SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Six California school districts representing more than 900,000 students say the governor’s proposed budget cuts will delay the reopening of schools.
Officials with the Los Angeles Unified, which is the second largest school district in the country with 600,000 students, joined with five other urban districts in a Monday letter to legislators, saying they need more money to safely reopen schools and not less.
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has proposed $14 billion in budget cuts because of the coronavirus, with more than half coming at the expense of public schools that have struggled to teach students remotely since mid-March, when he issued a statewide stay at home order.
“Cuts will mean that the reopening of schools will be delayed even after state guidance and clearance from public health officials is given,” reads the letter sent to legislative leaders and those reviewing the education budget.
“The notion that schools can continue to operate safely in the fall with a decreased state budget is not realistic,” the letter reads.
