This week the real impact of the legislature’s inept management of the state budget is showing up in classrooms.

• Teachers have larger class sizes.
• School employees are forced to take furlough days.
• Districts have ordered freezes on purchasing instructional materials.
• Staff has been reduced and work that supports the instructional process is not getting done.
• School employees have had salary reductions and have been warned that if the legislature’s new budget makes additional cuts, the salaries levels in their current contracts may be reduced during the school year.

What is your story? How many kids to you have in our class? What is the impact on your job? How are your students impacted?

Speculation about what will happen in the State Senate today is running wild. Nobody knows if they have the votes. Anything could happen. They could pass the budget today, delay until tomorrow, or even delay until next week. Map to the Capitol

This is a very dynamic situation, and our ability to communicate and change plans at a moment's notice is essential to our success.

The schedule as it stands now:

Senate Gallery at 1:00 p.m.
If at all possible, be at the capitol and gather in the Senate gallery just before 1:00 p.m. today. Before you come, make a telephone call to your Senators and let them know you are coming in support of public education and will be in the gallery watching today. Ask them to introduce you from the gallery.

If the Senate does not have the votes and decides to adjourn for the day, an immediate communication will be sent out on this email list, Facebook, and Twitter. If you are coming to the capitol later in the day, check to see if there are any changes in plans.

Demonstration on the Mall at 4:00 p.m.
There will be a rally between 4:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. on the mall of the capitol beginning at 4:00 p.m. If the legislature is attempting to push out the budget today or have passed it by then, this demonstration will be a critical tool to stop the budget.

If the Senate adjourns, this rally may be postponed. Please watch for updates. Visit www.march4schools.com for the latest news.

The Senate is scheduled to convene at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4. The Governor and Senate President Bob Burns are desperate to pass the budget tomorrow so the Governor’s sales tax can be on the November ballot. By all accounts the vote is extremely close and the budget has already passed the House. This is the last chance to stop this devastating budget.

We need you at the capitol tomorrow to let legislators know that we will not stand idly by and let them make massive cuts to our public schools. We are meeting in the Senate Gallery at 1 p.m. tomorrow and will hold a demonstration at 4 p.m. on the mall in front of the capitol. Your participation at one or both of these times is critical to stopping this budget! If you cannot arrive until later than 4:00 p.m., come and join us then. Visit www.march4schools.com for more information. Below are links with more information.

• Summary of Legislative Majority Budget Proposal
• What could happen if this budget passes
• Latest updates on budget news
• Call your legislators and the governor
• Email your legislators and the governor