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He praised SOS Arizona for organizing a massive
demonstration at the state Capitol. “People at the Legislature
will never forget what they saw,” omas said.
He said he doesn’t expect to see another school voucher bill
introduced at the Legislature in 2019 after voters overwhelmingly
rejected legislation that would have substantially expanded the
current program.
Foreman disputed the long-held belief that all elections are
local. “ at’s no longer true,” he said. “All elections now are
passionate – how passionate you feel about your issues.”
Education continues to be inadequately funded, Foreman
said. “You need a plan, a focus, a policy,” he said.
e focus should be on people in elected o ce who can get back in the bottle,” he said. “It had to happen because nothing
the job done. else worked. e success of Red for Ed wasn’t the march. It was
Foreman said the march at the Capitol and the grass roots what happened three weeks prior – the walkout at 1,200 schools
e ort by teachers to put the voucher legislation on the ballot across the state.”
were amazingly successful. But he said running a costly citizens’ Public school advocates have to leverage what has
initiative to get something on the ballot “is an incredibly bad happened to make sure policymakers understand. “ ey have
way to do policy.” to nd the money so teachers can to job they’re hired to do,”
He expressed hope that ABEC and other education groups, omas said. “We have to push back hard. It takes all of us to
including ABA and AASBO, can work together on education be e ective.”
funding needs. “ at’s the passion that will get the job done,” Foreman said the business community has had an image
he said. of demanding accountability from schools before funding
Moderator Chris Thomas, ASBA General Counsel and reform takes place. Two years ago he met with the head of a
Associate Executive Director, noted that Proposition 126, major business organization who insisted on reform rst, then
prohibiting state and local governments from enacting new resources. But, he said he is proud of the accountability already
taxes on services, was approved by a margin of 64-36. He asked provided by public schools.
whether the public or the business community realized the “Resources are needed,” Foreman said. “Accountability –
impact of Prop. 126 and whether there are any concerns. we’ve already got it.”
Joe omas said approval of Prop. 126 has unintended Foreman said he think the odds are good, but not necessarily
consequences. He said it’s a mistake to tie the hands of future great, for public schools to see more progress at the Legislature
legislators when it comes to revenue needs and could a ect in 2019. He said the business and education communities are
systemic funding for schools. closer than they have been in a long time.
For example, voters passed Proposition 301 in 2000. e He recalled that two tax increases to bene t education were
0.6-cent sales tax for schools was set to expire in mid-2021 if pushed by two Republican governors, Jan Brewer and Jane
voters or the Legislature didn’t act. e Legislature did pass a Hull. “It’s not a partisan issue,” Foreman said.
bill that extends for 20 years the education sales tax rate that Thomas said there is always opposition to a sales tax
brings in about $667 million a year to Arizona schools. increase, and noted that the increase in the minimum wage
ere seems to be a question of whether Prop. 126, which voters approved in 2016 has caused problems for some school
takes e ect before the Prop. 301 extension takes e ect, will districts.
nullify the sales tax extension. He agreed that putting a funding issue on the ballot isn’t the
“Even if we think we know what it does, it raises concerns best way to raise revenue, but sometimes it’s the only way.
about the possible impact on the Prop. 301 extension,” “It’s hard to get two-thirds of the Legislature to pass and the
Joe Thomas said. “We could wind up with unintended governor to sign such a bill,” omas said.
consequences.” Emphasizing the need for more resources, omas said
It could leave public schools with a system that is not he hopes lawmakers will fund full-day kindergarten, which
adequately funded, the AEA President said. Instead, schools generated a round of applause.
will continue to be funded by a series of Band Aid maneuvers. “If we don’t get what we need, we’ll have to change some
omas said he wishes that the teacher walkout at schools more faces at the Legislature,” he said. “We have a lot of great
throughout the state hadn’t happened. “You can’t get the genie Republican educators who are not happy with Legislature.”

22 THE EDGE | WINTER 2019