Marysville teachers protest for statewide budget cuts

Parents, teachers and students in Marysville spent Thursday afternoon protesting pn the statewide education budget cuts.       

Thursday was considered a half-day in the Marysville School District, and the other half was spent protesting against state cuts for teacher salaries.

A part of the 2% salary cut mandated by the legislature for all state public school teachers includes unpaid furlough days for teachers.

Marysville-Pilchuck High School’s Principal Teresa Williams joined with other teachers during the demonstration.

“We have no other choice but to be out here and let the community know, no more cuts,” said Williams. “We hope we’ve hit the bottom.”

Gov. Christine Gregoire proposed additional statewide cuts for the next year that would take $6 million from the Marysville School District budget alone. Legislators said these cuts are necessary as the state faces a billion-dollar budget deficit.

In 2003, Marysville School District teachers made history by having the state’s longest teacher strike. The district was known for failed levies.

Marysville teachers are going to take seven unpaid furlough days this school year due to the budget cuts.