‘Take our message to Arnold’

Elia Powers

Two hours before Maria Shriver delivered a speech inside the Balboa

Bay Club and Resort, a group of about 35 Orange County parents and

PTA members lined the sidewalk outside the waterfront property to

show their disapproval for the education policies of Shriver’s

husband, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Waiving signs such as “Fully Fund Education,” and chanting “Save

our schools,” the protesters, from the Fourth District PTA, elicited

responses from drivers passing along Pacific Coast Highway.

But their real target was the first lady of California.

“We want Maria to take our message to Arnold,” said event

co-organizer Crystal Kerins. “Contrary to what his advisors are

telling him, we are not fully funded.”

Kerins, a mother of two Huntington Beach elementary school

students, said her district receives 40% less per pupil than the

state’s average. She pointed to the recent decision to close Kettler

Elementary School in Huntington Beach and a cutback of librarians’

hours as proof that their schools are getting the short shrift.

She said she wants to see Schwarzenegger follow the guidelines of

Proposition 98, a measure that guarantees a minimum amount of state

money for public schools.

Schwarzenegger has reduced funds for Prop. 98 and has not

replenished them in his proposed budget for the next fiscal year.

Shereen Walter, the other event organizer, said it was important

for Shriver to see that PTA members and parents “aren’t a special

interest.”

She wore a laminated placard with pictures of her three children

that read “My Special Interest.”

Walter was among a group of Fourth District PTA members who

visited Sacramento last week to protest Schwarzenegger’s handling of

state education funds.

Steven Lustig, vice president of legislation for California PTA of

Orange County, said events like these are vital to keep the pressure

on the Governor.

In May, Schwarzenegger will present a revised version of his

proposed 2005-06 budget. Lustig said he hopes education funding

increases.

“This is another in a series of advocacy efforts and meetings,”

Lustig said. “We are trying to make a mom-to-mom connection here with

Maria.”

* ELIA POWERS is the enterprise and general assignment reporter.

He may be reached at (714) 966-4623 or by e-mail at

elia.powers@latimes.com.