SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio teacher unions are holding a panel Thursday evening for educators to discuss their priorities with politicians and candidates running for office.
These priorities can range from what’s happening right now with schools in the area and what's happening at the state capital including school vouchers.
The panel will happen at Amiga Café on Wurzbach Road from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. It’s open to teachers who are part of the north side or San Antonio labor union.
The Northside American Federation of Teachers and the City of San Antonio put this event together because of the upcoming election and want to ensure representatives for the area prioritize what public schools need.
One of the main talking points the unions want to raise awareness about is public school funding.
Northside AFT president Melina Espiritu-Azocar said the funding per child in a school building hasn't increased since 2019.
"It's unacceptable that our school districts are trying to make ends meet without getting any funding increase," Espiritu-Azocar said.
The limited funds for public education has many schools on a deficit budget working to make ends meet.
Another aspect the teacher unions want to address is school voucher programs.
“We're going to hold our elected representatives accountable to ensure that the vouchers don't pass this next legislative session. But November is going to have a lot to do with that,” Espiritu-Azocar said.
School vouchers have been a high priority for Governor Greg Abbott to pass this year.
Abbott believes the school vouchers give parents the option of what their kids learn in school and where they do it.
Public schools on the other hand said it would take funding away from them and remove students from the public school system.
Since the spring, Abbott has went on campaigns to remove state republicans out of their positions if they didn't support his plan for school vouchers.