Hundreds protest the possible cancellation of adult education

Kevin Reynolds kreynolds.roundupnews@gmail.com

Nearly 200 people gathered outside West Valley Education Center to protest the possible cancelation of adult education programs in the Los Angeles Unified School District(LAUSD).

The crowd, which was comprised of the school’s faculty, staff and students, held signs with slogans like “Dump Villaraigosa” and “No more cuts” while chanting “Save our schools”.

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa is doing nothing to prevent the cutting of adult education programs, medical billing student Stacy Stein said.

The protest was prompted by an upcoming vote on Tuesday March 13 that would decide the fate of the district’s adult education programs.

The LAUSD board will vote to reduce funding to adult education by $200 million.

“I think they should just raise our tuition,” Stein said. “We need the schools to stay open so that unem- ployed people can learn skills to help them become employed.”

The rally began at 10a.m., and already had a large crowd of protestors by 10:15a.m. including faculty and staff members.

“We want the community to know that we want to be here,” Deborah Thompson, teacher of adult education for 35 years, said. “We are an invaluable part of the community.”

Adult education schools provide vocational education for veterans, young adults, and laid-off workers.

“We have been doing a huge letter writing and email campaign to board members,” Karen Hribar, adult education teacher for 27 years, said. “We serve a very important part of the community.”

The protest was scheduled to last until noon.

For the two hours it lasted cars drove by honking there horns while protestors continued their loud chanting.

The voices of the protestors could be heard by students across the street in the Village area at Pierce College.