Teacher walk-outs in Phoenix area (colleges, tax, title)

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by ajonesaz

Strangely enough, California only spends about $500 more per student to accomplish this. AZ has to be wasting a lot of money somewhere, because a lot more should end up in teachers pockets.

Utah spends more than $1k less per pupil and still manages about a $50k annual salary.

Not according to this source which shows $3000 difference with most of that going to salaries and benefits:

Education Spending Per Student by State

[Burning Madolf]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Not according to this source which shows $3000 difference with most of that going to salaries and benefits:

Education Spending Per Student by State

Wouldn't some of these states be even higher if states were actually meeting their funding obligations?

[man4857]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

Not according to this source which shows $3000 difference with most of that going to salaries and benefits:

Education Spending Per Student by State

That spending doesn't account for cost of living and taxation differences, so I think the variances would be much smaller in reality if you account for that.

[phx1205]

Originally Posted by kitshipp

Their demands are pretty easy to find:

20% raise for all teaching and certified staff

Competitive wages for all classified staff

Return school funding to 2008 levels

No new tax cuts until AZ per-pupil spending reaches national average

Yearly raises until AZ teacher salary reaches the national average


ETA link: Arizona Educators United - demands

What I haven’t seen from them is where are they proposing all of this money will come from?

The other issue is if they really do their walkout/strike on Thursday, what’s the end game? They want all this stuff, and want proof that it’s going to be sustainable. That’s not going to happen overnight. So are they really going to sit out for potentially a week or more until they are satisfied? That’s a serious question. Parents might be able to take a sick day or two for emergency care, but not for multiple days/weeks.

[Ponderosa]

Originally Posted by phx1205

What I haven’t seen from them is where are they proposing all of this money will come from?

The other issue is if they really do their walkout/strike on Thursday, what’s the end game? They want all this stuff, and want proof that it’s going to be sustainable. That’s not going to happen overnight. So are they really going to sit out for potentially a week or more until they are satisfied? That’s a serious question. Parents might be able to take a sick day or two for emergency care, but not for multiple days/weeks.

It's not really their job to figure out how to fund it. Ducey claims he can do it without a tax increase. In fact, he has even produced and is airing a campaign ad taking credit for doing it already! His agrument is that revenue growth from a burgeoning economy will take care of it. He does have many economists that agree with him. On the other hand, we have seen what happens when that rosy economic picture fades. There is also a proposal being floated in the state legislature to legalize recreational marijuana and that would raise $150 million, at least, per year. In the end, though, taxes should likely be raised. We need to embrace the idea in our state and nation that if we want a public service, we need to pay for it.

[wase4711]

well, Ducey can run all the commercials he wants, unless the legislature approves it, its a pipe dream..
unfortunately, politicians always make promises to make themselves look good, before they actually get their legislatures to approve it..
this could turn ugly for anyone with school age children; it will be interesting to see what happens over the next few days..

[man4857]

Originally Posted by phx1205

What I haven’t seen from them is where are they proposing all of this money will come from?

The other issue is if they really do their walkout/strike on Thursday, what’s the end game? They want all this stuff, and want proof that it’s going to be sustainable. That’s not going to happen overnight. So are they really going to sit out for potentially a week or more until they are satisfied? That’s a serious question. Parents might be able to take a sick day or two for emergency care, but not for multiple days/weeks.

The only real way is to raise income taxes. Let's not kid ourselves. The question is, who should pay more, and how much more.

[DetroitN8V]

Originally Posted by man4857

The only real way is to raise income taxes. Let's not kid ourselves. The question is, who should pay more, and how much more.

Marijuana users?

[asufan]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Marijuana users?

I'll support legalized pot for teacher raises

[jimj]

Originally Posted by DetroitN8V

Marijuana users?

The good part is if the pot users do pay more they'll forget they're paying it by the next day!