Outside the school board meeting, it's a lesson these teachers want to make sure school board members understand. "If we don't have healthy teachers in the classroom, and healthy paraprofessionals and custodians, it doesn't matter", said United Teachers of Wichita President Barbara Fuller.
Dozens of teachers attended the meeting to show their opposition to proposed cuts. School Board members are reviewing a list of recommended cuts to find $12.5 million to balance the budget. Cuts to health care would make up more than $5 million. Teachers say making such cuts would prove much more costly in the long run, in terms of retaining quality educators.
The School Board heard from Fuller, but did not act on the cuts at last night's meeting.
