Parents taking stand in budget battle

Anneke Cole arrived extra early Thursday morning at John Gill Elementary School in Redwood City to drop off her daughter, a second- grader, and then catch other parents arriving with their children.

Carrying clipboards and pens, Cole asked the adults to sign letters opposing the proposed statewide budget cuts to public schools. She didn't have to do much persuading.

"The letters are expressing our serious concern to what the cuts would mean to the future of our children," said Cole, the PTA president at John Gill.

Cole is part of a letter-signing campaign spearheaded by PTAs in the Redwood City School District, urging state leaders to spare schools.

It's just one example of how the potential massive education cuts have galvanized parents and community groups in San Mateo County and elsewhere to step up fundraising and other efforts for schools.

Parents, students and others are also rallying on the streets and packing school board meetings in a show of solidarity behind teachers and programs in danger of being lost.

Such actions show parents "getting behind something for the common good," said Jo-Ann Sockolov,

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