Virginia Teachers Are About To Swarm The State Capitol, Demanding More School Funding And Raises

Source: CNN

(CNN) — At this rate, Christine Melendez isn't sure how long she'll be able to keep teaching. In the past seven years, she's already taught in three different school districts. "That should tell you something about the conditions," the 30-year-old high school Spanish teacher said.

So on Monday, Melendez and 1,000 other frustrated educators plan to rally at Virginia's state capitol, demanding higher raises and more funding per student. Their voices echo the nationwide furor of teachers who work multiple jobs, use archaic textbooks or teach out of a storage closet.

And their protest Monday marks the latest in a nationwide wave of teachers strikes and protests. In the past two years, some teachers got what they wanted; in other cases, they didn't. But Virginia teachers already know a one-day protest can make a serious impact. And they're trying to repeat that this year.

This fight focuses on two demands: raising teachers' salaries to at least the national average, and restoring per-student funding to at least the same level as before the recession a decade ago. "Per-student spending is down 8% since the recession, in inflation-adjusted dollars," Virginia Education Association spokesman John O'Neil said...



Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/27/us/virginia-teachers-protest-monday/index.html

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Melendez used to work several after-school positions as a tutor, a building supervisor, a cashier and a restaurant server. But she's cut back to her real passion -- teaching -- so she can work for improved conditions in public schools.

Melendez said she had 31 eighth-graders in a class. In her current school district, one middle school has an occupancy rate of 132% which means that means students are learning in over 20 trailers outside the school.

And without a major increase in salaries, she said, "I can't afford to be a teacher next year."

Virginia still ranks 32nd in teacher pay, despite being the 12th wealthiest state.