its programs and needs – chief among them, education advocates argue, public education.

Given California’s continuing and widespread fiscal crisis, parents, teachers and students from all over the state appeared equally committed to the May 24th Wake Up California! event – with high profile rallies planned for Los Angeles, San Diego and Sacramento – and, closer to home, San Francisco and Redwood City.

Ever the advocates for education, Educate Our State hoped Wake Up California would be more than a one-day event.  Rather, the group hoped it would serve as a springboard for future action:  “this event is not just about funding for education,” the group appealed to the public.  “It is about making education the priority it needs to be in order for this state to thrive and recover.”

Want to get involved? 

Attend Lamorinda’s Wake Up California! event, Wake Up Lamorinda!

Date  May 24, 2011:
Time:  7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.
Location:  Lafayette Park Plaza (Mt. Diablo Blvd. and Moraga Rd.)

Website: lafayetteforeducation.weebly.com and educateourstate.org

Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lafayette-for-Education/198733370169546