Legislative Newsletter May 4, 2010

Arizona Education Network Newsletter Legislature Completes Session, Your Prop. 100 Questions Answered, Lemonade & More! Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Arizona Legislature Completes Session The Legislature completed its session late in the evening of April 29. First the good news. Several attempts to undo voter-protected programs failed. The first, SCR 1033, would have allowed the Legislature to divert funds from voter-approved programs and deposit them into the general fund. The second, HCR 2041, would have required every ballot measure (except Indian Gaming) to repeal after eight years. If the bills had passed, they would have undone Prop. 301, which helps fund teacher pay and other education programs. But not all voter-approved mandates emerged unscathed this year. On November 2, voters will be asked to rescind First Things First, a program that provides infants and toddlers with a solid foundation to succeed in school. In 2006, voters passed First Things First, approving a tobacco tax to pay for early childhood programs such as quality childcare, preventative healthcare and parenting classes. In March, the Legislature mustered the votes to pass HCR 2001, which would transfer the program's $325 million into the general fund for other uses. The Legislature rejected offers by early childhood advocates to loan the state money from the fund. To see how your legislators voted on HCR 2001, visit AEN's seventh special session summary. In the last push to the finish line, the Legislature passed several bills related to education funding and reform. AEN is reviewing those bills for an update in a later post.

Contribute online today via PayPal Or mail your check to: The Arizona Education Network 4728 East Sunrise Drive, #210 Tucson, AZ 85718 Thank you for your support! ______________________

Your Prop. 100 Questions Answered As we head into the home stretch for the Prop. 100 vote (the May 18 vote is only two weeks away) we want to keep you up to date. Last week, we published a list of commonly heard concerns about Prop. 100, with research-based responses. Here is a new concern and a clarification. Is it true that the one-cent temporary sales tax will cost the average Arizona family $400 a year? An Arizona family of four would have to spend $40,000 dollars a year on sales-taxable items for that to be the case. According to the US Census American Community Survey of State Median Income by Family Size in the past twelve months (2008 inflation adjusted dollars) the median income of a four-person Arizona family was $69,452. Considering that many expenses such as mortgages and services are exempt from sales tax, it is highly unlikely that the average Arizona family would pay anywhere near $400 more in sales taxes. Based on input from a reader, we are clarifying the answer to the following objection to Prop. 100 published last week. Why are some people saying Prop. 100 is really an 18% increase? The 18% refers to the increase in the current tax rate of 5.6% to the proposed rate of 6.6% (if Prop. 100 passes). That is a simple mathematical difference of 17.85%. By calling Prop. 100 an 18% increase, opponents have created the misperception that the increase is really 18 cents on the dollar. Prop. 100 is a one-percent sales tax increase or one-cent on each dollar spent-ONE PENNY! If you purchase a DVD player for one hundred dollars you would pay an additional one dollar, not an additional eighteen dollars. Related Articles: Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase - Your Questions Answered (Updated 4/24/2010) Op Ed: Vote Yes on Prop. 100, the One-Cent-Sales-Tax Increase

100 Stands for Education: Turning Lemons into Lemonade A Tucson family came up with a fun and family-friendly way to turn "lemons into lemonade" to raise statewide awareness of the importance of K-12 education and promote Prop. 100. Join other Arizonans this Saturday, May 8, in setting up a Prop. 100 lemonade stand as part of "100 Stands for Education." Participants will hand out information about Prop. 100 and donate all proceeds to the public school of their choice. To register your lemonade stand and sign-up to receive Prop. 100 yard signs, stickers and materials to hand out go to http://www.100StandsForEducation.org/make-your-stand. Organizers are taking orders for T-shirts. Cost is $6 per shirt, with adult and child sizes available.

Superintendent of Public Instruction Debate The race for state Superintendent of Public Instruction is beginning to heat up. The person elected to replace the current superintendent, Tom Horne, will play a major role in critical decisions affecting public school funding and reform. A series of debates among the candidates will be held around the state. An upcoming debate, sponsored by the Arizona School Board Association, will take place Thursday, May 13, 2010 in Sedona at the West Sedona School, 570 Posse Grounds Road. A meet and greet reception begins at 6:30 p.m., followed by the debate at 7 p.m. Candidates for Superintendent who will be participating in the debate: Margaret Dugan, www.margaretdugan.com Penny Kotterman, www.pennykotterman.com John Huppenthal, www.johnhuppenthal.com Jason Williams, www.williamsforarizona.com Dugan and Huppenthal, both Republicans, will run against each other in the August 24 primary. Kotterman and Williams will compete in the Democratic primary. Related Articles: Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction: Why You Should Pay Attention to This Office

AEN Fast Fact: I hear that the administrative costs for public school districts are exorbitantly high. Is this true? The 2009 Auditor General's Report on Classroom Spending released this March shows the average school district administrative cost is about 9 percent of each district's total budget. That's 1.8 percent BELOW the national average of 10.8 percent! For more information, check out Arizona Auditor General Report on Classroom Spending 2009: A Closer Look.

Early Voting Has Started Early voting for Prop. 100 is underway. If you received a ballot by mail, please remember to vote YES and send it back. You can also take your early ballot to any polling place on Election Day. You can request an early ballot be sent to your home until May 7. To find out how to request an early ballot, click here. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, Tuesday, May 18. Polling places will be limited since this is a special election. You may not be voting at your regular polling place. You also can vote early at several early voting locations. To find an early-voting location in your county or your polling place for the May 18 election, click here.

_________________________ It's National Teachers Appreciation Week! Check in with your school's parent organization for ideas and ways you and your child can get involved this week in showing support and appreciation for all our teachers do for our students.

_________________________ Keep Kids First and the Sahuarita Education Foundation Invite You to Show Your Support for Education "Education is NOT Just a Walk in the Park" A community event and walk Thursday, May 6, 4 - 6 p.m. Rancho Sahuarita South Lawn Contact Krojahn1@cox.net for more information.

________________________ Tucson Values Teachers Presents: "Toast to Tucson's Teachers" A family-friendly community block party toasting Tucson's K-12 teachers. Friday, May 7, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. Downtown Tucson, on Toole Avenue between Maynard's and Hotel Congress The Tucson Symphony Orchestra will perform a free "Celebrate the Future" concert at the Concert Hall at 8 p.m. For more information and a free parking pass for teachers, click here.

_________________________   May 18, 2010 Special Election for Prop. 100 - Temporary 1% Sales Tax Prop. 100 Facts Without the temporary sales tax, more than $420 million in K-12 funding will be cut. Prop. 100 will devote two-thirds of revenues generated to education funding and one-third to health and human services and public safety. The tax will automatically repeal on May 31, 2013. It would take a two-thirds vote of the Legislature or another voter proposition to keep the tax increase in place. For more information see Prop. 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered Last Day to Request an Early Ballot is May 7, 2010 Arizona Education Network Voter Guide: Important Dates, Information, and Resources _________________________

Contact Arizona's U.S. Congressional Delegation and Urge them to Sponsor and Support the Keep Our Educators Working Act (S. 3206) The Education Commission of the States estimates that this federal legislation to save our schools could bring $406 million to Arizona K-12 and higher education. For details click here.

________________________ Three steps you can take to support public education in Arizona: Vote,Vote,Vote Vote YES on Prop. 100, the sales tax referendum, Tuesday, May 18. Vote for pro-education candidates in the primary election, Tuesday, August 24. Vote for pro-education candidates in the general election, Tuesday, November 2. Helpful Links: Arizona Education Network Voter Guide; Find your Legislator

Legislative Newsletter: April 27, 2010

Arizona Education Network Newsletter Proposition 100 Under Attack: Check Out the Facts Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Proposition 100 Under Attack: Check Out the Facts With the start of early voting on April 22, opponents of Proposition 100 - the temporary one-percent sales tax increase - have stepped up their attacks. The Arizona Education Network supports Proposition 100 not because we think it is the answer to the budget issues affecting our state, but because it is a bridge that buys us time to allow the Arizona economy to rebound and to begin the reform of the state's tax structure. Some argue that the defeat of Proposition 100 would force the Arizona legislature to "do their job" and find a better way to close our budget deficit. We have been assured by those in the majority party that the defeat of Proposition 100, which dedicates two-thirds of revenues to education, would be viewed as a vote against education funding and would encourage further cuts to a system that already ranks last in the nation in per-child funding. When you hear the following anti-Prop 100 arguments, we want you to be armed with the facts. So let's look at the arguments against Proposition 100 and see how they stack up. It's really an 18% increase in sales tax. This is not only a scare tactic - it's bad math. Proposition 100 is a one-percent sales tax increase or one-cent on each dollar spent - ONE PENNY! If you purchase a DVD player for $100 you would pay an additional $1 not an additional $18. Arizonans can't afford to pay any more taxes. If Proposition 100 does not pass, Arizonans could pay more in permanent property taxes. Why is that? The Department of Corrections will shift prisoners to county jails which do not have the capacity right now to house them. Counties will have to increase property taxes in order to fund new jail cell construction. So what this really boils down to is: Do you want to pay a temporary, three-year tax to support school children, public safety and health and human services or a permanent property tax to build more jail cells? The Legislature will just choose to extend the sales tax. No tax is temporary. If voters pass Proposition 100, it will automatically repeal in three years. This language will be written into the state Constitution if it passes. It would take a two-thirds majority for legislators to extend the sales tax. The fact that Arizona has cut taxes in sixteen of the past eighteen years and the fact that legislators could not muster the two-thirds majority to increase the sales tax themselves, argue strongly against the possibility that legislators would have the votes or the inclination to reinstate this tax. Sales taxes are regressive. Rejecting the sales tax would put other options back on the table. We agree that sales taxes are regressive. However at the moment a sales tax increase is the only revenue option we've been given. Remember that it takes a two-thirds super-majority to raise revenue in Arizona. Our legislators couldn't even pass the sales tax increase themselves. They could barely agree to refer it to the voters. It would be unrealistic to believe that the current legislature would somehow see the fiscally responsible "light" and find a fairer way to raise revenue if Proposition 100 were defeated. What Proposition 100 does is buy us time to come up with more permanent solutions. Also, remember, all these legislators are up for election in the August 24, 2010 primary and November 2, 2010 general election. The amount from the sales tax apportioned to primary and secondary education is $600 million but there is only $428 million in conditional cuts to K-12 education in the FY2011 budget if Proposition 100 is defeated. This is not some kind of bait-and-switch tactic as suggested by opponents of Proposition 100. It is simply the result of the choices made from where to cut in the conditional budget - the budget that was prepared and passed in case Proposition 100 fails on May 18. The initial estimate in cuts to K-12 was closer to $600 million. However when the state's conditional budget was drafted there was such an outcry from constituents and stakeholders over the cuts to K-12 that the Legislature responded by lessening the cuts to K-12. Instead they apportioned an additional cut of $107 million to universities, $15 million to community colleges and the balance of $50 million to health and human services. Keep in mind that the contingent budget that would be put in place if Proposition 100 fails includes cuts so drastic that the state would lose millions of dollars in federal matching funds. This loss of federal funds would far outweigh the savings to the state from the cuts. If Proposition 100 fails, the legislature will likely return to address these issues regardless of the conditional budget. If Proposition 100 is approved the beneficiaries will be education, public safety and health and human services. Money raised by Proposition 100 will be shifted to pay for corporate tax cuts. Money raised by the one-cent sales tax increase is mandated to go to education, health and human services and public safety. While a corporate tax cut is being discussed, the latest information we have is that it has been significantly reduced in scope and the governor is threatening to veto the corporate tax cut if it overlaps with the period of the sales tax increase (i.e. it cannot begin until after May 31, 2013). Proposition 100 is the bridge we need to give our state the opportunity to recover economically and formulate a long term plan to reform our tax structure. The passage of the temporary one-percent sales tax is vital to keep our public education, health and human services and public safety from being decimated. It is vital that we generate this revenue during these dire economic times. We urge you to VOTE YES for the economic future of Arizona.

Contribute online today via PayPal Or mail your check to: The Arizona Education Network 4728 East Sunrise Drive, #210 Tucson, AZ 85718 Thank you for your support! ______________________

_________________________ "The Current Budget Crisis in Education and How it will Impact Your Family" Sponsored by the Arizona Education Network and the Marana Foundation for Educational Excellence with keynote speaker Dr. Doug Wilson, Superintendent of Marana Unified School District Wednesday, April 28, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Mountain View High School Auditorium 3901 West Linda Vista Boulevard Tucson, AZ 85742 Map here. _________________________

_________________________ May 18, 2010 Special Election for Proposition 100 - Temporary 1% Sales Tax Proposition 100 Facts Without the temporary sales tax, as much as one-quarter of all public education funding could be cut. This could mean 1.5 to 2 out of every 10 teacher positions may be eliminated. Proposition 100 will devote two-thirds of revenues generated to education funding and one-third to health and human services and public safety. The tax will automatically repeal on May 31, 2013. It would take a two-thirds vote of the legislature or another voter proposition to keep the tax increase in place. For more information see Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered Last Day to Request an Early Ballot is May 7, 2010 Arizona Education Network Voter Guide: Important Dates, Information, and Resources _________________________

Early Voting Has Started Early voting for Proposition 100 began on April 22, 2010. If you received a ballot by mail, please remember to vote YES and send it back. You can request an early ballot to be sent to your home until May 7, 2010. To find out how to request an early ballot, click here. You can vote at your polling place on Tuesday, May 18, 2010. Because this is a special election, polling locations will be limited, and you may not be voting at your usual location. To contact your county election board to find your polling location for the May 18, 2010 Proposition 100 election, click here.

Community Leaders Discuss Proposition 100 On Thursday, April 22, 2010 the Arizona Education Network sponsored a community-wide forum on Proposition 100. Seven distinguished panelists from vital sectors in Pima County spoke of the fiscal, human and educational impact of Proposition 100 at the community level in Southern Arizona. The panelists included: Dr. Nic Clement, Flowing Wells Superintendent, Co-Chair of the Tucson School Superintendents' Collaborative Rainer W.G. Gruessner, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Surgery, University of Arizona Chuck Huckelberry, Pima County Administrator Penelope Jacks,Children's Action Alliance, Southern Arizona Director Sue Krahe, Our Family Services Director Stephen MacCarthy, University of Arizona, Vice President for External Relations Ron Shoopman, President of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council . Each of the panelists' presentations echoed a similar theme: Proposition 100 is a temporary band-aid that will protect public education, public safety, and health and human services - programs that are vital to Arizona's economic future. To read a summary and/or watch the forum, click here.

Three steps you can take to support public education in Arizona: Vote,Vote,Vote Vote YES on Prop. 100, the sales tax referendum, Tuesday, May 18th. Vote for pro-education candidates in the primary election, Tuesday, August 24th. Vote for pro-education candidates in the general election, Tuesday, November 2nd. Helpful Links: Arizona Education Network Voter Guide; Find your Legislator

PS. Check us out at: www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com Follow us on Twitter, AZEducationNet Join us on Facebook! The Arizona Education Network is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides factual information and advocates for public education.

AEN Prop. 100 - Vote Yes Tool Kit

For ideas and resources you need to effectively get the word out in your community on Proposition 100 - the TEMPORARY 1% sales tax increase - check out AEN's Proposition 100 - Vote Yes Tool Kit!

Legislative Newsletter April 18, 2010

Arizona Education Network Who Is to Blame and Your Chance to Act! Sunday, April 18, 2010

Who Is To Blame For Cuts At Your School? Many school districts released budget proposals last week that contained substantial cuts to programs and teaching positions. The tendency when parents are unhappy with the school budget is to blame their superintendents and school boards. These are not the people responsible for the cuts at your schools. The Arizona Legislature is responsible. On March 24, 2010, AEN released a report titled "2009 Legislative Sessions: Education Funding Voting Record by Legislator." Please check out your legislators' record on funding public education. In 2009, 40 of the state's 90 legislators voted against public education funding 100% of the time. Even if Proposition 100 passes, Arizona schools will experience funding cuts.  While it is important to pass the temporary sales tax to avoid devastating cuts until our state's economy stabilizes, remember that all our legislators will be up for election on November 2, 2010.  Even more important, primary elections - where many of the seats are decided - take place on August 24. Hold your elected officials accountable! Related Articles: What Happens In Your School If Prop. 100 Fails: Contingent Cuts to Arizona School Districts Prop. 100: Conditional Impact on Arizona Universities Passage of Proposition 100 Will Save 13,000 Jobs, UA Study Predicts

Tomorrow is Your LAST Chance to Register to Vote! In order to vote for Proposition 100, you must be registered to vote by midnight on Monday, April, 19, 2010.  If you have not yet registered or want to receive your ballot at home, click here. Have you moved recently? You MUST re-register every time you move. Please forward this e-mail to your friends to make sure they are registered to vote in this important election. Thank you!

AEN Proposition 100 - Vote Yes Tool Kit! The AEN Proposition 100 Tool Kit is full of ideas, suggestions, and resources for getting the word out in your community about Proposition 100.  There are a variety of ways you can effectively advocate for your schools, including making signs, holding window decorating rallies, and more.  These activities can be limited to your immediate family or you can recruit an entire neighborhood or school community. Get your AEN Proposition 100 - Vote Yes Tool Kit by clicking here. Parents across the state are coming together and organizing a number of "Yes on 100" events. To locate a group in your area, click here. Have a group and don't see it on the list?  Please send your group's contact information to melissa@arizonaeducationnetwork.com and we'll gladly add it.

Arizona Public Media Debate: "Arizona Sales Tax: Fix or Folly?" On Sunday, April 11, Ann-Eve Pedersen, president of the Arizona Education Network, and Farrell Quinlan of the National Federation of Independent Businesses squared off in a debate on Proposition 100 - the temporary 1% sales tax increase. To view the debate, click here.

Tell Congress We Need Help to Save Teacher Jobs In the wake of massive teacher lay-offs around the country, the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa has proposed the Keep Our Educators Working Act - a $23 billion jobs fund to prevent teachers from being fired because of budget shortfalls.  Contact Arizona's Congressional delegation and urge them to support this proposal! To contact your U.S. Representative or Senator, click here. To read the text of the bill, click here.

Take Action NOW! If you want to change the status quo, you have to get involved!  Forward this email to ten  (10) family members and friends today and ask them to join the Arizona Education Network! Membership is free. Our strength is in our numbers and we need all hands on deck.

_________________________ Come to a Community-Wide Proposition 100 Forum Sponsored by The Arizona Education Network Thursday, April 22 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.Tucson Association of Realtors Conference Room 2445 N. Tucson Blvd (Just north of Grant) Get directions here. Panelists Include: Dr. Nic Clement, Head of the Tucson School Superintendents' Collaborative Rainer W.G. Gruessner, M.D., Chairman of the Department of Surgery, University of Arizona Chuck Huckelberry, Pima County Administrator Penelope Jacks, Children's Action Alliance, Southern Arizona Director Sue Krahe, Our Family Services Director Stephen MacCarthy, University of Arizona, Vice-President for External Relations Ron Shoopman, President of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council A One-Hour Audience Question and Answer Period Will Follow the Panelists' Presentation. _________________________

May 18, 2010 Special Election for Proposition 100 - Temporary 1% Sales Tax Proposition 100 Facts    Without the temporary sales tax, as much as one-quarter of all public education funding could be cut. This could mean the equivalent of 1.5 to 2 out of every 10 teacher positions could be eliminated.     Proposition 100 will devote two-thirds of revenues generated to education funding and one-third to health and human services and public safety.     The tax will automatically repeal on May 31, 2013. It would take a two-thirds vote of the legislature or another voter proposition to keep the tax increase in place. For more information see Proposition 100: The 1% Temporary Sales Tax Increase-Your Questions Answered Arizona Education Network Voter Guide: Important Dates, Information, and Resources _________________________

Three steps you can take to support public education in Arizona: Vote,Vote,Vote Vote YES on Prop. 100, the sales tax referendum, Tuesday, May 18th.     Vote for pro-education candidates in the primary election, Tuesday, August 24th.     Vote for pro-education candidates in the general election, Tuesday, November 2nd. Helpful Links: Arizona Education Network Voter Guide; Find your Legislator

__________________________ Will you help us reach our goal? Fundraising Ideas Contribute online today via PayPal Or mail your check to: The Arizona Education Network 4728 East Sunrise Drive, #210 Tucson, AZ 85718 Thank you for your support! ______________________

P.S. Check us out at:     www.arizonaeducationnetwork.com     Follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/AZEducationNet     Join us on Facebook! P.S.S. Interested in having the Arizona Education Network speak at your school or community group?  Email us at outreach@arizonaeducationnetwork.com for information and dates. The Arizona Education Network is a non-partisan, all-volunteer, nonprofit organization that provides factual information and advocates for public education.

Tucson Community-Wide Forum on Proposition 100 Thursday, April 22!

Come to a Community-Wide Forum

on Proposition 100

sponsored by

the Arizona Education Network

Thursday, April 22

6 to 8 p.m.

at the Tucson Association of Realtors Conference Room

2445 N. Tucson Blvd., Tucson 

(520) 327-4218

Panelists will include:

Nic Clement, Flowing Wells Superintendent and head of the local School Superintendents’ Collaborative

Chuck Huckelberry, Pima County Administrator

Rainer W.G. Gruessner, M.D., Chairman, UA Department of Surgery

Penelope Jacks, Children Action Alliance, Southern Arizona director

Sue Krahe, Our Family Services director

Stephen MacCarthy, University of Arizona Vice-President for External Relations

Ron Shoopman, President of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council

After the panelists give their presentations, they will answer questions from the audience.

The success or failure of Prop. 100 will have widespread consequences for the entire community, affecting not just your neighborhood school but also your property taxes, emergency room waits, job losses and the affordability of a university education.

Arizona Education Network Forums in the Amphitheater School District: Videos

Below is a series of videos filmed during the Arizona Education Network forums in the Amphitheater School District, April 5 - 7, 2010. For links to the budget presentations by Dr. Vicki Balentine and CFO, Scott Little, click here.

Please note: Due to processing errors out of our control, some of the videos begin with sound and no picture for the first few seconds of play.  The picture comes back in all cases near the one minute mark, with the rest of the video playing fine.  We apologize for the inconvenience.



Arizona Education Network Presentation by Melissa Megna, Co-Founder of AEN



Ironwood Ridge High School Senior Answers AEN's Question: "How has Your Experience at Your High School Benefited You and Prepared You for the Future?"



State of Public Education Funding Presentation by Scott Little, CFO Amphitheater School District


Part 1 of 3: Amphitheater School District 2010-2011 Budget Presentation by Dr. Vicki Balentine, Amphitheater Superintendent



Part 2 of 3: 2010-2011 Amphitheater Budget



Part 3 of 3: 2010-2011 Amphitheater Budget


Part 1 of 3: Q&A with Dr. Balentine & Mr. Little



Part 2 of 3: Q&A with Dr. Balentine & Mr. Little



Part 3 of 3: Q&A with Dr. Balentine & Mr. Little


Check out our YouTube Channel AZEducationNetwork!