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KY teachers rally in Frankfort to send message to lawmakers about funding

236 views · Published 11 April 2018 · 2:25 · Indexed 21 September 2026

Channel: LOCAL 12 · 2018 · News & Politics

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FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKRC) - Kentucky teachers swarmed the state capital on Monday as lawmakers faced a deadline on school funding and a state budget.

Thousands of educators, support staff, firefighters and police officers marched to fight for more money and protest a pension bill that was hastily passed last week.

For hours, school bus after school bus pulled up on Frankfort's capital avenue dropping off teachers. By 10 a.m., there was a massive crowd down the hill from the state capital where lawmakers were huddled, on deadline, figuring out this year's budget.

“The message today is: Support public education. They're going to be enacting a budget today and I hope they restore most of the cuts that the Governor had proposed to education. So, ultimately, we're here for the children. We want to see that they get a world-class education and that we can provide that,” said Boone County Schools Superintendent Dr. Randy Poe.

Governor Matt Bevin was the favorite target of teachers on Monday. Teachers claim his proposals would trim Northern Kentucky school budgets by $30 million.

“Honestly, right now we don't have the things we need to teach and if things are cut I really don't know what we're going to do in our school districts,” said Bev Reister, who is a teacher at River Ridge Elementary that has taught for 20 years. Would she do it all again?

“Honestly? Probably not. I hate to say that but it's become a situation where we're not respected. Our own Governor has said very hateful things about us,” said Reister.

They gave a lot back on Monday.

Northern Kentucky was extremely well-represented at Monday's march. About 20 buses from Boone and Kenton counties arrived early Monday morning. Teachers were supported by firefighters and police officers who marched with them.

As lawmakers wrestled with a new tax plan that would pump $230 million into the budget and restore many of Bevin's proposed cuts, teachers flooded the capitol halls.

It was a grownup version of “show and tell”, hoping against hope it was a teachable moment.

The tax proposal unveiled on Monday would create a 5 percent flat income tax for Kentuckians. It would also raise the taxes on cigarette $0.50 per pack.

The state would also start charging sales tax on 17 new services including dry cleaning, golf course greens fees and pet care.

The Senate approved it, and sent it to the House.

Governor Matt Bevin has indicated he doesn't like the deal.

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