Oakland Judge Considers Lawsuits Over Education Spending
OAKLAND (KCBS) - A judge in Oakland was expected to rule Friday on two lawsuits aimed at forcing the state of California to spend more money on its public schools.
KCBS' Doug Sovern Reports:
A coalition of parents and grassroots groups sought to prove they could fight City Hall and beyond.
The two similar suits sought to increase the amount of funding California directed to public education, as well as the way in which that money was being spent.
One of the plaintiffs in the matter of Campaign for Quality Education v. California, Penelope Cabrera-Gamez, enrolled her two young children in Hayward schools.
"We've been drafting letters to the legislators and we've been reaching out to our governor, but we haven't had any success. So suing the state seems like the only way to get the state to take action," she reasoned.
She expressed frustration with what she described as the gradual destruction of California's public schools.
"Since 2008 California has cut $17 billion from the education budget and now we rank 44th in spending per student. So right now it's $2,500 less than the national average."
Her suit, and a parallel one, have both been opposed by the state, which on Friday would ask Judge Steven Brick to dismiss them.
Gov. Schwarzenegger had previously said he would like to see the funding system fixed, but added that more money alone wouldn't solve problems.
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