Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/85441
2012 ELECTION SPECIAL | ADVOCACY IN ACTION "We have well over 200 teachers signed up to walk 130 precincts," Cas- tellani says. The day will begin with a breakfast Working with the community to save public schools Modesto teachers stage neighborhood walk with administrators, parents By Dina Martin IT 'S ONLY MID - SEPTEMBER, but Kerry Castellani says she can- not keep enough "No on 32, Yes on 30" window clings on hand for members. The strategy committee chair for her chapter says the clings and the yard signs are going fast. And members of the Modesto Teachers Association aren't stopping there. On their Oct. 5 furlough day, they are staging a massive walk through Modesto neighborhoods to reach out to local voters. Joining them will be administrators, trustees, parents and community members. and news conference before the walk- ers fan out into the neighborhoods to distribute campaign fliers. "We don't always agree with the school district," Castellani says, "but we do agree on Prop. 30. Our district will lose $13.2 million if Proposition 30 doesn't pass." Modesto Unified has been hard hit with budget cuts over the Kerry Castellani past few years. Teachers are now taking seven furlough days, including five instruction days. A $13 million cut in 2009-10 re- sulted in the layoffs of 65 teachers, loss of sports and academic coaches, closure of school libraries and booming class sizes. Castellani teaches in the International Baccalaureate program at Modesto High School, where she has 39 students in an English class and 40 in her Theory of Knowledge course. Wherever she visits, Castellani focuses the discussion on what has already happened in Modesto schools, and then veers into what could happen if Prop. 30 fails to pass. "It would be ugly," she says. "People realize they don't want this to get worse." "Professors at La Verne Credentials and Certificates Multiple and Single Subject Administrative Services CTEL Education Counseling/PPS School Psychology/PPS Special Education: Mild/Moderate Reading and Language Arts Child Life Specialist New Learning Technology Bachelors Liberal Studies Child Development CCTC and NCATE approved Masters Educational Leadeship School Counseling School Psychology Special Education Reading Special Emphasis Child Life Child Development Doctoral Organizational Leadership (Ed.D.) WASC accredited Contact for more information: College of Education and Organizational Leadership 1950 Third Street La Verne, CA 91750 laverne.edu 877-GO-TO-ULV degreeinfo@laverne.edu 36 California Educator October 2012 Cynthia Noriega B.S. Child Development 2012 U.S. News & World Report and Forbes Magazine 2011-2012 Head Start/Preschool Teacher Plaza de la Raza are wonderful!"