Legislation

Please read this important update on the status of public education in Arizona:

Dear Parents and Friends of Public Education,
 
I hope you are all refreshed from your Spring Break and ready to get to work on the continuing budget process.  Here is what we know – or continue to not know:
 
1) The State is facing a $3.1-3 billion budget deficit for 2010.  The Legislature is still deciding how to close that gap.  The Governor has said that both revenue enhancements and cuts must be considered in the process.
2) Despite the mid-year cuts made for 2009, the State is still short about $450 million for 2009.
3) The governor has agreed to accept federal stimulus money for Arizona.  While it is not yet clear exactly where and how these funds can be used, it does seem fair to assume that they will have a mitigating impact on the effect of the predicted 2010 cuts.  You can monitor the acceptance and expenditure of these funds atazrecovery.gov.
 
Here are some solutions to the problems currently under consideration:
1) Cut State expenditures.  
Education funding represents about 42% of the State’s budget.  With a $3 billion deficit looming, this is one big pot of money from which to find funds to balance the budget.  The Governor noted just yesterday, at a breakfast hosted by the East Valley Partnership, that further cuts to K-12 and higher education are inevitable.
2) Keep existing revenue sources.There is currently legislation pending that would repeal the County Equalization Tax.  Keeping this tax in place will bring $250 million into the State coffers.  Currently, this tax is suspended, but is due to be reinstated in 2010.
Also, legislation has passed that will increase the amount that both individuals and corporations can give, via tax credit, to private schools.  If this new legislation is signed into law by the Governor, the general fund could be depleted by as much as $17 million next year, with an amount increasing by 20% every year thereafter.  If the bill is not signed into law, those funds will continue to flow into the general fund.
3) Accept the Federal Stimulus funds.Depending on how and where these funds can be used, they could significantly impact the amount of our State deficit.
4)  Find new revenue sources.  
The Governor has proposed asking the voters to pass a tax increase.  In the absence of the political will to do this, the Legislature may be asked to consider such a measure.
 
What can you do?
Keep on contacting your Legislators and the Governor, and remind them all that in this budget debate education funding must remain a priority.
* Cuts may be inevitable given the magnitude of our problem, but our goal – everyone’s goal in this State – should be to keep those cuts as short term and as far from the classroom as possible, giving the most flexibility that we can to individual districts.
* In these dire economic times, we should be asking if making tax cuts is prudent. Certainly, some would argue that in a recession, raising taxes is counter-indicated.  But it can also be argued that giving back existing taxes and further depleting our revenue streams through increased tax credits in the face of a $3 billion deficit are not wise choices.
* Finally we must remember that the State has a Constitutional obligation to “provide for the establishment and maintenance of a general and uniform public school system-” even, and maybe especially, in difficult times.  There is a campaign to bring attention to this issue- Join Hands for Education.  Check out how you can be a part of reminding our representatives that our children need to be their priority at their website.
 
Our legislators know they face hard choices.  We need to let them know that we understand the reality of the deficit, but that we still place a long-term priority on adequate education funding – even when times are tough.  As always, please make sure your comments are factual and polite.  Personal anecdotes and good ideas are always welcome in correspondences.  And most importantly, remember that our voice counts and together we CAN make a difference.
 
Thanks for your continuing involvement in our children’s education!
Francesca Thomas, SPC Legislative Liaison

Please come and show your support!

March 4 Schools 4:00 – 6:00 
> March 4, 2009 @ the Arizona State Capitol 
> We need everyone at this event. Buses are leaving from 10 different elementary schools (departing at 3:45). Please use this link to RSVP.
> http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nFTKO846qE475Fzbniswzw_3d_3d
> 
> Pass this email on to anyone, I mean anyone, who believes that a promising tomorrow starts with our schools today. Right now the legislative leadership is proposing cuts of 18% to our already inadequate funding. 
> My promise is to speak up against this. Will you? I mean really…what’s it gonna take? 
> PTOs and PTAs, I implore you to get this through your network with a real sense of urgency. 
> 
> My sincerest thanks,
> Eric Kurland
> SEA President
> erickurland6@aol.com
>

March 4 Schools Event at the Arizona State Capitol

Supporters of public education will gather at the Arizona State Capitol on Wednesday, March 4th to make their concerns heard regarding proposed budget cuts to education. The Arizona State Legislature is proposing 18 percent cuts to public education statewide. Budget cuts proposed for Scottsdale Unified School District total $21 million. Buses will leave from 10 different Scottsdale Unified School District sites at 3:45 pm and return at 6:00 pm. These sites are; Anasazi, ANLC, Aztec, Cochise, Copper Ridge, Hohokam, Pueblo, Sequoya, Tavan, and Tonalea. Each site will also offer carpools as needed. The community is invited to attend this important event.

Please RSVP at:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=nFTKO846qE475Fzbniswzw_3d_3d

Statehood Day

RALLY FOR EDUCATION

Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009
11 a.m.-1 p.m.

Wesley Bolin Plaza at the Arizona State Capitol
1700 W. Washington St., Phoenix

Ample parking is available in the Governor’s Tower lot, located at 19th Ave. between Jefferson and Adams, and in the parking garage behind the state offices just north of the Capitol.

• Bring VALENTINES for GOVERNOR BREWER and your
  LEGISLATORS and put them in the giant Valentines Box!
  Include positive messages about K-12 education on them!!!
• Bring your STORIES about what public education means to you!
• Bring your CHILDREN and GRANDCHILDREN!
• Bring your FRIENDS, NEIGHBORS and COWORKERS!
• Bring SIGNS – Let’s make sure our elected officials know supporting K-12 EDUCATION IS A TOP PRIORITY for Arizona!

Organized with the support of the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, Arizona Education Association, Arizona Parents for Public Education, Arizona School Administrators and the Arizona School Boards Association.

Dear SPC members and supporters,

This Wednesday, Jan. 21, is our scheduled field trip to the Capitol. We had intended on going after the SPC meeting, but the field trip IS now the meeting. We will meet at the Ed. Center at 9:30 am as usual, have a quick snack and chat, and then caravan down to the Capitol. If you prefer, you can meet us in the garden between the House and Senate at 10:15. You should be home for lunch!

The goal of this trip is to get as many parents as possible signed up on ALIS (Arizona Legislature Information System). Doing so will allow these registrants to post comments on bills being heard in both houses. Since we know that a morning downtown is just not feasible for everyone, we are also encouraging parents to give us their proxy, so that those of us who do go can sign up those unable to come along. The proxy form is available here and on the SPC site. Please use your parent groups to encourage submission of proxies. Please note: We need a signed, hard copy of the proxy in order to register people. Please return proxies to the SPC mailbox at the Ed Center as soon as possible.

In a year when the Legislature is being forced to make cuts, and knowing that education comprises about 44% of the budget, we need to make sure our representatives hear quite clearly that education is still a public priority. Registering to comment on ALIS will give us yet one more avenue to catch the attention of our Representatives and Senators.

Thanks in advance for your dedication to our children and our schools, and for continuing to make education a priority.

Together we can make a difference!

Francesca Thomas
SPC Legislative Liaison

From the Special Education Law Blog

ADA Amendments Passed and Become Law!

The following is a posting from Jess Butler who is an attorney and officer with COPAA.org one of the leading special education advocacy organizations in the U.S. She has summarized and explained the effect of the new amendments for school age children and in later life. These revisions represent a win for people with disabilities.

Today (9-26-08), the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA), S.3406, was signed into law…. <more>

Jason Cowans, from our SEPACS board, forwarded the following link to the board for our information.  Since it’s such an important topic to all parents of children with special needs, I’m forwarding on:

Presidential Candidates Offer Different Positions on Issues Related to Special Needs Community

An update from the Scottsdale Parent Council, and good news for Arizona schools and students:

Dear Parents and Friends of Public Education,

We have much to celebrate! Last week, a budget passed both Houses of the Legislature that included a fix for the unfunded utilities issue. Your letters and signatures on our petition, your visits to the Capitol and conversations with your friends have all made a tremendous difference in the lives and education of our children. We also owe a debt of gratitude to the Governor, Senator Allen (R- District and Representative Reagan (R- District 8). The Governor stood steadfast the entire session and kept the issue of unfunded school utilities alive throughout budget negotiations. Rep. Reagan sponsored a bill and held a hearing on unfunded utilities earlier this Spring, and then, along with Senator Allen voted for the Senate version of the budget that protected education funding and included the fix for unfunded school utilities. Their courage and commitment to the children of Arizona has saved our district’s budget, and ultimately the quality of education we will see in our children’s classrooms.

Please take a minute out of your day to thank Governor Napolitano, Senator Allen, and Representative Reagan for putting public schools, our communities and our children first in the budget this year. These elected officials have truly represented our interests and those of our children in this difficult fiscal year.

Thank you!

Francesca Thomas, SPC VP Legislative Liaison

Governor Napolitano can be contacted through Lauren Kielsmeier and Mike Haener

lkielsmeier@az.gov and mhaener@az.gov

Carolyn S. Allen

callen@azleg.gov  

Michele Reagan

mreagan@azleg.gov

Scottsdale Parent Council
c/o SUSD Education Center
3811 N 44th Street
Phoenix, Arizona 85018

Please read the following from the Scottsdale Parent Council:

Dear Parents and Friends of Public Education,

We need your support TODAY! We would like to send a note to our Legislators letting them know that we only want a budget that includes a solution for public school utilities. So we are circulating a virtual petition and hope you will sign.

If you agree with the statement here below, please send your name AND address to spc@scottsdaleparentcouncil.org.  By doing so, you will confirm your support of the statement AND be giving us permission to use your name in a petition to our legislators and others at the State government.

Thank you for taking the time before summer break to try to make an impact on your child’s education and public schools across our State.

Together we can make a difference!

Francesca Thomas, SPC Legislative Liaison

We, as voters and parents, support funding actual utility costs for schools. These are basic operational costs that we expect the state to cover without raising local property taxes. Without these dollars, impacts to staff and programs will be unavoidable. We are not asking for extra, only for what schools need to operate- a responsibility that is clearly the State’s. As local districts, we support over-and-above the basic needs with our local tax dollars. But we refuse to pay the State’s share too. Please support a budget that holds our districts responsible for conserving energy and the State responsible for covering basic operational costs.

Scottsdale Parent Council
c/o SUSD Education Center
3811 N 44th Street
Phoenix
Arizona 85018
United States