News by Mindy Pines
Having reached their boiling point, hundreds of UESF members with parent and student
supporters rallied shoulder-to-shoulder in front of Everett Middle School,
Tuesday evening, May 9 and marched inside to deliver their message to the Board of Education.
"We want a raise!" was the rallying cry of the demonstrators
who said they were tired of the lack of recognition and respect they'd received
from the current school board. Teachers spoke of tremendous sacrifices they'd made to
do the work they love in the city in which they'd love to stay but find
themselves hardly able to survive.
Board's actions hurt kids Others mentioned their need to hold multiple jobs which leave them
less energy to serve their students. Many complained how each year they must
spend hundreds of their own dollars to buy basic materials for their classrooms.
They blamed the board's fiscal irresponsibility and incompetence for
the inability of San Francisco's education professionals to survive and
demanded that board members pay up, step down or they'll be voted out.
"We will not repeat this year. We will not forget it!" warned Dennis Kelly
another veteran teacher referring to having gone without a cost-of-living increase,
the losses from which compound each year.
The day before, more than 800 UESF members converged on the Sacramento
Mall with members of the California Teachers Association and California Federation
of Teachers to demand that Governor Davis bring California per-pupil school spending
up to the national average.
We'll have our day After the Board meeting and rally, Laura Palacio, kindergarten teacher
of four years beamed, "I felt the electricity inside... and the strength that being part
of a union means...the solidarity and participation of so many groups... Teachers
for Change, the Lincoln teachers, parents and students... It was quite uplifting. Maybe something
will finally be done and I'll be able to stay to teach in the city where I grew up."
Fed up -- SFUSD educators demand raises
"Boo, boo, shame on you," chanted the audience between speakers who
told of the many ways the board's actions hurt kids and public education
in San Francisco. For example, Sandy Mack, veteran SFUSD Spanish teacher of 30 years
explained how we're not just losing new and younger teachers because of poor pay,
but experienced veterans as well. She warned that no one will be around to
train the newer teachers if the experienced ones leave.
"Where were you on May 8?" Lily Gee Hickman, computer
teacher and UESF Treasurer, asked the Board, adding that she saw board members from
all over California at the rally, but no one from SFUSD's board. "Don't you
care enough about us to demand more monies for the schools? Your
inaction is making us all angry and we'll have our day."
