As Oklahoma teachers returned to their Capitol demanding more funding for education Monday, Arizona teachers vowed to continue applying pressure during AZ Merit Standardized Testing weeks.
Rather than walk out of classrooms, Noah Karvelis with Educators United said they'll hold walk-ins over the next few weeks.
"Parents and the teachers will unite arm and arm and walk through the halls of the school and show their solidarity," he assured supporters.
Karvelis, a Tolleson music teacher, launched the "Red for Ed" campaign under the social media banner Arizona Educators United.
After watching teachers in West Virginia, and now in Oklahoma, demand more pay for teachers and classrooms, he said Arizona teachers want and deserve a 20 percent pay raise.
Karvelis said Governor Doug Ducey could cover it if he made it a priority over corporate tax breaks.
"Corporations are paying over $600 million less than in 2007," he reasoned. "So, right there we have hundreds of millions of dollars where he could plug some of those holes."
Karvelis argued that alone could bridge the gap between the $400 million Ducey has pledged in his upcoming budget proposal and the $680 million it would take to cover the 20 percent pay raise.
