Demonstrators, many carrying signs, marched from the Safeway on Hollenbeck Avenue to the school on May 10. Their action was intended to honor the Teachers of the Year and to draw attention to issues affecting schools and educators. Teachers and parents also demonstrated in front of district campuses before school opened May 11. Similarly, educators from the Sunnyvale School District demonstrated that day.

Teachers expressed special concern over the future of Proposition 98. Prop. 98, which was passed by voters in 1988, established a minimum dollar amount the state must provide to schools as protection against budget cuts.

Last year, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger struck a deal with the Education Coalition--a statewide group of education associations--to cut education funding below the mandated level in 2004-05. Under this agreement, the state would fully fund the proposition in the 2005-06 school year.

Now, however, if legislators pass the governor's proposed budget in June, public schools will receive less money than expected under last year's deal.

"It's disheartening," said West Valley Elementary School third-grade teacher Katie Burnette. "Teachers do everything they can to make sure kids get what they need. We even spend our own money."

Burnette said she is disappointed that Schwarzenegger refers to educators as a "special interest group."

"Our interest is the kids and making sure they are going to get the best education possible," she said. "Every teacher works hours of unpaid time, correcting tests and doing other activities."

Besides Prop. 98 funding, teachers in the district are also distressed by Schwarzenegger's proposal to base teachers' salary on merit.

"It's crazy," said Ruth Wachob, a preschool teacher at Sedgwick Elementary School. "Who would work at low-income schools? Those kids are challenged and need good teachers."

Wachob said the teachers are not alone in their disagreement with the governor's actions. She said the district has been supportive and she appreciated the administrators' presence at the demonstration.

"The thing that's special about this rally is that the administration supports it," Wachob said.

The Cupertino Education Association plans to attend a statewide rally on May 25 to protest against Schwarzenegger's proposals. For more information about the association, visit www.ceaweb.org.