Parents Group Says Budget Cuts = Erased Opportunities

In response to the third year of education cuts proposed by lawmakers, a group of parents will convene with educators and community allies on January 17th in Santa Fe at 2:00 PM in the Capitol Rotunda in Santa Fe to offer their own solutions to prevent more budget cuts to public education. According to a statement released today by PLANE (Parent Legislative Action Network for Education), a New Mexico grassroots network, consecutive education cuts, coupled with lawmakers’ failure to raise revenues to adequately fund schools, are quickly erasing opportunities for student success.

“Before the budget crisis, the Legislature found that it was already failing to meet its own Constitutional mandate to sufficiently fund our schools by some $350 million. Three years later, opportunities for our children to succeed are being erased with cuts that are resulting in larger classroom sizes, program cuts, inadequate teaching materials and supplies, and also threatening to eliminate athletics, music, art, band, counseling, and other critical school services,” said Michele Lis, spokeswoman for the Parent Legislative Action Network for Education.

“Since 2008, the Student Equalization Guarantee has been cut four times and decreased by 10%. In the 2008-2009 school year, per pupil funding was reduced twice, once in the budget and then again in a fiscal solvency bill. In 2009-2010, per pupil funding was again reduced and again in the 2010-2011 budget. Put in plain terms, every child is worth $80.20 less right now to the state than in 2008. Our children are worth more not less,” Lis said.

“The bottom line is that parents want the state to adequately fund education and believe there are ways to raise revenues as an alternative to cuts. Our concern is that after three consecutive years of cuts, school districts will be forced to cut programs, athletics, music, art, transportation, counselors, nurses, librarians, and more services that help students. Without sufficient revenues for education, lawmakers are erasing opportunities for our children and we simply can’t stand for that,” Lis continued.

“In response to education cuts being offered by the Governor and the Legislative Finance Committee, we are coming together with teachers, other parent organizations and communities to offer our own budget solutions at the State Capitol Rotunda in Santa Fe on Monday, January 17th at 2:00 PM. We must find a way to provide sufficient funding to close the achievement gap, decrease class sizes back to 2008 levels, and keep essential non-instructional programs such as sports, art and music, and counseling support for our kids,” Lis added.

PLANE maintains a Facebook page as well as a Yahoo Groups page. For more information contact Michele Lis, Parent Legislative Action Network for Education at (505) 670-2370 or planenm@gmail.com. PLANE is encouraging other parents and interested parties to join them at the Rally for Education at 1:30 PM as they walk from Old Santa Fe Trail to the Capitol, and at 2:00 PM in the Capitol Rotunda.