During the recent school consolidation process that closed Steinbeck Middle School and Randol and Cory elementary schools, parents in the district formed Save Public Education, a grassroots organization protesting cuts in Proposition 98 funding.

Passed by voters in 1988, Prop. 98 established a minimum amount of money the state must provide to education in order to protect schools from budget cuts. Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger made a deal with the Education Coalition--a statewide group of education associations--to cut education below the funds mandated by Prop. 98 for 2004­05. Under this agreement, the state would again fully fund the proposition in the 2005­06 school year.

Now, however, if the governor's proposed budget is passed by state legislators in June, public schools will receive $2.3 billion less than expected under last year's deal.

"I think that the governor, although he is governor, ought to have worked with others instead of striking a deal with the Education Coalition," said Save Public Education parent Amy Huddlestun, whose child attends Hacienda Environment and Science Magnet.

Hacienda was one of the schools on the district's list for potential closure. "As taxpayers and parents, it's frustrating that the bill was passed but not fulfilled," she said.

Although schools across the state are grappling with shrinking budgets, the problem has hit too close to home for several parents. The recent school closures were spurred by the district's $9.4-million deficit, which administrator's attributed to a lack of state funds and declining enrollment.

"When this whole effort started, we were concerned with how the San Jose Unified School District can get back the $10 million owed to us [by the state] so we don't have to close any more schools," said Sherry Boynton, Almaden parent and group member. "Money is leaving California and going to other states. We need to look at why the money is leaving and what we can do to get it back."

Pat Pizzo, whose grandchild also attends Hacienda, has seen the affects of suspending Prop. 98 dollars firsthand.

"The budget deficit has really been a burden to the district," Pizzo said, adding that the passage of Prop. 98 "was a vote by the people that established education as a high priority. The governor chose to cut $2 billion out of funding, and that resulted in a significant loss for the district.

"If Prop. 98 were honored," Pizzo said, "we wouldn't have to be closing schools.

Pizzo said he had received a good education in the San Jose Unified School District. "I never anticipated that my grandchildren would not have the same opportunity," he added.

To express their desire to see education become a top priority to the state, the members of Save Public Education have created a website with information about education funding and contact information for state legislators.

Boynton said the group's website is starting to get a lot of traffic.

"Lots of people are linking to our talking points when they contact the governor," she said. "Our site is reaching the whole state."

Boynton said it's important that the group's message reach a wide audience.

"Whether you're in a school district that's doing well or one that's not, this affects all public schools," Boynton said.

Volunteers are also contacting state legislators to ask them to actively support public education. However, after receiving an argumentative response from a staffer in the governor's office, Huddlestun said she wishes state officials were more open to citizen concerns. "I'd like to see more response to people in opposition."

The goal of Save Public Education, Huddlestun said, is to encourage citizens throughout the state to collaborate to support public schools.

"Hopefully, with momentum, we can unify in sending a message," she said. "I think that this is an issue that can bond parents in helping our children. If we don't work together, the message won't be sent out."

For more information, visit www.savepubliceducation.org.

Anne Gelhaus contributed to this story.