Statement in Support of Public Schools and the Statewide Day of Action on May 1st
Jillian Johnson, Charlie Reece and Javiera Caballero fully support our Durham Public Schools and the Statewide Day of Action in Raleigh on May 1st, 2019. As public school graduates and the proud parents of seven fantastic kids in the Durham Public Schools, we believe that a fully funded system of public education is vital to our growing community. All of Durham’s children deserve schools where their academic and social needs are met regardless of their backgrounds. All educators deserve to be treated as professionals and valued partners in the critical work of preparing our kids to enter the world as adults. We believe in a public school system where students, families, and educators work together, and where sound educational policies are rooted in evidence based practices that acknowledge the needs of each of our unique communities. We enthusiastically support the five demands our educators have put before our state legislators:
- Fund student services to meet national standards, including counselors, nurses, social workers, psychologists, and librarians;
- $15 minimum wage plus 5% raise for all school workers and retirees;
- Expand Medicaid to improve the health of our students and families;
- Reinstate state retiree health benefits; and
- Restore advanced degree pay.
We will be in Raleigh on May 1st in support of our students, teachers, families, administration and staff.