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Wednesday morning’s walkout at El Cerrito High School was one protest that left Principal Vince Rhea smiling. 

Not that he necessarily wanted 300 or so students marching off campus and through the nearby residential streets. “Any time there’s a walkout, we’re very concerned, and we want to make sure they’re not destroying property,” Rhea said. 

But the principal said he did approve of the students’ motive, which was to rally community support to save endangered programs at the school. 

A $16.5 million budget deficit announced Monday night has left Western Contra Costa County high schools in turmoil. After school officials proposed eliminating athletic programs and school libraries as well as ending school counseling, students held walkouts at several district schools this week. 

The El Cerrito Police Department was clearly worried about Wednesday’s El Cerrito High walkout. “I’ve never seen so many cop cars,” one teacher was overheard saying to another. “All their black-and-whites and the undercover cars, too.” 

But the students gave police no reason for concern. After the march they filed quietly back onto campus, where many headed to the football field. There they waited patiently while Rhea and his staff got things ready for an open mic session where students could share gripes. 

“Throughout the week, we’re going to be having a series of forums so students can vent their frustrations,” Rhea explained beforehand. 

About a hundred students gathered for the stadium meeting, which Rhea began with a plea. “I know you’re worried about the cuts, but we lose money every period you’re not in classes,” he said. “I want you to know I’m not going to let this high school close down.” 

The cowboy books and Western style belt and buckle that stood out from his otherwise business-like garb prompted a reporter to ask Rhea where he hailed from. “Berkeley,” he said. “My dad was a pediatrician.” 

But the principal’s style was pure Wall Street compared to the look affected by Corey Mason, the Spanish teacher and radio producer Rhea calls “my right-hand man.” 

While the principal sports a neat short and very Western mustache, Mason wears two braids—the first descending from the top of his head and well down his back and the second from the underside of an otherwise clean-shaven chin.  

Applause and cheers greeted Mason when he rose to take the mic. 

“I learned about walkouts 15 years ago,” he said. “We need to invite the people of El Cerrito and the businesses to help us.” Mason told the students that both the administration and the police “were very supportive.” 

A succession of students and one parent stepped up to the microphone to air their grievances. 

“They’re cutting football here,” a student athlete said. “My cousin’s coming here starting next year, and football’s his ticket to college, like it is for a lot of people I know.” 

Another student added that he knew “a number of people have been looking to come here and play. Now they’re gonna be disappointed. I heard about a few of them who say they’re going to Oakland.” 

Dominique Brown, a senior and a cheerleader, declared, “They say they’re concerned about our diet, and they’ve changed some of the food, but now they’re gonna cut sports? Grades are going to go down too,” she complained, “because a lot of students keep their grades up so they can stay in sports.” 

Loss of the library and counselors drew more expressions of concern than the possible loss of the athletic programs. “With the counselors gone, who’s going to help us apply for college?” asked a second cheerleader. “All seniors need them.” 

A volleyball player urged her fellow students to “tell your parents and all your friends to write letters. To the governor, to the legislature, to everyone. That’s the only thing that’ll work.” 

Jan, a senior, said “It deeply saddens me that we live in a society where people don’t care about their children anymore, about their education.” She pointed to the failure earlier this month of ballot Measure J, which would have increased school funding for the West Contra Costa district. 

“How did we get to the point where we’re losing athletics and music?” demanded the only parent at the gathering. “That’s the way out for a lot of our students.” 

“Without our counselors, who’s gonna help us with our college applications next year,” worried one junior. “We only have two now. But to have none? That’s gonna jeopardize everything. And what’re we gonna do without the library? Not everyone here comes from a home where they can afford a computer, so they write their papers on the ones in the library. If there’s no library, the district is basically robbing us of our education. Our future is in crisis. If these budget cuts take away our future, we’re dirt. If they care about us, they wouldn’t do this. I’m really concerned about not getting into college.” 

Photography teacher Jeremiah Holland praised the students (“You guys are great. You deserve the best.”) and offered practical advice for future demonstrations. “You need signs. You need posters. You need sticks to carry them. You need talking points.” 

Another teacher present was Philip Morgan, who runs the district’s highly popular and nationally known KECG radio station, which teaches students the basics of broadcasting—another program up for the chop. “We’re on the list,” said Morgan. “But we’re working on it.” 

Principal Rhea told students he was actively exploring corporate sponsorship for the sports teams. “There are a number of corporations interested in underwriting athletics in the East Bay. We’re looking at SBC and the Oakland A’s.” He also promised to personally relay the students’ concerns to Superintendent of Schools Gloria Johnson and other district officials.›