Denison teachers among thousands to rally at state Capitol - KTEN.com - No One Gets You Closer

Denison teachers among thousands to rally at state Capitol

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By Stephanie Hastings, Assignment Editor/ Producer - email

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AUSTIN, TX -- Thousands of teachers, administrators, parents, and students marched to the state Capitol on Saturday.

They rallied in support of increased funding for public schools. They are asking lawmakers to restore $5.4 billion in funding cuts the legislature approved in 2011. Teachers from around the state including El Paso, Houston, San Antonio and Dallas took part in the annual Save Texas Schools rally. It was the first year for teachers in the Denison ISD.

Shonna Voight with the Denison Classroom Teachers Association was emotional as she made the 10 block march to the steps of the Capitol. While she says Denison schools have not felt major backlash from the budget cuts, she says it's important to stand with other teachers in the state so it doesn't happen to them.

Selena Valdez, a teacher in San Antonio IDS, says larger class sizes and too many standardized tests are keeping her from teaching basic skills to students.

The 2011 cuts prompted more than 600 school districts to sue the state of Texas. District Judge John Dietz ruled recently that funding was inadequate and unfairly distributed.

The state is appealing. If the Texas Supreme Court rules in favor of the districts, it'll be up to legislators to evaluate the needs of each of the states 1,200 districts to come up with a new funding system.