Page 7 - ARUBA TODAY
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U.S. NEWS A7
Thursday 22 March 2018
Hundreds of Kentucky teachers rally to oppose benefit cuts
By BRUCE SCHREINER around the Capitol and Teachers and other school workers rally against a proposed pension overhaul bill outside the state
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Hun- then rallied in front of the Capitol, Wednesday, March 21, 2018, in Frankfort, Ky.
dreds of Kentucky teachers statehouse, ratcheting up
flexed their political muscle pressure on lawmakers in (AP Photo/Bruce Schreiner)
with a rally Wednesday the final days of their leg-
outside the state Capitol, islative session. "It is impor-
seeking to bury a proposed tant to know that you are
pension overhaul and win winning this debate," House
more state education fund- Minority Floor Leader Rocky
ing from lawmakers. Adkins, D-Sandy Hook, told
Braving a late-season them. "It is important to
snow, about 2,000 teach- know that you have to stay
ers and other school em- in this debate and in this
ployees marched from the game 'til the very end."
Kentucky Education Asso- Huddled together in the
ciation headquarters to the cold, teachers waved signs
Capitol, chanting, "We'll Re- and chanted "Find fund-
member in November" — ing first," urging lawmakers
an election-year warning to pass revenue enhance-
against efforts to reduce ments to support public
their retirement benefits. pensions. Officials in at least
Kentucky has one of the seven eastern Kentucky
worst-funded public pen- districts announced school
sion systems in the coun- cancellations Wednesday
try and efforts to achieve so teachers could attend.
reform are being closely The teachers were joined
watched nationwide by by employees from other
teachers and other public districts, which either sent
workers in other states. delegations or were closed
The show of force by Ken- due to the snow.q
tucky teachers comes amid
growing unrest among Teacher who called US military 'lowest of low' fired
public educators nation-
wide, led by thousands of By JOHN ROGERS sweatshirt to his class at El Pico Rivera has been did not respond Wednes-
West Virginia teachers who Associated Press Rancho High School, telling "swamped with contro- day to phone and email
walked off the job and PICO RIVERA, Calif. (AP) — him members of the U.S. versy" since a video of the messages.
swarmed their Capitol for A history teacher who was military are "the lowest of remarks went viral after a Salcido, who graduated
nine days earlier this year videotaped telling his stu- our low." family friend of the student from El Rancho High, re-
to secure a 5 percent pay dents that only dumb peo- "We've got a bunch of posted it on Facebook. ceived his teaching cre-
raise. Kentucky teachers ple join the U.S. military has dumb (expletive) over "The superintendent has dential in 1999 and went
are not fighting for a pay been fired by the suburban there," he said during a recommended disciplinary to work at his alma mater
raise but are loudly calling Southern California school soft-spoken, occasionally action, including termina- soon after.
on the Republican-led leg- district where he has taught profane lecture that last- tion of the employment," He is also a longtime mem-
islature not to touch their re- for more than 15 years. ed several minutes while she said. ber of the Pico Rivera City
tirement benefits. The state El Rancho Unified School his students sometimes Villon said Salcido would Council and served as
is at least $41 billion short of District President Aurora R. giggled. "Think about the remain on unpaid admin- mayor in 2002, 2010 and
what it needs to pay the Villon announced Gregory people who you know who istrative leave pending any 2015.
pension fund over the next Salcido's dismissal at Tues- are over there, your stupid, appeal he might make to Since his remarks went vi-
30 years. State officials say day night's school board frickin' Uncle Louie or who- state officials. ral he has rejected fellow
the pension bill would save meeting. ever." It wasn't immediately clear councilmembers' demands
taxpayers about $3.2 billion In January Salcido up- Villon said the small school if tenure might be grounds that he resign. One coun-
over the next 20 years and braided a 17-year-old stu- district in the overwhelm- for an appeal. Superinten- cilmember has launched a
stabilize the situation. dent for wearing a Marines ingly Hispanic suburb of dent Karling Aguilera-Fort recall petition.q
The teachers marched
