KCBS Radio Spot

SF Principal, Supporters, Walk to Sacramento in Protest


LISTEN TO RADIO SPOT

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Looming state budget cuts are forcing a San Francisco trio to hit the road in protest. One principal, one teacher and one parent are setting out on foot tomorrow to take their complaints to Sacramento.

Its 4.5 miles from Harvey Milk Academy in the Castro to the Embarcadero. From there, Principal Sande Leigh, along with her team, will ride BART to Dublin Station, then walk the 105 miles over the Altamont Pass through the Central Valley, with the hopes of arriving at the Governor's mansion on Saturday.

"I'm going to try my best to do this walk all the way from one end to the other. I'm 59-years-old and definitely not a fit person, but this is really important and I'm going to make it," said Leigh.

The group will carry a jar of $32 all in pennies, which she says will be left on the Governor's doorstep to illustrate the amount of money they have left in their budget to buy pencils,copy paper, markers and staples.

“Obviously the education crisis is not going to be solved by small donations to small schools, that’s why we’re trying to make this a bigger issue. It's not just a fundraiser for Harvey Milk Academy," said Leigh.

The group, supported by staff and parents will walk in the early morning and evening to avoid the 90-degree daytime heat. The walk is part fundraiser and part protest. They're hoping to raise at least some of the $35 thousand dollars lost in the last budget.

KCBS' Holly Quan reports