Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 1-24-20

State News
Education Rally Rocks Capitol
Over 15,000 Floridians demand pay raises for public school teachers, and support staff.
On the steps of the Old Capitol, the Reverend Al Sharpton and FEA President Federick Ingram rally thousands for teacher and staff pay raises.
Legislatu
Legislature Makes Pay Raises A Priority
BY TERI YONDER
TALLAHASSEE --- A new conversation between the Legislature and public schools began in earnest after a historic march and rally on the steps of the Florida Capitol. They came from around the state.
Fifteen thousand teachers, support staff, and education advocates chanted as they waved signs in the mile-long trek to the “Take on Talla- hassee” Rally. Florida Ed- ucation Association President Fedrick Ingram said the rally showed law- makers that Floridians are serious about quality public schools.
"Floridians want excel- lence in public education. And to get us from the bot- tom to the top, all of our teachers and support staff
deserve raises. We have a shortage of teachers because we do not pay them what they are worth. Right now, the system is set up to fail our children. That’s not an op- tion,” Ingram said.
Powerful messages rang out from the Old Capitol to the campuses of Florida A&M University, Florida State University, and down the landmark Apalachee Parkway that ends at the Capitol steps.
Keynote speaker, the Reverend Al Sharpton, national television commen- tator, and activist, talked about the lack of sunshine in the Sunshine State regarding public education.
“It is a moral outrage that you do not give equal pay to those who work in public ed- ucation in this state. This is not a political issue; this is a moral issue. How can you have a heart for the children when you don't pay the
teachers and people who work in the schools,” Rev- erend Sharpton said.
“It's time for Florida to stand up and stand out and represent what is best in this country.” Lawmakers must "Fund Our Future," accord- ing to Ingram, whose plan would appropriate a $2.4 bil- lion investment in public school pay raises.
"I think we are all ready to work together to deliver the best public schools this na- tion has to offer," Ingram said.
They have about 45 days to get it done.
FEA President Fedrick Ingram and the Reverend Al Sharp- ton, joined by union leaders march to the capitol in the Take on Tallahassee Rally.
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