Daily Bulletin
By Monica Rodriguez
Dec 07, 2008
POMONA - With the state's financial picture looking bleaker all the time, leaders of the Pomona Unified School District have asked those who supported education in the past to do so again.
Supporters of the successful $235 million Measure PS school bond are being encouraged to help get the message to state legislators that education cuts would be devastating.
But some supporters of the measure said last week it will be more difficult to mobilize people now than a month ago for various reasons, including fatigue.
People are beginning to focus on the holidays and seeking a rest from the political season that just ended, said the Rev. Mike Fronk, pastor at First Christian Church of Pomona and a leader with the Pomona-Inland Valley Cluster of the grass-roots organization OneLA.
"Since we were in such a politically charged time, I think people want to take a break," Fronk said.
School district leaders, however, need help in getting a message to legislators.
"We're trying to rally teachers, classified staff, parents and all who participated in Measure PS to step forward to lobby Assembly members and senators," said John Avila, president of Pomona Unified's board of trustees.
The goal would be to get legislators and the governor to understand "the cuts they will make will affect lots of programs," he said.
The district is facing about $10 million in cuts the current academic year and another $15 million in the 2009-2010 academic year.
Pomona Unified Superintendent Thelma Melendez de Santa Ana said last week additional cuts will be a setback at a time when the district's academic performance is improving.
But some of those who supported the bond admit this battle comes at a difficult time.
With the holidays approaching, it's hard to mobilize large groups of people, said Morgan Brown, president of the Associated Pomona Teachers.
Another problem is the constant changing of the financial picture.
"Some people really don't understand the situation," Brown said. "This is such a moving target."
The budget and its impact on education have not gone unnoticed by OneLA, which works to address family issues such as education, schools, housing and public safety.
Members are concerned about cuts to education and have talked about the possibility of organizing rallies, Fronk said.
Another element that has to be taken into consideration is that new members of the Legislature arrived in Sacramento last week and everything is in flux, he said.
Some time is needed to let things settle down before beginning to lobby representatives, Fronk said.