Arizona teachers say strike still on despite budget deal

Thousands of Arizona teachers gathered for the third day at the Capitol on Monday to protest low pay and school funding, and many schools around the state remained closed, while the Legislature prepared to introduce a budget package that gives them raises but falls short of other demands.

The budget package negotiated between Republicans who control the Legislature and GOP Gov. Doug Ducey provides the first 10 percent of what will be a 20 percent increase by 2020. The governor is counting a 1 percent raise awarded to teachers this year as part of that raise, meaning it will be 19 percent by 2020.

It also restores $100 million out of the nearly $400 million in recession-era cuts to a fund that helps schools pay for books, school buses and other capital expenses.

But several teachers interviewed Monday said that doesn’t go far enough after years of low funding that not only left them among the lowest paid in the nation but also has many schools operating with broken equipment and outdated books.

“Not only is there an issue with teacher salaries, but our buildings,” said Jessica Hauer, a former classroom teacher at a Phoenix-area school district now working in administration. “I don’t think $100 million is enough. From the numbers I’m seeing we’ve been in such a decline for such a long period of time, 10 years, that’s it’s not going to be enough money. And I’m not sure his plan is sustainable.”

Late Monday afternoon, the grass-roots teachers group that called the strike said it would continue at least through Wednesday.

Arizona Educators United organizer Kelly Wendland Fisher told members during a Facebook Live video that they need to keep the pressure on lawmakers to ensure the budget provides needed cash for schools.

Fisher told teachers to organize events with parents or other backers in their home districts Tuesday morning and then come to the Capitol to keep pressure on lawmakers.

Hauer said her district’s schools have worn out central air conditioning, fire alarm and security systems that will cost millions to replace.

“The fire alarm system now at (one) school goes off so often the students are starting to ignore it,” Hauer said.

Some educators are concerned that the governor’s pay raise only goes to teachers with set classes and not support staff like counselors or bus drivers or people like reading specialist Jodi Walker, who teaches at the Apache Junction Unified School District.

“I’m worried about our classified staff not getting a fair increase,” Walker said. “And we have to attract teachers. We have to bring teachers to Arizona, not lose them to other states.”

The question for Ducey and Republican lawmakers is how long will teachers remain off the job after walking out Thursday. Organizers have said they are making those decisions day by day and plan to continue to keep the heat on the Legislature.

Arizona Education Association president Joe Thomas said he believes teachers will be rallying at the Capitol on Tuesday.

Monday’s rally drew as many as 10,000 teachers, according to estimates from the Department of Public Safety, and the leader of the national teachers union, the American Federation of Teachers. Despite the presence of the state and national unions, the Arizona walkout is mainly led by a grassroots group of teachers that mobilized after a strike in West Virginia in a movement that’s spread to several states.

Demonstrators, now in their third day at the statehouse grounds, came prepared with tents, chairs and plenty of water. Several teachers said they’re ready to show up Tuesday and beyond, including Margaret Cordova, a teacher at Sonoran Sky Elementary School.

“As they say they need me here, this where I’ll be,” she said.

Several school districts re-opened their doors Monday, including the Wickenburg Unified School District, about 80 miles (128 kilometers) northwest of Phoenix. Others were closed Monday and announced closures for Tuesday. The Laveen Elementary School District in southwest Phoenix, which held half-days throughout the walkout, tentatively planned to re-open for full school days Tuesday, while the Cartwright School District in west Phoenix said it would close all week, as did the Sunnyside School Unified School District in Tucson. Those two districts educate 35,000 students.

In addition to 20 percent raises, teachers want competitive pay for all support staff, yearly pay boosts, a restoration of funding to 2008 levels and no new tax cuts until Arizona per-public spending reaches the national average.

Republican House Speaker J.D. Mesnard said he believes the pay increase is the biggest issue for teachers.

“I know those are demands by some people and some who have organized, but not necessarily everybody,” Mesnard said. “At least not based on the conversations I’ve had with numerous teachers. They seem mostly focused on teacher pay.

“I think a 20 percent raise, nearly $10,000, is a big raise that I think many will be happy about,” he said.

Mesnard and Senate President Steve Yarbrough said they expect that budget legislation will pass by the end of the week.