C.O. teachers join Capitol rally for more school funds

More than 100 Central Oregon teachers traveled to Salem to participate in the March for Our Students rally at the state Capitol Monday morning. They were among more than 4,000 teachers, students and families who called on lawmakers to put more funding toward public education.

They lamented Oregon’s large class sizes, low graduation rates and low level of funding, by national standards.

The problems, they say, range from poor learning environments to even dangerous ones.

Travis Overley, a civics teacher at Summit High School in Bend, said their goal was to send a very clear message to Gov. Kate Brown and state lawmakers.

Overley said Oregon teachers are tired of struggling and want full funding for schools.

“We need more school nurses. We need more librarians. We want our students have to access to electives, shop, economics,” Overley said. “All these programs that have been cut since the 1990s, since after Measure 5,” which put a cap on property tax increases.

After the rally, Overley said he and a few others met with District 54 Rep. Cheri Helt, and were trying to meet with state Sen. Tim Knopp of Bend.

Overley said he plans to follow the legislative process and keep demanding and holding the legislature accountable.

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News release from the Oregon Education Association:

Thousands of educators and public school families take over the Oregon State Capitol

SALEM — Today, nearly 5,000 Oregonians marched together with one voice to call on lawmakers to fully fund Oregon schools.

Teachers, school nurses, counselors, specialists, librarians, educational assistants, school bus drivers, custodians, and community college faculty and staff were joined by parents, students, public school families, and more than 45 non-profit organizations to March for Our Students. Twenty-five school buses brought people together from around the state.

One of the largest rallies at the Capitol in state history clearly defined the divide between students’ needs and the funding state lawmakers provide Oregon schools.

Nichole Watson, a fourth-grade teacher from Portland, said, “Our children deserve smaller class sizes so they don’t get lost amidst their classmates or within the system. They deserve my undivided attention.”

“Now is the time for us to come together. Now is the time for us to push the envelope. Now is the time to stand in union as educators and community members for our students,” said John Larson, high school English teacher and president of the Oregon Education Association. “As educators, we see it every day – decades of disinvestment mean that our schools are in trouble.”

The Oregon action is part of a growing movement across the state and the nation. Over the past three months more than 42 local school board resolutions have passed, calling on state lawmakers to fully fund public education after decades of disinvestment.

From Oregon to Oklahoma and across the nation, educators are leading the Red for Ed movement and securing big wins for students by organizing rallies and showing up in state Capitols.

“It’s time for Oregon to fully fund its education system. Students and educators can’t wait.” said Larson.