Page 11 - The Edge - Winter 2016

2015 LEGISLATIVE WORKSHOP

BY DON HARRIS

Lawmakers from Both Parties Say ey

Support More Funding for Schools

Four legislators expressed bipartisan support for
increased funding for public schools, telling members
of three education groups that they speci cally back
an immediate boost for JTEDs – Joint Technical
Education District programs.
The panel of Sen. David Bradley, D-Tucson;
Rep. Paul Boyer, R-Phoenix; Rep. Jay Lawrence,
R-Scottsdale; and Rep. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma,
appeared at the 2015 Legislative Workshop on Nov. 13,
sponsored by the Arizona School Boards Association,
Arizona Association of School Business O cials, and REP. PAUL BOYER, SEN. DAVID BRADLEY, REP. JAY LAWRENCE, REP. LISA OTONDO,
Arizona School Administrators association. R-PHOENIX D- TUCSON R- SCOTTSDALE D- YUMA
All four lawmakers serve on education panels at
the Legislature, and Boyer is chairman of the House Otondo said when she was a teacher she not only bought
Education Committee. Dennis Welch, Political Editor for 3TV pencils and other supplies for her students, she provided them with
(KTVK-TV), was the moderator. backpacks and snacks. In a message apparently aimed at Arizonans
e four talked about the importance of Proposition 123, in general and her fellow legislators, Otondo said, “Put your money
which voters will be asked to approve at a special election May 17. where your mouth is and support our teachers and our schools.
Approved by the Legislature during a special session in October, Public schools are not a gated community like charter schools.
Proposition 123 would settle a ve-year lawsuit over in ation Teachers are doing the best that they can do.”
funding, infusing $3.5 billion into K-12 schools over 10 years. Welch asked Otondo what other budgetary needs she was willing
Bradley said he hopes the funding package is just the beginning, to cut in order to get more money into schools. She responded by
saying more money is needed to keep school buildings open and to saying the state budget supports private prisons and corporate tax
retain teachers. He suggested that legislators should be invited to credits. “ at shows where our priorities are,” she said. “We have
schools to see the realities face-to-face. more charter schools and more voucher systems. To the Arizona
Boyer said there is a need to address the shortage of teachers, Legislature, if you believe education is important, make JTEDs an
saying it is critical to support Prop. 123. “It was a small miracle emergency bill and restore funding immediately.”
that we were able to get a coalition to win passage (of Prop. 123) at brought another round of applause.
at the Legislature,” Boyer said. “I hope this does pass so we can get Looking ahead to the upcoming session of the Legislature,
more money into schools. Go back to your members. You have got Welch asked the panel members what their priorities are.
to support this.” Boyer mentioned a revamp of ASRS Title 15, the laws that
But Boyer said there are other budgetary priorities, such as the govern education. “Some are outdated, unnecessary, repetitive and
Department of Corrections. redundant,” he said. “We’ll start whittling down Title 15.” He also
Lawrence asked how many in the room knew what the pay was said he expects renewed e orts to repeal Common Core.
for teachers when they took the job, “and now you’re complaining Lawrence, a foe of Common Core, known as Arizona’s College
about the pay.” e audience groaned, just short of booing. But and Career Ready Standards, said he had no problem with
Lawrence quickly added that he supports more money for teachers standards, but did with the curriculum. “How many parents can
and JTEDs. He promised to do everything he could to restore help their children with the math problems in Common Core?”
funding for JTEDs, which drew a round of applause. he asked rhetorically. “Very few, and we talk about parental
Addressing Lawrence, Welch said teachers knew what the salary involvement.” He said he plans to introduce a bill dealing with the
was but they also expected to receive the resources necessary to do privacy of student information.
their job. e audience applauded again, and Lawrence responded, Otondo remarked: “Curriculum is decided locally, and that’s
“I have always said that for you to buy supplies to make your classes where it should be decided. As far as I’m concerned, the Arizona
work is wrong. But, that’s the way it is. Hopefully we can face it and
make it better.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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