The county has provided a form letter school officials can use that says those who are not fully vaccinated or have not tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days are to quarantine (stay) at home for up to 10 days.. Published: 01/12/2022. In an abrupt reversal, Atlanta's public schools start the year remotely. In June, Arizonas Republican-led Legislature passed a state budget package that included a controversial provision prohibiting school districts from requiring masks. School Districts Shut Down Classrooms Again - Mackinac Center Or, they will have to close schools altogether by April 1. Schools across the country are shutting down again. Katherine Fung 12/23/2021. In the past, when districts hit the decades-old aggregate expenditure limit, lawmakers voted to override it which hasn't . We need an override by the Legislature, and then we need to fix it for the future.. I'd like to receive updates & guidance about the 2022-2023 School Year. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Cowboys O-Line Target Steve Avila of TCU Drafted by Rams . 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. Arizonas schools may be forced to shut down as early as April 1 this spring. Coconino County publishes a COVID-19 school update every Friday that summarizes case rate and percent positivity at district level. But its downright galling that this governor continues to fight schools that are trying to protect kids and their teachers by requiring masks or testing or other mandates designed to ensure they can remain open. I am tired of legislative leaders playing political games with public schools, educators and students. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. While Arizona is a leader in providing parents options when it comes to the education of their children - the solution is not as simple as school choice. While these cuts only impact district schools, our public charter schools wont be able to absorb the students that might lose access to their primary district school if these cuts go through and as we know, in many communities the district is the only choice available.. 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. Arizona public schools once again at risk of massive budget cuts and including Savanna Elementary School District in California and the Chandler Unified School District in Arizona. This is their way of saying no to 208 even though the voters passed it overwhelmingly, she said. Phase 2, 2022-2023. We should be spending more now because we have technology, and we should make sure kids know how to use it. Then work with us to abolish this arbitrary, antiquated policy. Arizona continues to rank dead last in the nation in per-student investment, according to Education Law Centers. Tell your senators and representatives to stop using this latest crisis as a political football to score points against each other. They also asked the governor to authorize Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, or school vouchers, for all students trapped in those districts. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The aggregate expenditure limitation shall be determined by adjusting the total amount of expenditures of local revenues for all school districts for fiscal year 1979-1980 to reflect the changes in student population in the school districts and the cost of living, and multiplying the result by 1.10. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Mail it to AZCIR: PO Box 3665, Phoenix, AZ 85030. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. All rights reserved. Ultimately, on Feb. 21, 2022, lawmakers in the Arizona State Senate voted 23-6 to waive a constitutional spending cap for K-12 school spending, a week after members of the State House voted on the measure. Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features. Listen to public health experts and school leaders. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience. "This year, it seems it's turned into a little bit . January 6, 2022 at 11:22 a.m. EST. The school spending cap was enacted as part of a wave of proposed laws the Legislature asked voters to approve to limit taxes and government spending. AZCIR is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Tax ID #46-1209940. The deadline for a decision is March 1. Whatever the case, it means even more stress on already stressed-out students, parentsand teachers. The aggregate expenditure limit, passed by voters in 1980, is an amendment to the Arizona Constitution that sets a spending limit for school districts based on total spending of all districts. We are not adding any new money or raising taxes, just letting them spend all the money that you budgeted to them last year. We already see it in the number of employers frustrated by the lack of qualified workers. The 10,000 pupils in the Lansing Public School District are stuck in virtual mode until at least next week. They may get sick but for them it is, thank God, more like getting the flu than getting a death sentence. Taylor Lane expects to graduate in May 2022 with a bachelors degree in journalism. Some districts maintain their own dashboards online. Duceys wrong to use the pandemic as an excuse to expand school vouchers. Arizona public schools face a funding cliff that could force closures 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. Creative Commons. Reassign students to Challenger or Don . Over the years, lawmakers have voted to override it which hasnt happened yet this year. 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The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Lane, who is a digital production intern with The Arizona Republic, is working for the Phoenix news bureau. Failing to act will harm students and families, Hoffman told legislators Tuesday in her address. Its time to choose. PHOENIX Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman held her 2022 State of Education address Tuesday afternoon, heavily focusing on the Aggregate Expenditure Limit and the catastrophic impacts it could have on Arizona's education system. Gov. Gallego raises more money than Sinema in Arizona Senate race Districts will be forced to lay off huge numbers of teachers, resulting in enormous class sizes. 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. Pinal County has a dashboard that shows cumulative cases by the area each school district covers, but not cases specifically from schools. However, he says he is hopeful that a decision will be made relatively soon. Tell that to parents where COVID cases, test shortages are closing schools. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". US schools close again as children's mental health declared national Not 2020 again? During her State of Education address at the Capitol on Tuesday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said if the cap isnt overridden by March 1, public school districts will have to cut 16% of their individual budgets before April 1. According to Bridge Michigan, over 6% of the state's K-12 students missed at least one day of in-person classes this week due to COVID-related shutdowns. The Fifty. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Which states are hurting the most when it comes to teacher How To Work With Our Editorial Department. Its frustrating, he said, because every dollar needed for salaries and to fulfill budgets already has been approved by the Legislature. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Greenlee County, Arizonas smallest, reported its first case, making it subject to Duceys orders for bars and gyms to close and restaurants to offer only takeout service in counties with known cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus. Politics, cell towers and hate speech: Why 3 more superintendents are Florida schools move closer to a 12-month school year. AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Phoenix, AZ 85007. email: [email protected] You must use our. "We are hoping it gets through a little faster this year with the governor pushing, because that way, districts are not hanging in this weird limbo, where they dont know if they are going to stay open or not," said Beth Lewis with Save Our Schools Arizona. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Schools Are Closing Across the Country Amid COVID Omicron Surge - Today It would be a disaster for the parents, and I think parents of all ideologies would be resentful of the Legislature not passing something to alleviate that problem.". A spending limit set 40 years ago doesnt work today. Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors. PHOENIX - Public schools in Arizona are once again at risk of massive budget cuts and layoffs unless lawmakers vote to lift a constitutional spending cap that has been in place for decades. We also thank our legislative partners for passing legislation ensuring all educators and staff see no disruption in pay. School closings fueled by omicron variant and home COVID test shortage Though some counties and school districts are monitoring outbreaks at the local level, there is no centralized tracking system. Doug Ducey, who for months had emphasized personal responsibility over pandemic-related mandates, signed off. 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. Your IP: 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. Close K-3 school Desert Garden Elementary School off 71st Avenue and Ocotillo Road and repurpose the building into a preschool facility. Gov. We changed the rules on schools. While Duceys threat should play well for him politically especially with those always looking for an angle to expand the states school voucher program I wasnt aware that there was any groundswell of support for closing Arizonas schools. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. 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. You are not adding new money or raising taxes, just letting them spend all the money you budgeted to them last year, she said. Gov. While this isnt the outcome any of us wanted, we are grateful for the partnership of schools around the state, who have stepped up to offer virtual and take-home learning opportunities for our students. The formula that calculates school district spending is based on spending from the 1979-80 school year, according to the Arizona Center for Economic Progress. Think of the economic impact on our community that comes from laying off thousands of teachers and staff. Theres no new taxes, no new money involved in any of that, and its really difficult for anyone to understand because its a complex topic, she said. 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. One scenario anticipates a school year closure as of March 19. Prefer to send a check? 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, such as here, . Arizona public schools concerned over possible $1.2 billion in - KOLD "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. On CoronavirusNOW.com, you'llfind extensive coverage about COVID-19, including breaking news from around the country, exclusive interviews with health officials, and informative content from a variety of public health resources. Two-thirds of each house of the legislature would need to vote on a concurrent resolution to approve the excess spending. Sadly, some legislators are already playing political games, trying to convince themselves and the public that the problem is because of district over-spending. The previous survey's results (Fall 2020, Spring 2021, Fall 2021, and Spring 2022) remain available in . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. With your help, AZCIR has set out to provide a more comprehensive, regularly updated picture of where students and staff are contracting COVID-19 across Arizonaand how schools are responding. The Sunnyside School District says it will lose more than $16 million dollars in funding. Email covid.edu@azcir.org, or contact AZCIRs reporters: Which school districts have mask mandates in place? It affects all of us. We knew this was going to become an issue. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. AZCIR holds powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism. Another looks to April 2. While other counties do not have dashboards, some school districts have made their own, such as Kingman Unified School District #20 in Mohave County. The restrictions now apply statewide with cases reported in all 15 counties. Why are schools closing for COVID again? | The Week All rights reserved. Get AZCIRs latest investigations and updates delivered straight into your inbox. USA TODAY. including Savanna Elementary School District in California and the Chandler Unified School District in Arizona. According to Education Forward Arizona, the Legislature last overrode the gap in 2007 and 2008. We need to repeal it. With this announcement, we are making sure parents and families have options if a school closes its doors, he said. (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 also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. 5 Glendale elementary schools could close - The Arizona Republic Some school districts maintain their own dashboards online. Photos, graphics and other visual elements are permitted for one-time-use only. 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 . "I think the community is really just frustrated and kind of sick of this because it feels almost like a political football game. Prop 208 is a voter-approved tax hike on high-earners. Public schools in Atlanta, Georgia also marked August 4, 2021 as the first day of the 2021-2022 academic year. All rights reserved. The spending cap does not affect public charter schools, which educate about 240,000 K-12 students. But education advocates fear the Legislature isnt taking the cap seriously enough and that the March 1 deadline to approve the override will pass with no action taken, forcing districts to cut their budgets in the final quarter of the school year. You have permission to edit AZCIR material to reflect changes in time, location and editorial style only. In a public letter dated Aug. 11, they contended a resounding message must be delivered to any local government or subdivision of the state considering defying state law that lawlessness will not be tolerated.. 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. We all have to reduce our budgets by April 1 if they dont approve the budget, so at that point, we cant over expand our budget, she said. How aggressively will the state enforce the ban? PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey announced Monday that Arizona schools will be closed through the end of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Madison School . said Lewis. abc15.com staff 8:18 AM, Sep 16 . This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Published: Feb. 7, 2022 at 3:20 PM PST. So says the governor who has actually foughtschools that enact public health policies aimed at staying open. Investing in education ensures we have a pipeline of qualified workers and innovators. This is something that shouldnt be an issue, but, unfortunately, the majority in the Legislature has decided to make it an issue.. Not because of COVID-19 this time, but because of a perfect storm of problems with our state's school funding system. Or search for your Arizona school district by name or zip: A L. M Z. Agua Fria Union High School District. 2023 Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting. Michael Tubbs, once the youngest mayor of a major American city, to address UArizona graduates at Commencement. 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 . Consequently, this list will no longer be updated unless case rates again force a substantial number of schools to close. Robbins announces changes to the future of University of Arizona's medical programs. That has a negative economic impact on all of us. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. 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. It reduces the burden on taxpayers and improves the economy for all of us. Arizona School Calendar 2023. (Arizona public school funding, by the way, alreadyranks lowest in the nation). Huge things have changed since 1979 when the AEL was created. 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. All stories must run in their entirety unless otherwise noted or agreed upon after discussion with AZCIR. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. In a statement, Arizona Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said: Legislative leaders have less than one month to prevent Arizonas school districts from facing existential budget cuts. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. MAP: Districts operational status across the U.S. 2023. 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. First Name Last Name Email Please indicate your role in your school or district. We also need to take the next step, to abolish this arbitrary, antiquated policy. Its kind of like kicking our kids when theyre already down, isnt it? Its going to be very, very hard to do.. Prior to writing for District Administration he worked in daily news all over the country, from the NYC suburbs to the Rocky Mountains, Silicon Valley and the U.S. Virgin Islands. As of Dec. 6, she reported, there had been 608 breakthrough COVID-19 deaths in fully vaccinated people in Arizona. Look at our options. Is there anyone who wants to put them through that again? Copyright 2022 KOLD News 13. Arizona schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, Governor Doug Ducey and state Schools Chief Kathy Hoffman announced Monday morning. Public schools in Arizona are once again at risk of massive budget cuts and layoffs unless lawmakers vote to lift a constitutional spending cap that has been in place for decades. Hannah must make his decision by March 10, after the deadline for the Legislature to override the spending cap, but Hannah said he could not pinpoint when he would rule., There are no ulterior motives, he told The Republic. Bullhead City Elementary School District has left open the option of a mask requirement if the COVID-19 situation worsens. It allows people to lift themselves out of poverty. Now, if only he would quit fighting schools that enact policies aimed at staying open. 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. Itll be scheduled, and I think most people expect that itll be passed by enough to make (the overages) no longer an issue.. 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. Arizona superintendent urges lawmakers to act as schools face - KOLD Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . Then stop playing politics with our children and follow your own advice. Even so, that will only fix the problem for this spring. 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. Were not talking about shifting to remote learning. Thats a death rate of 0.02%. The biggest threat of widespread school closures comes not from the virus, but a school finance relic from 1980s, she said. But nearly three months later, details surrounding the timing, implementation and enforcement of the law remain unclear. In the past, when districts hit the decades-old aggregate expenditure limit, lawmakers voted to override it which hasnt happened this school year. Arizona school funding cut deadline looms, Legislature yet to act Are US Schools Closing Again Due To Rising COVID-19 Cases - Boom Live Doug Ducey did not mention the cap in his last months state of the state address. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. In order to protect yourself from a possible infection, the CDC recommends: LIVE: Interactive Coronavirus case data and map, FULL COVERAGE: fox10phoenix.com/coronavirus, Coronavirus (COVID-19)How it spreads, symptoms, prevention, treatment, FAQhttps://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus, Arizona COVID-19 ResponsePublic resources, FAQ, webinarshttps://www.azdhs.gov/coronavirus.
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