Arvada JeffCo Schools Closed April 26, As Teachers Plan Rally

ARVADA, CO -- JeffCo teachers didn't attend Monday's Day of Action at the state Capitol, instead they "Walked In" to support better pay and more tax resources for education.

But next week, on hundreds of JeffCo teachers will gather at the the state Capitol Thursday, April 26, for another "day of action" to talk to lawmakers about teacher pay and support of state pensions in the PERA program.

“We are asking people, if they can take a personal day, to go downtown and talk to legislators,” Scott Kwasny, spokesman for the Jeffco Education Association told reporter Sal Christ at the Columbine Courier.

"We have one of the strongest economies in the country, and yet we’re 47th or 48th in the country for teacher pay … Jeffco alone is underfunded by about $84 million a year because of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights and the budget stabilization factor, so there’s been a lot of pressure on CEA to do something.”

Jeffco Public Schools Superintendent Jason Glass said the district will cancel school that day.

"The lack of sufficient staff could impact the district’s commitment to providing a safe learning environment. To ensure students’ safety, we will not have school for students on Thursday, April 26. This remains a work day for all Jeffco Public Schools staff members; leave time must be appropriately used if employees are not at work that day, " Glass wrote on the district website. "I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our families, but I'm pleased to be able to make the announcement well in advance so families may make needed arrangements. Perhaps some of you will be able to participate in “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day,” which happens to fall on the same day."

"As of Tuesday morning, more than 35 percent of the district’s 4,700 licensed teaching staff had requested substitutes for April 26," the Courier reported.

On Monday, Englewood School District cancelled classes after more than 150 teachers asked for the day off to attend a rally at the Capitol.

Read more in the Columbine Courier

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