Etiwanda High sit-in emphasizes displeasure over budget cuts, teacher layoffs
RANCHO CUCAMONGA -- More than 150 students, educators, parents and community members crowded into Etiwanda High School's library on Thursday, making a case for saving public education.
Their hour-long sit-in mocked the leadership of California for not properly funding public education and mourned the teachers who will receive district preliminary layoff notices because of a lack of funding.
"We are sitting in because we want the district to know we don't want this to happen, but we're also making a general statement we're sick of California cutting the education budget to the point where our districts are being forced to make cuts like this," said Torie Weiston, an Etiwanda High English teacher.
Photos by Thomas R. Cordova, Staff Photographer
Earlier this month, the Chaffey Joint Union High School District board voted to send out the layoff notices to 84 certificated employees.
The cuts include 18 English teachers, eight assistant principals, eight librarians, seven math teachers and a French teacher.
Like many districts, Chaffey has to cut its budget by the millions -- $11.9 million to be exact.
To help save money, the district -- which covers Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario and Montclair -- canceled three school days of its current school year.
"We've lost three school days, and possibly five next year, our budget for the newspaper was cut in half and our student achievement program was cut. It just seems like all this restricts our ability to explore and learn," said Aysia Pennell, an Etiwanda High senior.
"I feel like our lawmakers are going against everything they used to persuade us to vote for them."
The sit-it saw a number of students and teachers sharing music, poetry and testimonials directly related to the cause.
Aysia was one of many students advocating for the eight teacher-librarians in the district who will receive layoff notices.
She shared a poem she wrote, "Where are the Librarians?"
"I don't know about you, but I'm praying for our future. From where I stand, it looks dismal. Abysmal. We watch our educators float off into the abyss hoping that this is the means to an end."
Many of those who attended crowded into every corner and aisle of the library signed a banner that read "Support Your Library" and wore shirts in support for the library and education.
"If these students are our future and they don't get the education they need, how do we expect them to lead?" said Doris Fletcher, sit-in attendee.
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