Arizona approves big teacher raises, ends strike

PHOENIX (KSAZ/AP) - Arizona lawmakers pulled an all-nighter Thursday to enact a budget that provides big raises for many of the state's striking teachers, ending the six-day walkout that kept more than a million public school students out of the classroom.

The Senate passed the pay raises just before dawn, and Republican Gov. Doug Ducey immediately signed off on the plan to give teachers a 9% raise in the fall and 5% in each of the next two years. A 1% raise had already been approved, so the package ensures a 20% overall increase over four years.

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Ducey said the teachers had earned a raise and praised the legislation as "a real win" for both teachers and students. The pay increases will cost about $300 million for the coming year alone.

In addition, the budget package also provides the state's schools with a partial restoration of the nearly $400 million that were cut during the Great Recession, with the money being phased in over five years. Five new schools -- three in Chandler, one in Tolleson, and one in Queen Creek, will also be built. There will also be $53 million available for building improvements. 

The striking teachers, who are among the lowest paid in the country, kept watch at the state Capitol all night, packing the House and Senate galleries during the debate and holding a candlelight vigil in a courtyard. Some returned to the Capitol on Thursday as lawmakers continued debating the rest of the state's $10.4 billion budget plan.

Organizers of the strike had called for classes to resume Thursday if the budget passed. But many large districts canceled school for a sixth straight day while lawmakers worked through the night. As of Thursday afternoon, however, many school districts have said they will resume classes Friday.

A decade of education cuts had sliced deeply into the Arizona schools.

The package fell short of demands for more overall school funding. Teachers sought a return to pre-recession funding levels, regular raises, competitive pay for support staff and a pledge not to adopt any tax cuts until per-pupil funding reaches the national average.

Phoenix-area teacher Rebecca Wilson was among those who camped out in the Capitol overnight.

"I'm glad it passed and we'll get something because I'm a single mom of three kids, but it's not enough," she told Phoenix-area radio station KTAR.

The package provides the state's schools will a partial restoration of nearly $400 million in recession-era cuts, with a promise to restore the rest in five years. Other cuts remain in place.

Minority Democrats mainly voted against the budget plan, drawing criticism from Republicans.

"You know, talk is pretty cheap - it's your vote that counts," Republican Rep. Anthony Kern said. "If Republicans voted with Democrats tonight, you would be walking away with zero."

Democratic Rep. Reginald Bolding urged lawmakers not to congratulate themselves for easing the same crisis they created.

"You can't set a house on fire, call 911 and claim to be a hero. And that's what this body has done," Bolding said.

One Republican lawmaker upset about the strike proposed amendments to make it illegal for teachers to espouse political beliefs at work, to require the attorney general to investigate schools that allow political activity and to bar schools from closing during a walkout.

"There are hundreds of families contacting me that are harmed financially, occupationally," an emotional Rep. Kelly Townsend said. "You should not be able to do that to the people of this state because you want funding."

Rep. Mitzi Epstein, a Democrat, tried and failed to win support for an amendment that would mandate a 250:1 ratio for students to school counselors. Epstein said the bill could help prevent suicide and bullying and improve academic performance.

"Not only is school not fun anymore, but it's scary," she said.

Freeing up the extra money required cuts and maneuvers across several parts of the budgets, including raids on special funds like one that helps clean up pollution from leaking underground gasoline storage tanks.

Much of the added cash comes from an unexpected boost in revenue that appeared in the first quarter of the year because the economy has finally heated up. As of March 31, the state took in more than $330 million more than expected in tax revenue.

Even after the K-12 funding bill was signed, thousands of teachers still remained at the State Capitol with a clear message: there's still more work to do.

"Each and everyone of us needs to remain so devoted to this cause," said organizer Noah Karvelis.

Many passionate educators say they believe Gov. Ducey's signature is not the end, but the beginning.

"I think it's a mixed bag, it's a step forward." said Jane Wood, who works at Patterson Elementary in Gilbert. "We can do more, and do better things for all of our students. It's not about teacher pay, it's about funding schools."

Supporters wanted to make clear that the bill didn't address all of their concerns, mainly the restoration of $1 billion of education funding. A #RedforED parent said the momentum continues during the midterm elections.

"I'm going to do everything I can to register people to vote, and I;m going to show everyone I know what I saw last night. It was disgusting. People were so rude," said Celeste Oleander.

AEA President Joe Thomas says now, the attention turns to a ballot initiative that will raise taxes on the wealthy to support funding.

"They see they have a legislature that won't work with them and their students, a governor that won't work with them and their students, and they're going to be looking for change in 2018," said Thomas.