Students return to Arizona classrooms after teacher walkout ends

PHOENIX — For the first time in more than a week, schools across the state were humming with classroom activity Friday, after teachers ended a six-day walkout and campuses reopened.

The morning after Gov. Doug Ducey signed a $10.4 billion state budget that included funding for teacher raises and education improvements, parents were taking their children to school again.

Cori Veatch dropped off her child at Madison Heights Elementary near 22nd and Lincoln streets in Phoenix. The vast majority of schools had been closed since April 26.

She had mixed emotions sending her daughter back.

“We had a great time doing some learning at home,” Veatch said.

“The teachers gave us lots of great ideas to keep the kids going with reading and math. They had a great time playing with the neighbors with the great weather before it gets hot.”

Cars line up at Madison Heights Elementary School in Phoenix as classes resumed Friday, May 4, 2018, after a six-day teacher walkout. (KTAR Photo/Jim Cross)

Veatch supported the teacher walkout and was happy they received the much-deserved raise.

Walkout organizers had said teachers and support staff wouldn’t commit to returning to the classroom until the education bill was finalized.

“I think it’s very important to get or education back to appropriate levels,” she said.

“Teachers have never been paid enough, so I’m fully in support of increased funding the years to come.”

Her husband, Jeremy Veatch, said the kids have year-end projects to finish and he was glad school had resumed.

“It did put them a little behind, so there’s some extra pressure on them to step it up,” he said.

Some schools had reopened Thursday and others were scheduled to get back to work Monday.

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