The presidents of most metro-area school boards, including Jefferson County and Gardendale, will take part in a rally Saturday morning to oppose the taking of millions of dollars from the state’s Education Trust Fund to fix a deficit in the general fund.

The rally was organized by Hoover Board of Education President Derrick Murphy, after the Alabama Legislature worked out a compromise in a special session this week to shift $80 million from the education fund’s reserves, in an effort to reduce a $200 million shortfall in the general fund.

Since Murphy’s rally was announced, the compromise — which originally would have taken $100 million in the State Senate’s version, and $50 million in the House plan — was approved by both chambers of the legislature, and signed into law by Gov. Robert Bentley. The plan also includes increases in various taxes, such as on cigarettes.

“I understand the challenges our legislators are experiencing in managing the general fund; however, public education cannot afford a yearly decline in revenue,” Murphy said in a press statement Tuesday. “We must have a stable revenue model to ensure our students’ future which directly influences a healthy Alabama work force and economy.”

Saturday’s rally was originally planned to be held at Vulcan Park, but has instead been moved to the nearby Jefferson County Board of Education office, adjacent to the Vulcan entrance. It begins at 7:30 a.m.

In addition to Murphy, JefCoEd Board President Dean Taylor and Gardendale Board of Education President Chris Segroves are scheduled to attend, along with the board presidents from the Alabaster, Bessemer, Birmingham, Fairfield, Leeds, Mountain Brook, Pelham, Tarrant, Trussville and Vestavia Hills city systems, as well as the Shelby County schools.