USA TODAY International Edition
Ariz. teachers to keep up fight for more resources
Colo. educators find ally in governor; neighbors extend rally
PHOENIX – Thousands of Arizona teachers gathered early Friday at the state Capitol for a second day of rallies, and educators in Colorado held an afternoon protest in Denver.
The temperature reached 99 degrees by 3 p.m. in Phoenix. But to beat a different kind of heat, legislators in the GOPdominated Arizona House and Senate on Thursday had adjourned early for the week, allowing lawmakers to steer clear of the protesters.
“I’m disappointed they left. I’m disappointed they won’t have a conversation,” said Barbara Skinner, an instructional specialist in the Phoenix suburb of Mesa. “We want people to know that this isn’t something that just happened a week ago. This has been 10 years in the making.”
While teachers in both states are concerned about their salaries — aver-
“This isn’t something that just happened a week ago. This has been 10 years in the making.”
Barbara Skinner Instructional specialist from Mesa, Ariz.
age teacher pay in Arizona is $47,403, ranking 44th among states and the District of Columbia, and Colorado teachers average $51,808, 31st in the nation — what they really want is respect and financial support for their classrooms.
“I’ve had enough of not having enough,” said Martha Petty, who teaches media studies at Harris Bilingual Elementary School in Fort Collins, Colo., and has taught for 32 years. “I still love the kids, and I still want to make it great. So, Colorado, make it great.”
Since 2009, Colorado legislators have reduced the amount of money they directed to help rural schools, those serving high populations of at-risk students and those serving communities with a high cost of living. At the moment, that underfunding is $822 million a year, $6.6 billion total for the past decade, said Kerrie Dallman, Colorado Education Association president.
Colorado lawmakers don’t have the power to raise taxes without asking voters. So the teachers’ union is backing a ballot initiative to raise taxes on people earning more than $150,000 a year and corporations.
“When I don’t have to work a second job, I can spend more time planning,” said Sarah Buck, a teacher with the Adams 12 Five Stars Schools in the Denver suburb of Thornton.
Colorado’s teachers have used personal days to make their trek to the Capitol and have heard supportive messages from Gov. John Hickenlooper.
“We see you. We hear you,” said the Democratic head of state, who wore a red checked shirt in support of the #RedForEd movement. “We are working with you, not just today.”
In contrast, participating Arizona teachers voted to walk out and are relying on the support of districts, parents and other taxpayers to make their point.
Arizona teachers want a 20% raise but also have four other demands: raises for support staff, yearly teacher raises, a restoration of $1 billion in state money for education that has been cut since the recession, and no new tax cuts until the state’s per-pupil spending reaches the national average. Arizona’s 2017 per-pupil expenditures were $7,501; the national average was $11,642, according to a National Education Association report released earlier this month.
“In order to keep my job teaching, I’ve had to downsize my home so I could still afford to teach,” said Irene Vasquez, 56, a math teacher in the Phoenix suburb of Peoria. “I’ve never not had a part-time job. But you do what you do because you love it.”
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, seeking reelection this year, announced Friday afternoon that he had reached a deal with the Legislature’s Republican leaders that includes a 20% raise for teachers by 2020. But his plan does not address educators’ other demands.
Ducey made his announcement after teachers had left the Capitol for the day, and the Republican did not talk with teachers either day.
Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association, said the state’s teachers will walk out for a third consecutive day Monday.
“I think we have to come back Monday because they closed shop and ran away from us yesterday, and we have to show them that they don’t get to run away from our students,” Thomas said.
“In order to keep my job teaching, I’ve had to downsize my home so I could still afford to teach. I’ve never not had a part-time job. But you do what you do because you love it.” Irene Vasquez