Teachers Rally for Support

Drivers on Bollinger Canyon Road might have noticed about 80 teachers, parents and even some children rallying with signs Thursday.

It was part of the  designed to convince the Legislature to approve tax extensions to prevent more cuts to education.

“They’ve already cut $20 billion in the last three years and students can’t afford to have any more cuts,” said Darren Day, San Ramon Valley Education Association president. “This is really an issue for all of society. Well educated kids are what we need for our future.”

Those who rallied held signs that said “Cuts Hurt Our Kids,” “Stand Up For Schools,” “Education, Our Best Investment” and “Save Our Schools.”

Many drivers showed their support by honking as they drove past.

“These kids are the future and if they’re not properly educated, that’s scary,” said Karen Walton, a fourth-grade teacher at. “Teachers not only teach, we teach them manners, hygiene … not only the education part, it’s life skills, too.”

Kelly Kaplan, a parent and member of the PTA at San Ramon Valley High School, said she participated in the rally to support teachers.

“PTAs have been very aware of the threat of having $4 billion to $5 billion taken out of the state education budget and we’re getting vocal about it,” Kaplan said. “That could translate to about $746 per student.”

Rachel Hurd, SRVUSD school board member, also came to rally with the teachers.

“I am very involved in the local PTA Council as well as the school board,” she said. “It’s not just a teacher issue, it’s an education issue, so it’s important to anyone because the kids we’re educating today are going to be the adults of the future.”

Hurd stressed the importance of having an educated populace and said she is concerned what cuts to the school budget will mean.

“It’s time for adults to be adults and make the same sacrifices that adults made for us,” she said.

The main concern among those participating in the rally is the children and how schools will be able to meet all of their needs if more cuts are made.

“I think that these cuts are going to hurt our children a lot, and we are the people who are supposed to be looking out for them,” said Carey Shaw, a special education teacher at .