Teachers, others rally to protect education funding

Saturday, February 28, 2009

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Educators, parents and students rallied in Orlando Saturday.

(Bay News 9) -- Bay area educators, parents and students joined around 10,000 others in Orlando Saturday to rally for education funding.

Their goal: to make sure state lawmakers think of schools first when they get back together on Tuesday to talk about the state budget.

Pierce Middle School eighth grade teacher Doris Ripoll attended the rally in hopes of drawing the attention of state lawmakers.

"We are hoping our elected officials will look at schools first instead of last," Ripoll said. "That they will not give us the crumbs after all the money has already been dispersed elsewhere."

Paula Thomas, a mother of five, agrees, so she brought her kids for a lesson in politics.

"To be a part of rally, and their voice will continue to be heard not only in the classroom but also within the community," Thomas said.

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Ripoll and Thomas joined the voices of others from all over the state -- all wanting more money for public schools from already strapped legislators.

"I want them to really dig deep before they start cutting the support people and the teachers," said Hillsborough County bus driver Gail Taylor. "For God sakes, the teachers, they are underpaid already and they do a lot for the education department, and the children need the programs."

Many of the educators Bay News 9 spoke to Saturday are concerned about layoffs, pay cuts and larger class sizes. The Florida Education Association sponsored the rally.

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