Ducey's almost-endorsement of the walkout is huge, as is his acknowledgement that teachers deserve a 20 percent raise. Governor One Percent got religion a few weeks ago and increased his salary offer twenty fold. He even saidbe still my heartthat the work Arizona's teachers have done makes them worthy of a raise. The Governors Actions will speak louder than words. He wants a big re-election win and needs to resolve the education funding issue ASAP in order to do so. Will the Republican state legislators help him try and secure a win in November by passing the desired funding or will they be the Governors excuse? Most likely the legislature will punt on this issue and put it on the ballot in November. Remember, the Governor also has to appease his biggest donors, the Koch Brothers, who oppose district public schools.
To borrow a phrase from someone else, Outed and Ousted in August. Know for whom you are (re)electing in the August primary. Don't be fooled by legislators or candidates that say they support "public education." Check their voting record in the statehouse. If it's a new candidate, question them on their stance for public ed. Do they support more investment in district public schools or giving tax payer funds to private businesses to administer their charter schools? Does your state legislative candidate own a private or charter school? Do he/she administer a student tuition organization?
Issuing new SNAP ID cards will cost the state $6 million the first year and $4 million each year afterward. (as reported in the AZ Republic). So our state leaders have no qualm on spending that money for fraud that does not exist anywhere near that level. But our state leaders won't expand healthcare coverage for 30,000 kids of working poor families. KidsCare is fully funded by the federal government. There is a provision in the bill that would roll back this agreement should the federal government stop funding it 100%. Why provide a service at no cost to the state for our most vulnerable citizens when we can spend several million for a virtually non-existent problem?
This article is terrific. Inread today in the AZ Republic that Classrooms First has requested a sixth month extension to submit its proposal. Conveniently form this committee and the governor, this will be after another budget battle and after the May17 election to change the state constitution regarding state land trust disbursements.
This deal adds $300 per pupil, when AZ spends $3000 less per pupil than the national AVERAGE. Additionally AZ teacher salaries are the lowest in the nation. Teachers are fleeing the state. Most school districts have several open teaching positions form which they can't find full-time qualified teachers. This article is an accurate summation of the Ducey plan.
My greatest outrage is reserved for those who voted for Diane "no Common Core" Douglas. David Garcia is hands down the better, more competent candidate for AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction, but he does not have an "R" next to his name.
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