Arizona teachers to end strike if plan passes

Pressure mounts for a return to classrooms

PHOENIX — Arizona teachers said they will end a historic statewide strike Thursday if lawmakers pass a plan that offers big raises and increased school funding, but that still falls short of their demands.

Organizers made the announcement Tuesday after educators statewide walked off the job last week to demand higher pay and education dollars. Arizona’s action followed a teacher uprising that started in other parts of the U.S.

Those mobilizing teachers criticized a Republican-led funding plan, but said it was time to go back to work.

“Our fight is not over,” said Rebecca Garelli, a strike organizer. “But it is time for us to get back to our students.”

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey and GOP legislative leaders have agreed on a state budget proposal that could be passed into law this week, but doesn’t increase classroom resources as much as educators sought.

The plan moving through the Republican-led Legislature gives teachers a 10 percent raise next year and starts restoring some of the nearly $400 million in cuts to a fund that pays for supplies, repairs and some support staff salaries.

Ducey has promised to bump teacher pay 20 percent by 2020 and restore payments to that fund to pre-recession levels in five years.

The walkout launched Thursday and two-thirds of Arizona’s student population was still out of school through Tuesday, though some districts began opening their doors. Some districts were expected to stay closed Wednesday.

Teachers have packed raucous rallies at the state Capitol for days, while others have helped care for students and tried to maintain community support.

Grass-roots organizers have urged teachers to hold community events, with some talking to parents before they head to work and others crowding street corners in red shirts.

Gladys Garcia said many of her students rely on free or reduced price meals at Challenger Middle School in Tucson and she organized with colleagues to collect food to hand out at a local public library.

“It’s our way to let the kids know, ‘We’re actively trying to do something for you, please don’t feel like we’re turning our backs on you,’” the firstyear teacher said.

Many community members supported teachers’ efforts, but pressure was increasing on some parents and school administrators.

Gabriel Trujillo, superintendent of the Tucson Unified School District, the second-largest in the state, said he didn’t support the walkout because it takes teachers out of classrooms. He said he does support the objectives of the #RedforEd movement, with his schools facing a host of funding needs.

But Trujillo is concerned teachers will lose public support as the strike drags on. He said when he called off school for the fourth day in a row, he received more “angry communications” from parents than he had last week.

Organizers seemed to acknowledge the strain, but reasserted what the walkout was about.

“Our greatest victory is the powerful movement we have created, which we are going to continue on behalf of our students, because this movement has always been about our students,” Garelli said.