Paint it Black: Elk Grove’s Monterey Trails High Student to Protest Budget Cuts

Students, teachers plan protest over school district budget cuts


Students, educators, classified employees and parents of Elk Grove’s Monterey Trail High School will stage a mock funeral protest on Thursday, March 4 to protest school funding cuts. Among other activities, students are being asked to wear black and a mock funeral procession will be held early Thursday morning.

The demonstration is part of a statewide effort by the California Teachers Associations to demonstrate the unprecedented budget cuts in school district statewide.

Monterey Trails is part of the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD). The EGUSD is facing a $60 million dollar shortfall that is necessitating severe cuts.

To make up the shortfall, district officials have announced plans to issue up to 1,000 pink slips as well as cuts to several programs. Some of the decisions regarding these cuts will be made at tonight’s school board meeting.

“Our class sizes are soaring, schools are cutting art, music, career technical education and other vital programs and thousands of educators face more pink slips on March 15,” said Tom Gardner, local Elk Grove Education Association Union President.