Page 14 - The Edge - Back to School 2017

SUMMER CONFERENCE AND EXPO

BY DON HARRIS

Panel Encourages AASBO Members

to Be More Active Politically

A panel of education advocates, a consultant and a journalist who On the Save Our Schools campaign to
has covered Arizona’s political scene since 1982 provided AASBO delay implementation of the law expanding
members with a glimpse of what to expect from the governor and the the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts
Legislature regarding school funding. (ESA) program and put the issue on the 2018
At the closing session of AASBO’s Summer Conference and Expo November general election ballot, Kotterman
on July 22, the panelists also o ered suggestions on what school cautioned that lawmakers could undercut the
business o cials should be doing to aid their cause. referendum process and thwart the signature-
Moderated by Chuck Essigs, AASBO Director of Government gathering process by repealing the current
Relations, the panel consisted of Chris Kotterman, Director of law and enacting a new one. SB1431 expands
Government Relations, Arizona School Boards Association; Paul eligibility to all students, phased in over the
Bentz, Vice President, Research and Strategy, HighGround Public next four years. Currently, the ESA program Chris Kotterman
A airs Consultants; Dick Foreman, President and CEO, Arizona only covers certain classes of students, including
Business and Education Coalition; Howie Fischer, Capitol Media children with special needs and children assigned to failing schools.
Services; and Jen Darland, Co-Founder and Vice President, Arizona However, Fischer pointed out that if the existing law remains in
Education Network. e ect, it provides that the cap on vouchers, which totals 30,000, goes

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