#RedForEd event trails governor
Teachers stage rally near site of Ducey interview
Gov. Doug Ducey, in his first public response to the #RedForEd teacher movement, promised “to have more money” for Arizona teachers.
He then reiterated the details of a budget proposal he introduced in January.
Ducey spoke on KTAR-FM’s “Mac and Gaydos Show” Monday evening, while about 300 educators marched and chanted outside the Phoenix station.
The protest was the latest effort to further the Arizona Educators United grassroots movement that started when
thousands of educators wore red to school in support of higher wages.
Ducey said his administration was already doing everything it could to provide more money for teachers.
He pointed to his budget proposal that would include $400 million in additional funding for education. That includes money for capital costs, required inflation funding and the second half of a 2 percent pay increase promised last year.
“They may want us to do more, they may want it to be faster, but I don’t think you can put any more money than we have into public education while protecting public safety and child safety, which were significant issues when I came into office as well,” Ducey said during the radio interview.
Teacher Noah Karvelis, one of the organizers of Arizona Educators United, said protesters were not satisfied with Ducey’s answers.
“We need answers. We need a plan and we need to see it, fast,” Karvelis said. “Until he gives a plan, we’re going to keep taking further steps here and increase our action.”
Educators outside the studio wielded signs that spoke to their frustrations with what they believe has been a slow response from the state to address a statewide teacher crisis.
They repeatedly chanted, “What’s the plan, Ducey? What’s the plan?” Several cars honked as they passed by the educators near 16th Street and Northern Avenue.
“He needs to realize that he can’t keep his eyes closed on the issue,” Chad Schafer, a teacher at Tres Rios Service Academy, told Mac and Gaydos when asked what he wanted to tell Ducey.
“Schools and students are losing amazing teachers because they cannot keep up,” said Schafer, adding that he lives with three other teachers “to get by.”
Schafer said he and other teachers are “more than willing” to go on strike.
The possibility of a strike has been hotly debated on social media among Arizona educators, though organizers with Arizona Educators United said last week that they were not ready for a strike.
When asked by the radio hosts to comment on the strike talks, Ducey said, “I’ve talked to a lot of superintendents, and they don’t think that would be a good idea for kids or learning inside of our classrooms.”
Lupita Almanza, a second-grade teacher in Mesa Public Schools, said she protested Ducey because “we’re not funded enough.”
“There’s a lot of talented teachers that I’ve seen leave the classroom because of their salaries,” Almanza said. “They can’t make it work. It’s not a livable wage for them. I live paycheck to paycheck.”
Last week’s #RedForEd protest started with a group of teachers banding together on social media and ended as arguably the largest demonstration of unity among Arizona educators in recent history.
The Arizona Educators United private Facebook page has drawn more than 30,000 members since it was created March 4.
On Friday, teachers flooded social media, listing their priorities for change, and tagging #RedForEd and Ducey. Common themes included higher pay, smaller class sizes, qualified teachers and more resources.
Arizona Educators United also plans to march on the Arizona Capitol March 28 with the Arizona Parent Teacher Association and Save Our Schools Arizona, a mostly grassroots group of parents and public education advocates.