OPINION: 'Devaluing and deprioritizing education will have long-term repercussions for Arizona, with cascading effects,' write Rich Nickel, CEO of Education Forward Arizona, and Ron Butler, Arizona managing partner for Ernst & Young.
Rather than staying laser-focused on academics, Arizona’s superintendents, principals, and teachers are distracted by the potential scenario of financial doom and having to prepare cuts of about 16% to their budgets — or more than $1 billion.
People are also reading… Leaders in the Legislature have had three weeks to explain how they would lift the spending limit. Their failure so far to do so is now forcing school districts to think about how they cut the budgets that were developed last year based on legislative agreements. That includes considering whether they will have to fire teachers in March, take sports teams off the field in April or shut down schools before the academic year ends.
This shouldn’t be happening. Lifting the spending limit, which would align school funding to legislatively approved budgets, has bipartisan support. It’s seen as essential to education progress by the governor, a Democrat, as well as the state superintendent of public instruction, a Republican, and business leaders, voters and educators across the state.
Word is that some resolutions have been proposed, and some bills are being drafted, which doesn’t mean much until legislation is heard in committee.This couldn’t be happening at a worse time. Arizona already has an extreme teacher shortage. Potential cuts in teaching positions threaten job security; today’s teachers might well reevaluate their career choice and the next generation of teachers might look for other options.
If our schools aren’t focused on improving student outcomes, the next generation will not be prepared to attend community colleges, universities and technical training programs. Without a degree or credential, job prospects for these individuals will be limited, threatening their earning potential.
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