Students Fight to Save Beloved Recess Supervisor

0:00It's April 23rd. Welcome to California News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with the story. Students at Las Guelida Elementary in Oakland are fighting to save their recess supervisor, Ms. Donna Jackson, who's facing cuts from the Oakland. Unified school district's budget mess. The district has until June 30th to balance its books with a $50 million whole staring them down. Earlier this week, kids and staff packed a school board meeting with signs and stories, including her the glue that holds the playground together. She's the one resolving fights, keeping things fun, and even buying balls and games out of her own pocket at $18.50 an hour. These young voices hit hard. One kid said she'd follow Ms. Donna to whatever school she goes to, another called her Kind and Brave. Teachers like Adi Hoek argue slashing her job in health benefits won't fix the deficit, but will crush the kids emotionally. Another member, Mike Hutchinson, blames part of the crisis on firing the last superintendent,

1:00Kyla Johnson-Tramel, who got them out of county oversight. President Jennifer Bruehardt says consultants are crunching numbers to cover the teacher's new contract costs too, but no search has started for a replacement leader. Next budget meetings in May, so the pressure is building, will they listen to these students and spare the heart of their school or keep trimming too? Make that deadline.