Some are saying, Im not going to approve exceeding the limit until the courts rule that it is unconstitutional., Judge John Hannah of Maricopa County Superior Court declined to rule immediately on the constitutionality of Proposition 208, according to The Arizona Republic. Doug Ducey has put Arizonas public schools on notice. 360 Hiatt Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. During his State of Education Address on Jan. 31, Horne touched on the spending cap, among other issues such strengthening student discipline, improving test scores, and his opposition to Critical Race Theory, which is a hot-button conservative political issue. Similar Facebook posts were shared in early August 2021 claiming some schools are closing their doors again, . Ducey and Hoffman released a joint statement: In alignment with yesterdays updated federal guidance, today we are announcing the extension of school closures through the remainder of the school year. Edwards, who graduated from ASU in 2021, has interned with Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine and Crime and Justice News. Please choose your school district in Arizona from the list below to view a calendar of your 2022-2023 school holidays. The previous survey's results (Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022) remain available in . Phoenix, AZ 85007. email: [email protected] Oh sure, COVID-19 is spiking yet again with the highly contagious omicron variant. That puts $638 million of funding a year at risk money that didnt used to count toward the limit but does now. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Even so, that will only fix the problem for this spring. For more than a decade the Legislatures failure to invest properly in our schools has resulted in such a severe teacher shortage that more than20% of our students dont have a permanent, qualified teacher in their classroom. A clear picture of school-based COVID-19 outbreaks has so far proven elusive . These cuts translate to $25 million for the Washington Elementary district, $43 million for Phoenix Union, and $58 million for Tucson Unified, just to name a few examples. And if schools close because they are not authorized to spend money already sitting in their bank accounts, the blame will lie with you not our public schools, Hoffman wrote to lawmakers in her address. Watch Now. Arizona schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, Governor Doug Ducey and state Schools Chief Kathy Hoffman announced Monday morning. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. "I originally planned to give a different speech today," she said. You have permission to edit AZCIR material to reflect changes in time, location and editorial style only. PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey announced Monday that Arizona schools will be closed through the end of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. In the past, when districts hit the decades-old aggregate expenditure limit, lawmakers voted to override it which hasnt happened this school year. AZCIR is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Tax ID #46-1209940. So that cash will just sit there, we believe.. What Ive heard from some Republicans is theyre waiting to hear about the court case on Prop 208 and the judge in that case says hes not going to expedite his ruling, she said. He has until March 10th.. School's out for the rest of the school year, as a result of the pandemic. This is their way of saying no to 208 even though the voters passed it overwhelmingly, she said. AZCIR holds powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism. Click to reveal Maria Polletta is an investigative reporter for AZCIR focused on covering inequities in education. Get AZCIRs latest investigations and updates delivered straight into your inbox. By: Sheenae Shannon, AEA Communications Director. But in 2018, the Legislature extended Proposition 301, without exempting it. Feb. 11, 2022. by Maria Polletta and Shaena Montanari, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting August 17, 2021, This and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.
. In partnership with Esri and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), we've created the information below to keep you informed of the changes and impact of COVID-19 on school operational plans at the district level. In an abrupt reversal, Atlanta's public schools start the year remotely. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. MAP: Districts operational status across the U.S. 2023. First Name Last Name Email Please indicate your role in your school or district. Look at our options. 1740 W. Adams, Suite 3008. Do schools and child care establishments have to report COVID-19 outbreaks to their local health departments? This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All republished content delivered onlinemust have a link to AZCIRand include all of the links in our story. PHOENIX The clock is running out for state legislators to override a cap on spending that would prohibit Arizona public school districts from disbursing nearly $1.2 billion thats already been approved by the Legislature and budgeted. The money is already in the district bank accounts. Close K-3 school Desert Garden Elementary School off 71st Avenue and Ocotillo Road and repurpose the building into a preschool facility. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Though campuses are closed, the remote . The Legislature has until March 1 to override the spending cap. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. When does the states ban on school mask requirements take effect? We are not adding any new money or raising taxes, just letting them spend all the money that you budgeted to them last year. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Arizona Superintendent Kathy Hoffman is urging lawmakers to lift the school spending cap as public schools are facing nearly $1.2 billion in budget cuts. Katie Hobbs signs house bill to fund Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, American Airlines pilots authorize strike; pickets planned at Phoenix Sky Harbor. Anna Campbell expects to graduate in May 2023 with bachelors degrees in English and journalism and mass communication. Virtually no one's pressing to close schools, Hurt students for the unvaccinated? Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said a familiar issue is still the most pressing one for education in our state. We saw what it did to our kids. Failing to act will harm students and families, Hoffman told legislators Tuesday in her address. Gov. including Savanna Elementary School District in California and the Chandler Unified School District in Arizona. However, not all agree with repealing the spending cap. If the Legislature doesnt override the limit, schools will only have a couple of months to cut $1.2 billion.. On Aug. 16, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled the ban therefore would not take effect until Sept. 29. Public school districts, mostly across the Northeast and Midwest, closed this week as the omicron variant of coronavirus surges following the winter break and the country's students face a mental . Michael Tubbs, once the youngest mayor of a major American city, to address UArizona graduates at Commencement. Arizona superintendent urges lawmakers to act as schools face closure ticking timebomb, Superintendent Hoffman says schools face closure ticking timebomb, Tucson marks first 100-degree day of 2023, WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO of officer-involved fatal shooting, Gov. During the 2021-2022 school year, public schools were staring at 16% across-the-board cuts, and looking at layoffs and school closings, according to education advocates. The restrictions now apply statewide with cases reported in all 15 counties. A governor who actually pays bonuses to school districts that refuse to enact mask mandates using federal funding intended to fight COVID-19, no less. That depends; county health departments in Arizona can issue quarantine guidance. "I think the community is really just frustrated and kind of sick of this because it feels almost like a political football game. With this announcement, we are making sure parents and families have options if a school closes its doors, he said. If districts were to spend the money anyway, that money would be pulled out of the next years budget. It is adjusted each year to take into account inflation and the number of students who are enrolled. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Independent, nonprofit investigative journalism for Arizona. If the state legislature does nothing to lift a constitutionally-mandated spending cap, public schools could be looking at over a billion dollars in spending cuts. Arizona public schools concerned over possible $1.2 billion in budget cuts, Tucson marks first 100-degree day of 2023, WARNING GRAPHIC VIDEO of officer-involved fatal shooting, Gov. Pinal County has a dashboard that shows cumulative cases by the area each school district covers, but not cases specifically from schools. In a news release, Ducey, alongside . Katherine Fung 12/23/2021. Erin Richards. Politics, cell towers and hate speech: Why 3 more superintendents are Florida schools move closer to a 12-month school year. Two years ago, most of society shut down in the face of a deadly virus we knew little about and couldnt defend against. January 6, 2022 at 11:22 a.m. EST. One of the political issues at play is Proposition 208, which put a 3.5% tax increase on people with incomes over $250,000 for single tax filers or $500,000 for married filers. Maricopa County Department of Public Health, for example, recently began requiring students and staff who came in close contact of a known COVID-19 case to quarantine. Berry said she and fellow financial officers of neighboring school districts dont know where the money from the budgets will go if the Legislature doesnt override the cap. Gov. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Look at Mesa Unified School District up in the Phoenix area, theyd have to cut $78 million, or TUSD with $58 million, Marana with about $15 million, Amphi with $14 million, he said. Email covid.edu@azcir.org, or contact AZCIRs reporters: Which school districts have mask mandates in place? Bullhead City Elementary School District has left open the option of a mask requirement if the COVID-19 situation worsens. Basically, wed have to cut two months worth of operation from our budget starting in March. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. (Because apparently there would be no other public or charter school option?). However, this wont just affect families with school-age children. All rights reserved. Arizona School Calendar 2023. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. The Education Secretary is encouraging teachers to inform their school leaders in advance whether they intend to take strike action or not, to help schools and families . Its going to be very, very hard to do.. We will continue to work with families, public health experts and school leaders to ensure our kids can stay in the classroom and parents have a choice always.. His Open for Learning Recovery Benefit program offers up to $7,000 that can be used to pay private school tuition for any child whose school closes for even a day of in-person instruction. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. There is no other choice but to suspend and repeal the cap.. Arizona Association of School Business Officials, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Essigs said the Legislature projected the limit to decrease because of the decline in enrolled students during the 2020-21 school year because of the pandemic, which would lead to a lower spending limit this year, despite students returning to in-person learning. Districts will be forced to lay off huge numbers of teachers, resulting in enormous class sizes. Due to a high number of new Covid cases, Atlanta Public Schools went remote for the first week of the new year, with a . 2023-2024 calendars are being added as they become available. She said, for example, the Washington Elementary School District would lose over $25 million, Miami Unified School District would lose nearly $2 million, and Deer Valley Unified School District would lose more than $36 million. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. For 2023, school district officials say they will be forced to cut their budgets for the current school year by more than $1.3 billion. Um, no, AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Sadly, some legislators are already playing political games, trying to convince themselves and the public that the problem is because of district over-spending. Public schools in Atlanta, Georgia also marked August 4, 2021 as the first day of the 2021-2022 academic year. The measure did not need to be signed by the Governor. She is working for the Phoenix news bureau. Doug Ducey, who for months had emphasized personal responsibility over pandemic-related mandates, signed off. The cap only affects district public schools; charter schools did not exist in 1980. I am tired of legislative leaders playing political games with public schools, educators and students. Duceys wrong to use the pandemic as an excuse to expand school vouchers. Matt Zalaznick is a life-long journalist. USA TODAY. The Associated Press contributed to this report. While other counties do not have dashboards, some school districts have made their own, such as Kingman Unified School District #20 in Mohave County. All rights reserved. Or more specifically, we will pay … for parents to send their kids to private school. Lets get this straight. (Video by John Brown/Cronkite News) PHOENIX - The clock is running out for state legislators to override a cap on spending that would prohibit Arizona public school districts from disbursing nearly $1.2 billion that's already been approved by the Legislature and budgeted. You must link the words "Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting" to the original URL of the story. Although the money from the proposition will go toward public education, Essigs said not one penny of that money is in this years budget., That money will not start showing up until next year, he said. You must use our. In Arizona, he said on Tuesday, were going to ensure continued access to in-person learning.. Arizona continues to rank dead last in the nation in per-student investment, according to Education Law Centers. Mental health breakdowns soared while academic achievement plummeted. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. During the 2021-2022 school year, public schools were staring at 16% across-the-board cuts, and looking at layoffs and school closings, according to education advocates. Doug Ducey has put Arizona's public schools on notice. Doug Ducey did not mention the cap in his last months state of the state address. Read more at UArizona News. So, districts already have the state-approved money in their bank accounts. Yes. We should be spending more now because we have technology, and we should make sure kids know how to use it. "When this was set in 1980, we didn't have Chrome tablets or whiteboards or any of the stuff that we have now that teaches our kids," State Sen. Fann said at the time. Nearly 300 schools in the U.S. will remain closed for in-person classes after the winter break in an effort to address growing concerns over the latest COVID surge of . Cheney believes the Legislature is trying to prevent Prop 208, an income tax rate surcharge on high-earners, from going into effect by not lifting the spending cap limit. 2023 Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting. Lana Berry, the chief financial officer of Chandler Unified School District, said schools have the money, they just need the authorization from the Legislature to spend it. Were not talking about shifting to remote learning. This year, it seems its turned into a little bit of a political football field going back and forth, said Marisol Garcia, vice president of Arizona Education Association. Different viruses present similar symptoms, Murder, Money and the End of Days: The Lori Vallow story, Lori Vallow trial: Full-length audio files from inside the courtroom, Phoenix officer assaulted by suspect, police say, Milwaukee woman stabbed sister to death amid feud: complaint, Cars parked at Gilbert daycares become target in latest string of break-ins, Shocking details revealed during 'Doomsday mom' Lori Vallow's murder trial: Live updates, Barbie debuts Anna May Wong doll for AAPI Heritage Month, Hair from 'Doomsday mom' found on duct tape wrapped around dead son, Here are tips on how to keep safe around water as summer nears, Some districts are considering to arm teachers amid school shooting epidemic, Arizona district installs weapon detection system in schools. Not 2020 again? Horne, for his part, says he is in support of lifting the cap and is even considering a repeal. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. Its frustrating, he said, because every dollar needed for salaries and to fulfill budgets already has been approved by the Legislature. We have two choices: to allow schools to shut down on a technicality, or to usher them into the 21st century so our entire state can thrive. Published: Feb. 7, 2022 at 3:20 PM PST. From how it spreads to where it originated, here's a look at everything you need to know about the deadly contagion. The Arizona Republics Stephanie Innes in December reported that the vast majority of COVID-19 deaths, since the vaccine became available, have been in people who were not fully vaccinated. Since students returned to in-person learning in August, districts have reported more than 2,000 confirmed COVID-19 cases and required thousands of students to quarantine. FOX 10's Stephanie Bennett reports. Which counties have online dashboards or reports tracking COVID in schools? Here's what you need to know about why the state came so close to cutting school spending. The latest Arizona headlines, national news events of the day + sports and weather updates. Not because of COVID-19 this time, but because of a perfect storm of problems with our state's school funding system. We also thank our legislative partners for passing legislation ensuring all educators and staff see no disruption in pay. All rights reserved. The Sunnyside School District says it will lose more than $16 million dollars in funding.
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