Protest Planned for Thursday School Board Meeting

Employees of the Sacramento City Unified School District are unhappy about planned cuts to transportation, custodial staff and other areas, and plan to protest before Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

According to a press release, the district's chapter of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will hold a rally from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Serna Center, 5735 47th Ave.

“As school workers, we are committed to protecting the children,” the press release quoted Karla Faucett, Vice President for the district's Service Employees International Union chapter, as saying. “We cannot stand idle while the school board makes decisions that could threaten the health and safety of the children we protect.”

The district plans to cut custodial staffing in half and eliminate home-to-school transportation next year, according to the press release.

"About 1,500 children rely on home-to-school transportation in the Sacramento City Unified School District," the press release states. "Children’s safety is at-risk if they are forced to cross busy intersections or if they are forced to walk in neighborhoods that may have child predators."

The union chapter also said cuts to custodial and maintenance services could leave students "at risk for health and safety issues."