Please sign this petition

[jillan]

Those a-holes are trying to cut major funding from the education budget.

I cannot believe Russell Pearce got re-elected.

http://speakupnowaz.org/action/index.php

[Catshrink]

1. Russell Pearce is an ass

here is my letter (I heavily edited one of the templates):

Dear Senator Verschoor, Representative Hendrix, and Representative Biggs:

As a teacher, I am deeply concerned about the proposed budget cuts to the Arizona education system.

I do not understand why such deep cuts are proposed in such a vital part of our society. Education has never been well-funded in Arizona and the proposed buts will only serve to exacerbate the difficulties school districts face with their current level of bare bones funding.

There are some areas and functions (for example special education, records for teacher certification and qualification records, and attendance reporting) that cannot be cut due to state and federal requirements.

This means that classroom teachers and those who support us such as media services, information technology, counseling, and administrators are cut. I need the help of those support personnel to do my job well.

Education is not an expense but an investment in Arizona's future. Cutting education funds is short sighted. If these cuts go through, it will take years to recover from the damage. Such cuts and the damage they will cause will deter companies -- that might help stimulate our state's economy -- from relocating to Arizona thus lengthening Arizona's recovery from the current economic debacle.

I understand that Arizona is facing a major budget crisis and changes need to be made. Making education the target of the biggest cut is unfair and irresponsible -- it is very bad public policy that sends a message to Arizona citizens and the nation that Arizona does not value education and therefore does not value its children.

I urge you to consider carefully the proposed cuts and what it means to our children, school, and teachers. The suggested results are frightening: 40+ student classrooms, 4-day weeks, and no money for textbooks and classroom materials.

As you consider the options, please ask yourselves whether you want Arizona to be a leader in the nation's economy and grow or do you want Arizona to lag behind and stagnate? The current path will guarantee the latter.

Thank you for your time.

[Catshrink]

2. I just returned from the education rally at the state capitol

maybe 800-1000 people were there. I saw all the local media trucks and several reporters were wandering the crowd taking notes and asking for interviews. It will be good publicity.

Will it be enough to wake up the apathetic legislative leaders? I'm not too optimistic about that.

[northtempe]

3. Russell Pearce

ew.

i'm making sure he loses his job next time.

[Catshrink]

4. Amen! Can I get an Amen???

Someone on the Arizona Republic's blog/comment said that Pearce was pissed off a the fire and police departments and teachers because they all opposed him in the last election. Now he's getting payback. Did you hear him on KTAR last night? He said the proposed education reductions were justified because of "all the money we've been throwing at schools the past 6 years."

In what respect, douchebag?

[northtempe]

6. Yes you can sir.

I promised myself that I will be volunteering for whom ever is against Pearce. I tried finding time this last cycle but my schedule never worked out.

[jillan]

7. I can't believe he won re-election.

How can people vote for this man?

[jillan]

8. delete - wrong place.

[northtempe]

11. i dont think he won reelection

i think he won the senate seat after being termed in the Leg seat.

[ThoughtCriminal]

5. GOP Contempt for Education in AZ

Growing up in Alabama (60s-70s), we had a saying: "Thank God for Mississippi" because in those days Alabama was always ranked "49th" and it was reassuring to know there might be one place that might be more backward than we were.

Now I'm in Arizona and finding a whole new level beneath the basement of education funding. When Mississippi is outspending you on schools, it really should be a clue that you are doing something wrong.

[jillan]

9. Brewer signed the legislation today.

Education was slashed - along with who knows what else that evil woman approved.

I am sick.

[Catshrink]

10. People are gonna wake up after the SuperBowl and say WTF?

I hope the districts cut in the most painful and obvious ways so that their constituents have to see what's happening. Let's not play nice.

[northtempe]

12. with those cuts

i doubt they even have to try. the cuts will be obvious and painful.

[DesertRat]

13. Our local school district will lose $20 Million next year!

I can't even wrap my mind around that figure. Forget all day K, many teachers will have to be laid off, some schools will probably have to close and class sizes will be enormous. Thanks Janet, for leaving us with these Republicans. :mad:

[Catshrink]

14. Notice how the Leg. is putting out press saying "it isn't that bad"?

Guess the members have been overwhelmed by constituent letters, emails, phone calls, etc. and are worried about their reelection chances. Sen. Linda Gray, R-Phoenix, offered a press release "debunking" myths about state funding for education and the real effects of the cuts. I need to check on some of the numbers because I think she's in error on some of them. Of course, it's from the Senate Republicans.

http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/press/Senate/49leg/1R/ED+MYTHS+PRESS+RELEASE%2EDOC.htm
Feb. 4, 2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Gray debunks myths about education funding

(STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX) – Sen. Linda Gray, R-Phoenix, this week used the Senate floor session as an opportunity to clarify common myths about education cuts in the ’09 budget fix.

“I know I am not the only one who has read e-mails or heard inaccurate media information about the budget cuts, particularly regarding education,” Gray said.

Myth: K-12 funding comprises only a small portion of the general fund.
Fact: K-12 funding is 42 percent ($4.1 billion) of the general fund.

Myth: K-12 funding took a 20 percent cut.
Fact: Only 3.2 percent from the general fund was cut.

Myth: A large portion of total K-12 funding was cut.
Fact: Only 1.9 percent was cut, relative to maintenance and operations funding from all sources (including local and federal). Additionally, only 1.3 percent was cut, relative to all funding (including capital funding and all federal and local funding).

[ChazII]

15. I am in Paradise Valley Unified ...

. . . the Paradise Valley Unified School District budget is cut $4.2 million in this fiscal year ending June 30, 2009. Soft capital expenditures (books, materials, equipment) were frozen in December. Unfortunately, the cuts to the FY2010 budget are expected to have a much greater impact on our schools.


The above information arrived Wednesday. All day K is safe as K-3 override passed in our district.

[Catshrink]

16. One Mesa school can't buy toner or paper for the rest of the year

it might be that way at other schools. Of course, this means they can't print, copy, etc.