The timing was tight, but the increase in communication seemed to be motivating; Culver City joined a ‘national day of action’ on March 4, 2026 to speak out about student safety, and to protest school budget cuts.
After a long and contentious meeting of the CCUSD School Board on March 2, many were expressing their unhappiness with the district’s proposed budget cuts. Those addressing the rally repeatedly focused the blame on Sacramento, and the governor’s office for withholding Prop 98 funds from schools.
The rally, held at the tri-school campus at Elenda and Farragut, heard from Mayor Freddy Puza, Teacher’s Union Leader Ray Long, School Board member Triston Ezidore, and a representative from State Senator Lola-Smallwood Cuevas’ office.
The national focus – the issues of safety specific to students who are under threat from anti-immigrant raids, and broader social threats from anti-LGBT sentiment from the federal government – was put in center by remarks from Mayor Puza. “We need our students to know how much we value them, and that everyone is welcome here, everyone deserves to be safe.”
Union leader Long spoke to the crowd, urging them to contact their electeds to pressure Governor Gavin Newsom to release the Prop. 98 funds that are earmarked for education. CCUSD’s budget woes would not disappear with the receipt of the state funds, but would be significantly eased. California is currently holding on to $5 million that are designated for Culver City’s schools, pushing the need to reduce staff and curtail programs.
Ezidore kept his focus on the safety issue, and offered ” Today our educators, families, students and community leaders stood together to make it clear; we will always protect our students.”
The numbers at the rally were smaller than the crowd at the school board meeting, but both events illustrated a deep community commitment to staying politically active in he face of financial and social issues.
Judith Martin-Straw
