Get Tuned In

This fact sheet was originally compiled and published by the Arizona Education Network.

What are the specifics of Proposition 100? Proposition 100 proposes a 1% increase in the Arizona state sales tax. Two-thirds of the revenues generated would fund education and the other one-third would fund health and human services and public safety. The sales tax would automatically repeal on May 31, 2013. .

Will it really repeal automatically? Yes, it will repeal on May 31, 2013. It … Continue Reading

On Tuesday, November 3, 2009, a special election will be held in the Vail Unified School District of Pima County, Arizona. Registered voters will have the opportunity to help decide two important financial matters for the school district.

For more information, please read about the ballot issues on the Vail School District website.

Thank you for taking the time to study the issues.

*Image credit: Flickr, Theresa Thompson’s photostream.

The following opinion piece, entitled “Slippery slope: State’s education reputation at risk“ was published in the Arizona Daily Star on May 14, 2009.

Arizona lawmakers must resist the temptation to continue slicing away at the public-education system if our state is to make the strongest argument possible for retaining its military installations, such as Davis-Monthan Air Force Base.

Leaders of organizations dedicated to supporting the state’s bases sent a letter to Gov. Jan Brewer urging her to fight off cuts to education. We urge Brewer and legislators to … Continue Reading

The following letter was sent to all parents in the Vail School District on 5-4-2009.

BUDGET UPDATE

Last week, the Vail Governing Board approved contracts for returning certified teachers in the Vail School District. Unlike many districts across Arizona, the Board did not issue a RIF (Reduction In Force) notice to any teacher in Vail.

The decision to avoid any RIFs was not easy. While the District has the financial advantage of a well-planned reserve and continuing growth, no one … Continue Reading

There’s a new advocacy group in town!

Founded by two parents from the Marana Unified School District and a SaddleBrooke resident, Concerned Arizona Residents for Education (CARE) exists to “provide an information network for Arizonans to take actions in support of public education.”

Among other things, the group provides opportunities for citizens to communicate with the governor and other state legislators about public education.

Membership is free and open to all interested parties.

For more information, check out the CARE website or get updates on the CARE … Continue Reading

More on the stimulus package…

As we begin to read and begin to sift through all of the analysis of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, several things are becoming clear:

1. MOST IMPORTANT: States must use stimulus money to restore funding to education.

Specifically, instructions are: “to restore, in each of Fiscal Years 2009, 2010 and 2011, the level of state support in education to the FY2008 or FY2009 level.”

2. BUT . . . the Act is filled with complex conditions and … Continue Reading