'Conditions are gross at best': Washoe educators to rally Saturday for better pay, funding

Sam Gross | Reno Gazette-Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption A look inside Damonte Ranch High School's 22-classroom addition The first Washoe County School District project to be built with WC-1 money opened to students on April 9.

Washoe County educators are holding a rally Saturday morning to bring attention to what they say are “gross” working conditions and the low rate at which the Silver State funds education.

The rally is set for 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in front of the Washoe County Complex, 1001 E. Ninth St.

Melissa Boesen, president of the Washoe Education Support Professionals association, said the goal is to encourage voters to support pro-education candidates who are committed to funding Nevada’s schools and teachers at a higher rate.

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"We want to make sure that people are voting for those who would fund education, but we also kind of want to jump on the band wagon that all the other states are doing by bringing attention to public education," Boesen said.

Nevada ranks near the bottom of the nation when it comes to education funding, spending an average of $8,801 per student. In contrast, states like Massachusetts and Vermont, whose education systems are often lauded as among the best in the country, can spend between $15,000 and $20,000 per student.

States around the country have been calling on lawmakers for better funding and better pay for teachers and other school staff. The result has been controversial teacher strikes and walkouts.

In some states, like Arizona and Oklahoma, educators have forced lawmakers to funnel more money into schools.

But Boesen said Nevada is not on the verge of a teacher strike. Right now, they're trying to encourage voters to be education-minded.

Regardless, she said, they're at a point where something needs to change.

"Our working conditions are the student's learning conditions," Boesen said. " And until we're funded properly, our working conditions are gross at best."

Roughly 200 to 300 teachers, licensed educators, support staff, community leaders and public education stakeholders are expected to attend Saturday's rally.