The president of California's largest teachers union says Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's proposed cuts in education may force some schools to close down. KPBS reporter Ana Tintocalis has more.
The governor is calling for a 10 percent cut in education spending. That means $400 million would be slashed from this year's public school budgets. But school officials say they've already used most of the state's money on programs, resources and salaries.
Marty Hittelman is president of the California Federation of Teachers . He says the governor can't take away money he's already handed out.
Hittelman : You don't have 10 percent to cut, unless you decide you're just going to shut down schools. And I hope that's not what the governor is proposing.
The governor also wants to take away $4 billion in next year's budget. In order to do that he would have to suspend Proposition 98. It’s the voter-approved initiative that secures a minimum level of state funding for schools. Education groups are ready to fight.
Ana Tintocalis, KPBS News.
