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Public education still underfunded

State governments that border Colorado to the north and south continually show they value public education by passing legislation as proof – Colorado’s government continually fails to do this.

New Mexico’s government brought in National Guard troops to help with the teacher and substitute shortage. This helped committed teachers stay in their contracted roles, instead of being stretched to a breaking point all year. Colorado made school districts break contracts by forcing teachers to work extra hours to cover these shortages, adding to teacher burnout. New Mexico passed a law to raise teacher salaries by 20% starting next school year, matching them to Wyoming’s higher salaries. Colorado has done nothing to address teacher salaries, while the cost of living in this state has skyrocketed passed both Wyoming and New Mexico’s.

If the Legislature does not act this session and take action to properly fund public education, it will become solely responsible for dismantling public education in Colorado. The data on teacher and education support staff leaving the profession is not fake, faulty or misleading. It is happening as I write. Teachers and school staff are quitting today as they have all throughout the year. The answer to all of the issues created by continually underfunding public education and the pandemic is money. Pay all school employees wages that allow them to live in Colorado as comfortable citizens or you will have no school employees left.

Amanda L. Ellis

Durango