Schools in Merced County and the more than 55,000 students who attend them will be hurt again during the next school year by budget proposals designed to further delay long-term solutions to the state budget crisis.</p><p>That's why Thursday was designated "Start the Day for Students" and people were encouraged to "Stand Up for Schools and California's Future" by key statewide education organizations.</p><p>Representing parents, teachers, administrators, other school employees and school board members, these groups believe it's time for the general public to help stop the devastation of our schools by sending a message to the governor and our legislators: Enough is enough; fix the state budget problem without wrecking our schools.</p><p>California's K-12 schools and community colleges have been cut $17 billion in the past two years and the governor proposes $2.4 billion more for the coming year.</p><p>We have seen indications of the seriousness of these cuts in newspaper articles describing local school boards' anguish over laying off teachers and other school employees, increasing class sizes, reducing library services, counseling, music, art and enrichment activities such as Camp Green Meadows environmental education.</p><p>Some local school districts have been hit very hard while others have been able to weather the storm without dramatic service cuts.</p><p>Districts with large budget reserves and those with increasing student enrollment have not had to lay off teachers. Other districts have been able to manage cuts by not filling positions opened by retirements and making small but significant cuts in administration, libraries, counseling and other areas.</p><p>However, nearly every district in Merced County has been forced into deficit spending to meet their annual expenses.</p><p>If the state continues to balance its budget by taking from the schools, almost all of our schools will experience dramatically increased class sizes and reduced program offerings while being pushed toward financial insolvency.</p><p>Probably because local schools generally remain highly valued by their communities, state budget decisions are cynically described in terms intended to obscure attacks on school funding.</p><p>While the public was told that the proposed state budget would protect education, the reality is that the $2.4 billion in cuts is accomplished by switching labels on taxes and reneging on last year's funding promises.</p><p>There is no doubt that the state's budget problem is huge and that cuts must be made almost everywhere to reach a solution. With this in mind, education should only take its fair share of the cuts needed to solve our state budget crisis.</p><p>Thus far, schools have taken about 60 percent of the cuts while only making up 40 percent of the state budget. To take any more from our already-struggling schools will create disastrous effects for students, families and our economy.</p><p>Join other parents, teachers, school staff and all those who value education by standing up for the schools and call or e-mail this message to the governor and our legislators: "Find a way to solve the state budget crisis without wrecking our schools!"</p><p>Lee Andersen is the Merced County superintendent of schools.