KY teachers upset at "sneaky" passing of pension bill, vow to continue fight

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Many Kentucky school districts were closed on Friday as teachers called in sick to protest the pension bill. They protest both what the law is, and how it was passed. Classes were canceled in Campbell County, Gallatin County, and Dayton, but some of those teachers are still helping kids while fighting the pension measure. At Lincoln Elementary School in Dayton, teachers boxed care packages of food to deliver to low-income students. Normally, kids pick up the packages at school on Fridays, but since there were no classes, because so many teachers called off to protest the pension law, teachers had to make sure the kids still got the food. “Well the way things happened last night in Frankfort, it was sneaky. It was disappointing,” said Amanda Berringer, a teacher from Dayton, KY. What happened is the Republican-dominated legislature in Frankfort passed a pension bill which cuts some benefits. Specifically, they did so at the last minute. Lawmakers attached the measure to a bill which originally dealt with waste water treatment, which is a tactic that teachers say belongs in the sewer. “As you know, we don't get paid a lot of money. We do this because it's our calling and our passion. We expected the government to fulfill their promise and last night they showed us they weren't willing to do that,” said Amanda Berringer, a teacher from Dayton, KY. A handmade sign shown at the protest sums up how teachers feel. It says “Don't Let Kentucky Education Go Down in Flames”. It says “Find funding first, fully fund public schools, pension promise, and earn our votes.” “We continue to fight. This is just one battle in the war, a direct assault on public education,” said Troy Clifton, a teacher from Dayton, KY. Teachers understand Kentucky’s pension system needs help. It faces a $40 billion shortfall projecting out 30 years. The new law does not change benefits for current or pending retirees, but does cut them for new teachers which educators say will scare people from joining the profession. Educators say there has to be a better way such as a tax hike or perhaps money from legalizing gambling or medical marijuana. The message from teachers is that they will not stop. “Maybe we should give the legislators an apple,” said Amanda Berringer, a teacher from Dayton, KY. Republican Governor Matt Bevin is expected to sign the pension bill but Democratic Attorney General Andy Beshear says he'll go to court to try to get it thrown out.