Thousands march for adequate school funding

NEA Today, Apr 2003 by Winans, Dave

[News]

Kentucky and Oklahoma NEA members join supporters in rallies for much-needed public education funding.

When it comes to severe weatherand education funding cutsOklahoma doesn't just have rainy days, it has tornadoes.

Across the Sooner State, a deep slash in state aid is causing staff layoffs; school closings; spending cuts for programs, substitutes, and supplies; and even wartime-like rationing of building heating and lighting.

But Oklahoma teachers and education support professionals aren't passively waiting for this storm to blow over or contentedly getting by with donated school supplies. Instead they have joined forces with other public education advocates and loudly rallied for adequate state education funding, even in the face of the recession.

On February 12, the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA), joined by more than a dozen organization partners in the Oklahoma Education Coalition, delivered some 25,000 people to a mid-week "Save Our Schools" rally at the Capitol in Oklahoma City.

That same day, the Kentucky Education Association (KEA) drew some 21,000 teachers, ESPs, and supporters to a "March and Rally for Public Education" in Frankfort.

In Oklahoma City, OEA and its coalition partners kept the rally message simple: Education is in its worst crisis ever, and legislators must do whatever it takes to reverse the funding shortfall. "Vital programs and services are already suffering," OEA President Carolyn Crowder told the crowd. "We want to retain the quality programs that Oklahomans have come to expect."

In Frankfort, KEA ralliers called on legislators to sustain the funding needed to preserve achievement gains made under the rigorous Kentucky Education Reform Act. They also called for better pay for teachers and support professionals-to stop an alarming exodus of educators across state lines-and for affordable health insurance.

KEA members also urged lawmakers to prevent an Oklahoma-type tornado from sweeping into the Bluegrass State. "It is the students who suffer most when school districts are forced to cut essential programs and lay off staff to make ends meet," KEA President Frances Steenbergen reminded legislators. "Fewer teachers mean larger classes. And larger classes have a negative affect on student achievement."

The February 12 rallies grabbed the attention of Kentucky and Oklahoma lawmakers.

"I've never seen a rally like this down here, period," Kentucky State Treasurer Jonathan Miller told the Cincinnati Enquirer. "The fact that there is such a huge turnout indicates to me that there is tremendous grassroots support for public education funding, and we need to do everything we can to protect it."

And that same week, Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry and legislative leaders agreed on a supplemental appropriation for immediate school needs, including $25 million from the state's Rainy Day Fund.*

To see the Oklahoma City rally on video, go to www.nea.org/video. [KUDOS TO ...]

.. Normandy [Missouri] NEA, for winning court-ordered retroactive compensation and retirement contributions, interest, and penalties-exceeding $1. million-for 300 to 400 current and former certified staffers. The Normandy district, in St. Louis County, failed to implement Missouri's salary compliance law-which requires that certified employees receive a designated portion of a district's budget-during the 1994-95, 1995-96, and 1997-98 school years. Normandy NEA received legal assistance from the 32,000member Missouri NEA.

... Paraeducators In Winoeski, Vermont, who have settled a threeyear contract that provides a "new money" increase of 24.59 percent. Pay rates under the agreement will range from $8.12 per hour in 2002-03 for a high school graduate with no experience to $12.60 per hour in 2005-06 for a college graduate with 12 years of experience.

The para negotiating team reached this contract without mediation or factfinding. Chief negotiator MaryLee Grigsby reports that Winooski paras enjoy a lot of community support. "We're the core group that passes budgets every year," she says.