Teachers react to purported education funding deal

PHOENIX (KSAZ) - On Friday, teachers are reacting to the latest proposal by Gov. Doug Ducey to increase teacher salary and education funding in Arizona.

Some teachers say they are just not too excited about the announced deal, but that they don't know enough about the details. In addition, some say they don't trust that it will be signed into law.

"It seems very much like what was proposed before, and it's really cool to see, but we are just kind of confused why it's not official, and where all the funds are coming from. We just want to know more," said elementary school teacher Jen Love.

"We don't want to take from the poor to give to the poor," said teacher Jimena Giner. "We want the money to come from a source that we know is going to be sustainable, and continue for years to go."

Joe Thomas, leader of the Arizona Education Association, says the "devil is in the details", and nothing is in writing.

"If the governor is not talking to us and not having real conversations, a lot of educators tell me they feel like they are being bought off," said Thomas. "They feel like they are being giving a little bit of money so they'll shut up and go back and teach."

AEA officials say the governor has made promises before that he didn't keep, and they can't trust him.

"If there has been no good faith by the governor or the legislature to have a conversation with us and understand what the plan is, moving forward, then I think the governor has put all of his apples into one basket, and it's just not going to work," said Thomas.