Gov. Doug Ducey responded on Monday to Arizona teachers’ vote to walk out this week. Ducey spoke on KFYI radio about his plan is to give teachers a 20 percent raise by 2020.
“I don’t know why the leaders would say that they’re going to strike when we are delivering for the teachers on what we believe they deserve,” he said. “I can’t understand that.”
Ducey’s plan relies on future projections of economic growth that would boost state tax revenue. Money would also come from dropping other priorities Ducey had in store for this year’s budget.
Teachers, meanwhile, want a designated, reliable source of funding, like a tax.
At Alhambra High School in Phoenix on Monday, about 20 teachers and students in crimson shirts, waved their signs at passing cars. After a short spell, they were back inside before the morning bell.
Among them was chemistry teacher Theo Evans. He’s not convinced by Gov. Ducey’s plan.
“I mean, yes, it’s okay, he’s trying to work on something,” Evans said. “But no, because he’s still trying to play somewhat of a shell game instead of just having some sort of sustainable revenue funding. He still just wants to move some from column A, some from column B just to make us happy.”
Another teacher, Mike Miller, said he would be working on Thursday. He supports #RedforEd, but is taking his students on a previously-scheduled trip to the Grand Canyon.