By Brandon Chan, Staff Writer
On Thursday March 17, the Sacramento City Teachers Association (SCTA) and Service Employees International Union (SEIU) hosted a rally outside of SCUSD’s school board meeting at the Serna Center. Hundreds of teachers and staff, most clad in “Red for Ed” shirts, held posters, chanted, and gathered outside of the Center. Many SCUSD students and families also attended to demonstrate support.
This rally follows the SCTA and SEIU’s vote last Friday to authorize a strike. Teachers and staff alike say they’re frustrated over an ongoing staffing crisis, the district’s approach to independent study, and the district’s proposed changes to their contract which include wage cuts, benefit changes, and work day hours.
The rally aimed to raise awareness about this conflict and unite the community. At the event, SCTA President David Fisher confirmed that a teacher’s strike will occur on Wednesday, March 23.
Teachers, staff, and supporters alike shared the same sentiment: they want the best conditions for students.
“We’re fighting for students, we’re fighting for their teachers and their classrooms, we’re fighting for buses and their bus drivers, we’re fighting for counselors, we’re fighting for services for the students,” Fisher asserted.
Peter Hart, a special education teacher at Fern Bacon Middle School, also explained his frustration with the district. “How can a student learn when all they get are substitutes, day in day out, when the district cannot retain good teachers? They keep trying to gut and cut programs that are beneficial to the students.”
Mara Harvey, a mother of two SCUSD students agreed. “We as parents want to see teachers in every single classroom. We want teachers to educate our children.”
The Prospector requested comment at the Serna Center from Superintendent Jorge Aguilar, Board of Education member Lisa Murawski, and Communications Manager Alexander Goldberg. However, none were available.
Earlier today, SCUSD held a press conference on the State of Labor negotiations. The district acknowledged its struggles with financial balancing and stated that its concern is equally focused on its teachers, staff, and students. In the conference, the district also commended the school board for taking fiscally sound steps in correcting budget imbalances last year.
“We need contracts that provide certainty in the short-term, and the long-term that factor in the need for fair and competitive total compensation for our staff,” SCUSD explained. “We ask that instead of striking, our labor partners go back to the bargaining table. We stand in support of our district community.”