By Brittany Hanson/Garden Grove Journal
Faculty, students and staff across America took action in protest against educational budget cuts on Thursday, March 4, “M4,” as it was referred to on college campuses, resulted in walk outs, marches, sign-posting and demonstrations. And the Garden Grove Unified School District was not to be left behind.
People ranging from elementary students with parents all the way to school board members gathered at the intersection of Beach Boulevard and Trask Avenue amidst a deafening chorus of honking horns.
A line of over 400 people with signs and blue shirts stretched from the intersection north nearly to the Garden Grove Freeway.
As a result of budget shortfalls and the impending state budget taking up to or potentially more than $50 million from education, demonstrators bring visibility to the public about the problematic future of education.
“We hope that we will raise enough awareness to show California’s legislators that we have support from the public. We want to show them that when they decide to make budget cuts that they need to be more considerate,” said Lan Nguyen, GGUSD’s school board vice president.
Signs bearing slogans such as, “Education Cuts Are A Plan For Disaster,” “Cuts Hurt,” “Students Are Our Special Interest Group,” and “Stand Up For Education” waved, shook and rocked back and forth in the hands of sidewalk demonstrators.
This demonstration comes on the wake of permissible cuts being granted to adult education and cosmetology programs in GGUSD as of March 2.
The district has been trying to weather the budget situation but is now looking to re-arrange, reduce and potentially eliminate programs to help support education in K-12 grades.
“I’m here supporting our teachers, our support staff in recognition of their work,” said Laura Schwalm, GGUSD’s superintendent.
