PAYAREDUCATORS

PUBLIC SCHOOL ADVOCATES CALL ON LAWMAKERS TO

AEA has been actively working to secure increased pay for our public-school educators. We have been sharing the stories of our members with legislators, policy makers, and the community. In early June, the Governor announced support for a $10,000 increase in the minimum teacher salary, as well as $4,000 raises for teachers across the board to recruit and retain educators. He wanted lawmakers to consider the proposal during a special session called to accelerate tax cuts mainly benefiting Arkansas’s wealthy few. However, he quickly withdrew the plan, saying it didn’t have the support of lawmakers.

Grassroots parents, educators and public-school advocates attended the July 21st meeting of the Arkansas Legislative Council and called on lawmakers to prioritize educator pay increases during the upcoming Special Session.

One of the organizers of the event, teacher and

AEA member Kimberly Crutchfield told attendees at the rally that she started in the classroom 23 years ago and her first paycheck was $600. She became an educator to share the love she received from her teachers during her formative years. AEA helped to support the grassroots led event, where attendees wore #RedforED and welcomed lawmakers as they arrived for the meeting. They then gathered on the Capitol steps to explain the urgent need to increase pay, so Arkansas’s students have qualified educators in their schools. AEA President Carol Fleming called on the Governor to include educator pay raises on the call for the special session, and for lawmakers to prioritize Arkansas’s students when considering how to invest the state’s record surplus. Instead, lawmakers rescinded the release of $500 million in covid relief funds to local schools and called on districts to use the funds for bonuses for teachers and support staff. If districts want to use the funds elsewhere, they will need to present plans to lawmakers for approval. Senator Linda Chesterfield addressed the crowd after the meeting, saying some school districts won’t be able to afford $5,000 and $2,500 bonuses.

Fleming said the bonuses were a distraction from the effort to increase teacher pay across the board. While long term funding for increased pay could be addressed during the adequacy process, she said it’s unconscionable to prioritize tax cuts while the state has the lowest-paid teachers in the region and is second-to-last in the nation.

“The way we spend our money reflects our values,” she said. “What could be more important than making sure that our students have the state’s top talent running our classrooms? Our students deserve to have highly qualified and highly paid educators in our classrooms.”

“We knew we weren’t going to be millionaires, but we didn’t think we would have to go on public assistance either.”

- Kimberly Crutchfield “Which means this is a promise that may or may never come true. It was essentially used to shut you up. I just say to you today, don’t shut up. Don’t be quiet. Keep fighting for what you know to be right.”

- Senator Linda Chesterfield