San Luis, Somerton teachers join the #RedforEd walkout
SAN LUIS, Ariz. — More than 600 people, including teachers, other school employees and others supporting the #RedforEd campaign, rallied here and in Somerton on Thursday as part of statewide walkout demanding higher teacher pay and greater state funding for education.
Taking part in marches and public demonstrations, proponents of the movement called for a 20 percent pay hike for teachers, similar increases for other school employees as well as restoration of state funding to previous levels prior to 2008.
In San Luis, teachers and other employees of the eight schools in the Gadsden Elementary School District and from San Luis High School marched along Juan Sanchez Boulevard, ending up at the Cesar Chavez Cultural Center. Gathering around the statue for the farm labor leader for whom the center takes its name, they were joined by San Luis Mayor Gerardo Sanchez, Yuma County Supervisor Tony Reyes and the superintendent of the Gadsden district, Raymond Aguilera.
Gerardo Hernandez, a
teacher at San Luis High School, said Thursday’s demonstration was about not only higher teacher pay but more funding of education to meet the needs of students.
“I graduated from (San Luis) high school in 2010, and now that I am a teacher, I see that there were better conditions and more updated technology when I was a student. This movement is not only about them paying us more, but also that they give more resources to the schools.”
Julio Castillo, a teacher at Cesar Chavez Elementary School, said the city is suffering a brain drain of sorts, as low salaries and education cutbacks prompt teachers. among them San Luis natives, to leave in search of better-paying jobs in or outside education.
“The tragedy is that we are losing teachers who
were raised there, who know the local culture, who know the curriculum through and through, and who besides that are bilingual and know how to connect with the children. We are losing great educators who are going into other professions.”
In Somerton, teachers and others lined up along Main Street in a protest that bought out more than 100 people. One of those taking part in the walkout was Cassie Hagan, a teacher at Desert Sonora Elementary School in that city.
“We hope the governor listens to us,” she said. “We think our demands are reasonable because for 10 years the education system has been suffering cutbacks, and we believe that our teaches and children deserve something better.
“We what to show the governor and the Legislature that we are serious, that we will keep fighting as long as it takes.”