The devastation of the tidal wave of March 15 notices is still being felt and the reverberations have reached all the way to the top. The layoffs came as the result of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget that would hack $4.8 billion from school funding. This has led to many voices of protest and press conferences held up and down the state to show just how these cuts would eviscerate the good work schools are doing.

The governor has seen his public approval plummet since his budget proposal in January. A recent survey conducted by the Public Policy Institute of California shows Schwarzenegger’s numbers have taken a healthy hit.

Almost all Californians – 94 percent – see the budget as at least somewhat of a problem, according to the survey. More than half – 56 percent – responded they are very concerned about the governor’s proposed cuts. In turn, the governor has seen his approval rating drop to 44 percent, 6 points down from its previous mark in January and 13 points down from his December ratings.

The layoff notices in March and simultaneous Education Coalition campaign to show how the cuts hit the classroom have undoubtedly had an impact on this drop.

Indeed, the public’s perception is astute. The most recent numbers released by the Department of Finance indicate that state revenues are down $1.2 billion this year, primarily because of lower than anticipated corporate tax revenue.

Meanwhile, Gov. Schwarzenegger has been touring the state touting his Budget Stabilization Act. While doing so in Salinas, The Californian reported he addressed the issue of Proposition 98, stating it was flawed and needs to be reformed.

“I love education,” Schwarzenegger said. “I feel right now that education needs reform, more accountability, but also even more revenues. ... I would fight for that, but we got to go and reform the budget system so there is reliability.”

While the March 15 layoff notice numbers are bleak, they only tell part of the story. The thousands of pink slips that are being handed to teachers and other educators represent only a small portion of the cuts schools face if the governor’s proposed $4.8 billion cuts to schools – amounting to $24,000 per classroom – are enacted.

In addition to the layoffs of teachers and administrators, tens of thousands of classified employees are expected to be laid off. Temporary and probationary teachers, custodians, food service workers, nurses, bus drivers, librarians and counselors also face layoffs in the 2008-09 school year. However, with only a 45-day notice requirement for these employees, they can be laid off at any time during the school year.

Schools are in a huge bind regarding layoffs. A big part of the problem is the way education funding works. School districts are forced to prepare for the coming school year without knowing what form the final budget will actually take. If Gov. Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget is what comes to pass, the thousands of teachers and administrators that received March 15 notices will find themselves looking for new employment.

In the meantime, the Education Coalition public information campaign will continue to spread the word about how drastically the governor’s proposed budget cuts will hurt education in California. For information on the campaign, please visit www.protectourstudents.org.