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, Proposition 98 established a minimum amount of money the state must provide to education in order to protect schools from budget cuts. Last year, Gov. Schwarzenegger made a deal with the Education Coalition--a statewide group of education associations--to cut education funding below the level mandated by Proposition 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."

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

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

"The budget deficit has really been a burden to the district," Pizzo said. "[The passage of Proposition 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."

He added, "If Proposition 98 were honored, we wouldn't have to be closing schools."

A former resident of Willow Glen, Pizzo attended Willow Glen Elementary, Markham Middle--known now as Willow Glen Middle--and Willow Glen High schools.

"I received an excellent education," he said. "I never anticipated that my grandchildren would not have the same opportunity."

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.

"We are still pretty grassroots," Huddlestun said. "We are trying to get the word out via the website and raise public awareness."

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 says she wishes state officials were more open to citizen concerns.

"I'd like to see more response to people in opposition," she said.

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.save publiceducation.org.