This is "Astro Turf" at its highest. 5000 parents from Poly High School alone were emailed through the official school email system 4 times ( this was improper use of school assets as per the principal) X all parents of all students mean 400,000 emails went out to parents and children of Long Beach saying it was going to be a fun ralley to support our schools. In reality it was twisted to be a political event to portray the few hundred that came as wanting a tax increase to support the schools ! Please check the link out thoroughly it has all the P.R. tools and templates, volumes of it, to put on these events. I have to believe this organization is heavily funded by teacher organizations, SHAME ON THEM. Many of us have been lais off or have reduced hours, let the teaching population mirror the financial situation of the tax payer supporting them, without misleading and using our children as ASRO TURF.

Not sure about your math on the emails, and I don't believe any school district officials authorized use of school loop but I can't speak for them anyhow. I can speak to the link to the group: Educate Our State is an advocacy group that has become a large statewide network, but it was started by some active moms in San Francisco. They give their story on the "about us" page. Maybe some teachers support them but I don't think they are run by any teacher organizations. Is it so incredible that some parents would want similar things as some teachers?
Also, it is not a tax increase, it is a vote to EXTEND the taxes we already pay in order to keep funding schools on a very basic level. I do think the "adjustment" over the past few years has probably forced school districts into lean and mean condition--if they were successful. But is that what we want for our kids? Lean and mean machines to put out students with only basic skills? I don't know about you but I really like it when I go to a store and the cashier knows how to do the math, or I go to a service establishment and the agent knows how to think creatively and solve my problems. Without good schools in place, all of our society is going to devolve into the chaos that we see in 3rd world countries that do not have the resources to provide education for all citizens.

The Educate Our State team was formed by parents, not teachers. The rally was planned by parents upset by the lay-offs, increased class sizes, closure of schools, and deletion of vital programs like music. We are looking for solutions to make a better public school system, including finding sustainable and long-term funding, not just a tax extension which we view as a band aid. There were some teachers in attendance, but it was only in support of our parent-led and -planned rally. In fact, if you look at the Educate Our State site, one of the platforms is "Support modified teacher tenure to streamline removal of ineffective teachers from the classroom."

Excellent debate here. Long Beach Unified has approx. 86,000 students when last I checked. This group, as I understood it, was seeking to throw out the playbook if necessary on unions and tenure that might result in bad teachers in the class while the best though less veteran might be let go. The story should have carried an opinion header that I now added. (Ms. Viale doesn't pretend not to have an opinion on this topic).

@Steve, we received no emails from either school my children attend, actually no emails from anybody, just followed current events. That is why I didn't understand your math equation. The unions do need to change, and I think Educate Our State supports making changes to the way unions and districts contract and tenure. Nobody says the system is perfect but taking money away now does not seem like the best way to ameliorate the situation. The CTA is a powerful lobbying force in Sacramento, unfortunately they are not powerful enough to get the kind of change we really need. The unions have now become an obstacle that needs to be surmounted. To my mind it is a systemic problem that includes policy makers, districts, unions and families. We all need to work together towards new solutions.

No, John, I don't think the CTA and TALB mission priorities are focused on children. I wouldn't call them bad guys but I believe they have lost their way and are not constructively participating in the education debate.

Sorry, but "tax extension" are a "NO" vote for our household! Until the politicians in Sacramento and the TALB and CATA powers that be cut their own salaries, benefits, and perks this State gets no more money from us! More money in the pockets of these people, has not provided, and will not provide a better education for my children. It is what I supplement them with that helps my children to excel! In total agreement with "Steve" that parent support and participation in our children's education is critical now more than ever while we have the level of mismanagement of our tax dollars that we do at the State and Federal level! The real discussion here should be VOUCHERS!!! It is the only way to break the unions and give public education the run for its money that it really needs!

Of the commenters against the state budget on the table, do any members of your household or family work for the government, or government contractors such as Boeing, and do you see a difference in their salaries and benefits including CEO and administration? Just curious if it is the specific union, or unions in general? I have a relative, for instance, who said he was against big government, yet works for the postal service. Any thoughts?