Utah Educators Calling For More Funding For School Districts Statewide
Feb 28, 2020, 12:47 PM | Updated: 1:42 pm
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Educators across Utah on Friday protested and called more funding for school districts statewide.
Employees of the Salt Lake School District planned to walk from the Wallace Bennett Federal Building to the Utah State Capitol where the legislative session is taking place. Demonstrators from the Granite School District gathered in front of Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in South Salt Lake and chanted: “4% is no fun; 6% will get done.”
The peaceful walk is set to conclude at 2 p.m.
Teachers protest for more funding
LIVE: A view from Chopper 5 as educators march to the Utah Capitol to protest for more funding.
Posted by KSL 5 TV on Friday, February 28, 2020
It’s part of a statewide movement to better serve students, protest organizers said. Educators are calling for an increase to the weighted pupil unit, which gives money to the school districts in the state.
Demonstrators said they aren’t asking for a pay increase. They just want more money to toward technology, curriculum resources, school nursers, and other expenses, depending on the district.
“Different districts are doing different things,” said Taylor Layton, a special education teacher at Woodrow Wilson Elementary. “… All the districts are unified in asking for 6% across the state.”
The demonstrators at Woodrow Wilson said they protested ahead of class to avoid disrupting classes.
Educators in their Red for Ed shirts walking from West High School to the Federal Building holding signs that read: “Straight outta Funding” @KSL5TV pic.twitter.com/LEiILk3H5w
— Felicia Martinez (@FeliciaKSL) February 28, 2020
Salt Lake School District has half-day classes Friday, and demonstrators will be gathering after class.
Educators said better funding will reduce class sizes as well as help recruitment and retention of substitutes and para-educators, and mental health professionals to work with trauma-affected students.