Holding signs, wearing blue and chanting "save our schools," teachers, students and parents rallied Thursday in front of campuses across the South Bay, urging state officials to take a stand against the funding crisis hitting California public education.
The effort coincided with the statewide "Day Of Action," with more than 100 K-12 schools and districts in California holding rallies throughout the day.
Demonstrations and protests were also held by students and faculty members at many universities across the state.
At a midmorning press conference in front of Torrance High School, teachers and Torrance Unified officials voiced their disapproval over the state-mandated funding cuts.
"Today we stand at a crossroads," said Julie Shankle, an English teacher at North High School and president of the Torrance Teachers Association.
"Our schools and other essential services cannot take any more of these drastic hits. These cuts have decimated our schools, our colleges, our social programs. The fabric of our community and our way of life is threatened by these continued budget shortfalls."
Earlier this week, the Torrance Board of Education unanimously voted to lay off 185 employees, including 125 teachers, four high school counselors and an elementary school principal by the state-mandated deadline of March 15.
"We have reduced 444 people over the last three years," Superintendent George Mannon said. "That is a huge number."
The board's decision comes as the district grapples with a $27.6 million budget gap over the next two years.
Nearly 100 students at North High gathered on the campus' main quad during the lunch period for a symbolic sit-in. Wearing blue, the students sat in desks they removed from classrooms.
"We want to raise awareness so adults know that education is important for our future," said Tatsuya Kohrogi, North High's student body president and the student member of the district's Board of Education.
"We need to do something about this. We want to get out there so people care about our future and our education," Kohrogi said.
Continued at: DailyBreeze.com