Red for Ed supporters, teachers gather in Surprise for rally

PHOENIX – Two days after Arizona educators voted to stage a walkout to force a response to their demands of higher pay and additional funding for schools, Red for Ed teachers and supporters gathered in Surprise to support the movement.

#RedforEd Teachers and supporters getting a lot of honks of solidarity by drivers at the corner of Litchfield/Bell Rd. in @AZSurprise. They say they don't want to walk out but they will if they have to. Asking for higher pay and more school funding. @KTAR923 pic.twitter.com/tbfFY25aBi

— Martha Maurer (@MaurerMartha) April 21, 2018

Teachers representing districts from across the Valley gathered at the intersection of Litchfield and Bell roads Saturday, displaying hand-written signs asking for support from the public.

Educators in Arizona have been calling on Gov. Doug Ducey and other lawmakers to increase their pay by 20 percent, increase the pay of school staff and improve their schools’ conditions.

Ducey announced his proposal last week, which would give teachers a 20 percent pay raise over the next two years.

However Corey Montano, a special education administrator in the Peoria Unified School District, told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Martha Maurer at the rally Saturday that the proposal still leaves other demands unanswered.

“The problem is that it is not sustainable,” she said. “The 20 percent does not cover everybody. It does not cover support staff and it also doesn’t cover actual funding we need in the classrooms.

“It’s a great first start but we really need it to go beyond just the salaries.”

Montano explained that each school in the Peoria district was over the margin in voting for the walkout.

After the vote had occurred, Peoria Educators United handed out a letter to teachers explaining what the vote meant for schools and asked educators to follow protocol.

The group asked teachers to not send any information regarding the Red for Ed movement through district email, and also asked them to inform schools of their participation in the walkout 36 hours prior to the protest taking place.

Other districts from around the state started announcing plans ahead of the protest, with some stating that schools would be closed should the walkout happen on Thursday.

The walkouts have forced some parents to scramble and find alternate plans for their children during the school day. Others have questioned how kids who rely on the schools for meals will eat if the services are closed.

Karri Warren, a teacher at Willow Canyon High School, said educators from the school have planned to address those concerns with a food drive for those who are less fortunate.

“We are trying to get everything together for them so they aren’t suffering throughout this,” Warren told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Martha Maurer, adding that she is hopeful for a resolution to come before Thursday.

While teachers and supporters gathered in Surprise, the group leading the charge in the Red for Ed movement, Arizona Educators United, held a meeting in Phoenix at the Linda Abril Educational Center to plan for the walkout.

Hundreds of educators are here this morning to get organized for the Arizona walkout. There are about a dozen meetings like this happening all across the state. #RedforEd pic.twitter.com/bfAQHG1KOu

— Noah Karvelis (@Noah__Karvelis) April 21, 2018

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Martha Maurer contributed to this report. 

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