Page 21 - AASBO EDGE 2020 WINTER

SUMMER CONFERENCE AND EXPO
BY DON HARRIS
District; and Karla Soto, Chief Financial Officer, Roosevelt
Carolyn Warner Elementary School District.

Carolyn Warner Remembered for
Ponder called the funding situation “very confusing.”
Outstanding Service to Education HELPING
Soto pointed out that part of the teachers’ pay raise is tied to
the Classroom Site Fund, which provides performance pay
raises for teachers. “We want to be transparent so teachers
AASBO paid tribute to Carolyn Warner as a champion and SCHOOLS
feel comfortable they are getting the full 20% raise,” she
said.
dedicated advocate for public education before, during and after her
three terms as Arizona State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
Hicks emphasized that transparency is most important. He
Warner, who died October 9, 2018, at the age of 88, was FOCUS ON
recommended having a process in place involving support
remembered by former colleagues, friends and family as a leader
staff, various education associations and governing boards.
who wasn’t afraid to speak up – in her fearless, gravelly voice – for
“Explain that the simple statement of 20 by 2020 is not so
what she believed in. At the closing session WHAT
simple. It gets complex,” Hicks said. “The message is –
of AASBO’s 66 Annual Conference and
th
communicate.”
Exposition on July 20, Warner’s daughter,
Caron Lieber, accepted on behalf of her mother MATTERS
“Teachers are assured of
the organization’s Outstanding Service to
Education Award.
receiving the third and last
Chuck Essigs, AASBO Director of Government MOST
Relations, made the presentation and noted
part of the 20 by 2020...”
that Warner also had a close association with
ASBO International. Brian Mee
Essigs recommended explaining the funding situation before
AASBO Executive Director Brian Mee, a DELIVERING COMFORT AND
Classroom Site Fund numbers are released by the Joint
former ASBO International President, said of Warner: “She was one
Legislative Budget Committee, usually in March.
of a kind, an incredible lady with an incredible passion for education. UNIQUE FINANCIAL SOLUTIONS
When you spoke to her, she made you feel like someone special.” THROUGH PERSONALIZED
A possible solution would be to take the needed $50 million
Mee recalled a 5-hour flight from an ASBO International TECHNOLOGY.
from the General Fund – not the Classroom Site Fund, Essigs
conference to Phoenix when he was seated next to Warner. “We
said. He expects such requests to be made at the Legislature
solved every nancial problem in Arizona,” Mee joked. He said he
during the 2020 session.
considered it an honor to have been just a little part of her life.  Energy efficiency
John Pedicone, a former school superintendent and current
“It’s a $50 million issue – a major issue,” Essigs said.
educational advocate and consultant, said when Warner entered a  Facility modernization
“Some legislators will want to use that $50 million for other
room she lled it with her personality.  Improved environment
purposes.”
“She believed in public schools and she felt passionately that
they needed to be supported and funded for every child, regardless  Renewable energy
Few teachers understand details of the 20% pay raise, he
of race, religion or social status,” Pedicone said. “She was a model  Self-funding resolutions
said. The legislation raises the average teacher’s salary by
of strength and support for women in leadership – she was always
20%. “Some districts don’t get enough additional money to
ready and willing to help women in school administration, in
do that,” Essigs said. “Some districts get a little bit more,
civic leadership and in politics. Like great leaders, she promoted
based on the average of teacher salaries.”
leadership in others. She was a multiplier, a leader who made you
To sum up, school officials were told that the good news is
feel smarter, work harder and focus on the right things.”
that school districts and charter schools will receive $645
Pedicone said Warner interacted with every U.S. President from
million of increased funding above inflation and student
Franklin Roosevelt to Barack Obama, and as a youth representative
growth. Once the funding is in the formula, it will receive an
managed to get a dance with President Truman at his inauguration.
annual inflation adjustment.
When Warner would confront a challenge that others said was DEREK VAN ZIJLL | 480.272.3414
insurmountable, she would conquer it, Pedicone said. Words he
The bad news, Essigs said, is that the funding system put in CLIMATEC.COM
place is not very well understood. CONTINUED ON PAGE 26
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