rich 1.0 Action Network https://actionnetwork.org <link href='https://actionnetwork.org/css/style-embed-v3.css' rel='stylesheet' type='text/css' /><script src='https://actionnetwork.org/widgets/v6/petition/durhams-schools-need-durhams-help?format=js&source=widget'></script><div id='can-petition-area-durhams-schools-need-durhams-help' style='width: 100%'><!-- this div is the target for our HTML insertion --></div> Durham Association of Educators https://actionnetwork.org/groups/durham-association-of-educators-2 https://can2-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/petitions/photos/000/474/409/normal/Untitled-1.png Right now, our public schools are experiencing historic shortages and ballooning class sizes. Post-pandemic, students' academic, social, and emotional needs are not being met at an unprecedented rate. Students are graduating from elementary school unable to read. None of this is a coincidence. The rich (such as Art Pope - the owner of Roses and Maxway) are bank rolling politicians who are defunding our public schools. So far, the rest of us have abdicated our responsibility to ensure future generations get a great education. The solution is a historic budget negotiated by the people who know best what students need: public school staff. These are bus drivers, custodians, teachers, cafeteria staff, principals, and everyone who work with your kids day in day out. If we can unite enough DPS staff AND public school parents/community supporters, we will have the power to win the public schools we all deserve. A historic budget that DPS staff ensure goes to the right places must meet the following demands to address our unprecedented shortages: 1. Meaningful raises for all staff: A $6,000 salary increase for all certified staff (certified teachers) years 0-14, and an $8,000 salary increase for all certified staff years 15+ B) A $3/hr increase for all classified staff (e.g. bus drivers, cafeteria staff, custodians) C) A $200 per month pay increase for EC and ESL certified and classified staff D) The reinstatement of Masters Pay E) A bi-monthly pay option 2. More staff in every building: 300 new positions, including but not limited to IAs, bus monitors, custodial and cafeteria worker substitutes, and facilities workers. 3. More time to do our jobs well: 10 teacher workdays free of mandatory PD or meetings (protected workdays) spread throughout the school year by adding 5 protected workdays in place of instructional days & clearing 5 existing workdays of mandatory PDs and meetings. All classified staff will be paid for a full day’s work on all additional workdays. 4. A seat at the table for public school workers: Recognition of our (DPS staff's) union’s right to negotiate with decision-makers about the DPS budget, our duties, and our working conditions (students’ learning conditions). Sign this petition and stay tuned to take action for this historic budget. https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/durhams-schools-need-durhams-help