Thousands of teachers from the Jefferson and Douglas County school districts yelled, sang, vented and even partied a bit at a rally at the state Capitol on Thursday, the first of two aimed at boosting funding for public schools in Colorado.
Many said they felt their voices might turn the heads of some state legislators and reverse the state’s lowly national standing in school spending.
“You know, I’m a teacher so I’m used to not making a lot of money,” said Evelyn O’Dwyer, a second grade teacher in Douglas County. “But it’s the kids I worry about. What about their future and their programs?”
“We just might change some minds with what we are doing today,” O’Dwyer said.
Others had their doubts about the rally’s tangible effectiveness, including Jefferson County parent Kayleen Burke, who watched her two young children play in front of the Capitol steps. Thursday’s showing, which drew at least 2,000 teachers and supporters, was good for morale, she said. But it probably won’t shake free more public dollars for education.
Only voting will do that, Burke said.
“I want people to show up and vote and back those candidates that back teachers,” she said. “I think that would shake them up. That would get things done.”
Even more teachers are expected at the Capitol on Friday, with nearly 30 school districts — including Denver, Aurora and Cherry Creek — closing their doors because of the teacher walkouts. At least 600,000 school children will get the day off as districts cancel classes because of a lack of teachers in classrooms.
The Colorado Education Association said the walkouts are needed to alert residents and lawmakers about the paltry status of school funding in Colorado. The state’s schools are currently underfunded by $822 million and are $2,700 below the national average in per-pupil funding, the CEA said.
And only Oklahoma and Arizona spend less than Colorado on services for students with special needs.
The teachers want lawmakers to increase funding for schools by making a down payment on the budget stabilization factor — also known as the negative factor — of at least $150 million this year and pay if off by 2022.
Lawmakers must also commit to reducing or freezing corporate tax breaks of all kinds until school funding is restored and per-pupil funding reaches the national average, the CEA said. Legislators must increase the state’s cost of living allowance for retirees to encourage more people to enter the teaching profession, the CEA said.
“We must have a secure retirement in order to encourage people to go into the education profession and stay for a full career,” said Kerrie Dallman, president of the CEA.
On a gray and chilly morning on Thursday, the teachers and their supporters began gathering at the Capitol steps well before 9 a.m. and were fortified throughout the day by impassioned speeches, live music, and later coffee, pizza and donuts. At one point, someone started blowing bubbles and teachers sang the Twisted Sister tune “We’re Not Going To Take It.”
Feistiness was a theme throughout the day.
“Stand up and fight!” teachers shouted while on the state Capitol steps amid cheers and waving signs. “We are JeffCo!” others chanted.
Some lawmakers joined them as did Cary Kennedy, a Democratic candidate for governor, who told the teachers that GOP lawmakers “want to silence your voice,” but instead “you need a raise!”
Kennedy was referring to a bill introduced by Republican lawmakers Sen. Bob Gardner and Rep. Paul Lundeen. Senate Bill 264 would hit teachers and teacher associations with potential fines and jail time for striking.
The bill drew quick fire from all 16 Democrats in the state Senate, who called the legislation “un-American” and said it would strip teachers of basic rights.
Teachers were joined by supportive students, including Standley Lake High School student Maggie Bishop.
“We need more school funding,” Bishop said. “It is so important to fight for that.”
Protesters drew help from other corners, including the regional carpenters’ union and Comedy Central personality Laura Grey, who was surrounded by cameras. Many passing motorists honked support. And one homeless man backed the teachers.
“My first-grade teacher was awesome!” he yelled.
One motorist took the time to roll down his window and yell “Go back to work!” at the teachers as they marched and encircled the Capitol building. One teacher shrugged at the remark and declared a victory-of-sorts.
“Well, at least he didn’t flip us off, that’s encouraging.”
Douglas County math teacher Heidi Geyer arrived at the rally wearing a “skirt” of receipts from several big box stores to illustrate how much of her own money she has spent on her own classroom.
“A lot of people are out here that lawmakers should listen to,” Geyer said. “Things just have to change.” She declined to say how much the receipts totaled
Jefferson High history teacher Rhiannan Wenning gave a fiery speech to stoke the early morning arrivals, yelling: “It’s time to stand up! It’s time to fight!” Later, the emotional Wenning said: “We just want kids to succeed, that’s why we are here today.”
Teachers begin chants"WE R JEFFCO" #TEACHERWAlKOUT pic.twitter.com/yps3gASGIC
— monte Whaley (@monteWhaley) April 26, 2018
Democrats have been rallying behind the teachers at the Capitol, agreeing with them that more money should go to K-12 education.
Republicans, however, have pushed back — especially at the notion of pouring more into education instead of paying down the billions in needed road repairs.
“We’re going to be boosting school funding in Colorado to levels we’ve actually never seen before,” said Sen. Owen Hill, a Colorado Springs Republican who chairs the state Senate’s Education Committee.
He pointed out that the legislature this year has set aside more additional funding — by $50 million — for education than the $100 million requested by Gov. John Hickenlooper and that education funding has been increasing for years.
“We’re talking about an almost (8) percent increase year-over-year for education funding and to me that’s a huge win for the people of Colorado,” Hill added. “… We’ve been funding this well. We need to fund transportation and catch up on that as well.”
Lawmakers say local school districts, through contracts negotiated with teacher associations, are mostly responsible for setting teacher pay and benefits, not the state.
"STAND UP AND FIGHT" say teachers at Capitol steps #TEACHERWAlKOUT pic.twitter.com/ZGYPnw4Xjr
— monte Whaley (@monteWhaley) April 26, 2018
Republicans at the legislature on Thursday said the teachers’ rally came a bit late in the session, which ends May 9.
“I would suggest that it’s always appropriate for the citizens of Colorado to come and speak to their legislature,” said Sen. Kevin Lundberg, a Berthoud Republican who is one of six lawmakers charged with drafting the budget. “And they are going to try and do that in a big way. But the timing is not ideal, at all.”
Lundberg said that this rally in the final two weeks of the legislative session comes as lawmakers are working to wrap up contentious bills and after the budget has already been debated and put to bed.
“There is no more to be spent in that arena,” he said. “If they expect some immediate solution to what they think is lack of adequate pay, we’re not the folks to be talking to. If they expect to be heard, they certainly will be today.”
A typical teacher day #TEACHERWAlKOUT pic.twitter.com/B8O4VKmhem
— monte Whaley (@monteWhaley) April 26, 2018
Jeffco teacher shows her support channeling Star Wars #TEACHERWAlKOUT pic.twitter.com/X3KqWKRLMq
— monte Whaley (@monteWhaley) April 26, 2018
Staff writer Jesse Paul contributed to this report.