Statement of Blanca Gallegos

Cuts to Schools Are an Attack on the Future of Our State

SEIU Local 99

Good afternoon, my name is Blanca Gallegos. I am a spokesperson for the Service Employees International Union SEIU Local 99.

Local 99 represents nearly 35,000 school workers in districts throughout Southern California, including Los Angeles, Torrance, Santa Monica Malibu, Compton, Lynwood, Hacienda La Puente and Pleasant Valley Unified.

We are the cafeteria workers who make sure your children have a warm and nutritious meal at lunch every day.

We are the bus drivers who ensure children get to school on time every morning.

We are the teaching assistants who work alongside teachers to give students the attention and time they need to learn.

We are the security officers who help maintain campus safety and who are often the first responders when problems arise.

SEIU Local 99 members are part of the full team needed to make sure our students have safe, clean and healthy learning environments.

Yet, under the Governor’s proposed budget cuts, these very essential services are at risk. And students will bear the burden.

Nadia Lizarraga, a Special Education Assistant at Sepulveda Middle School says she is terrified of what these cuts would mean to her students.

She works with emotionally disturbed children. Many of them have been diagnosed with learning disabilities since they were in kindergarten. Her students, she says, would benefit greatly from art programs, guitar classes, computer training and more individualized attention. Yet, if staff and programs are cut, children like Nadia’s students will feel the impact.

That is why we urge the Governor to adopt a more balanced approach to solving California’s deficit. Sweeping, across-the-board cuts to education are an attack on the very future of our state. We owe our children the foresight to seek out new revenue sources, and not shortchange their education.