Arizona teachers have joined their red and purple state compatriots in West Virginia and Oklahoma and Kentucky and Colorado in a building wave of resistance to fight for public education. Arizona teachers are risking losing their teaching credentials in this right-to-work state by voting to walk out starting next Thursday, April 26.
The teachers demonstrated their commitment to the students by rejecting Republican Gov. Doug Ducey's plan to give them a 20 percent pay raise by 2020, starting at 9 percent next year, because it sacrifices too much for schools.
Initially, Ducey's plan drew support from two education advocacy groups, Save Our Schools Arizona and the Arizona Parent Teacher Association (AZPTA). But both groups have withdrawn their support, saying the plan is not sustainable and likely will come at the expense of others in the educational system.
AZPTA President Beth Simek, in a video statement, said that an analysis from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff, coupled with her group's research, led to their decision to oppose Ducey's plan.
"In light of the funding streams that have come to light regarding the '20 by 2020' plan, we can no longer support the governor's proposal," said Simek. "As a voice for children, we hope to see the governor and this legislature find a sustainable, long-term permanent funding source that does not hurt others in the process."
They want pay raises for other school staff including administrative staff and school bus drivers. They also want education funding to be restored to 2008 levels, competitive pay for all of the support staff in schools, establishment of a permanent pay schedule that includes annual raises, and a commitment that there will be no more state tax cuts until the state's per-pupil funding reaches the national average.
They're offering to negotiate with Ducey, and for his part, Ducey says "No one wants to see teachers strike. […] I am committed to getting teachers this raise and am working to get this passed at the Legislature. We need teachers teaching, and kids learning." He's ignoring the fact that for the teachers, it’s not about their raise. It's about their schools.