Phoenix, AZ 85007. email: [email protected] We recommend moving this block and the preceding CSS link to the HEAD of your HTML file. Email covid.edu@azcir.org, or contact AZCIRs reporters: Which school districts have mask mandates in place? Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Is there anyone who wants to put them through that again? 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. 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. The State Legislature, under the Arizona State Constitution, has the power to authorize expenditures in excess of the limitation for a single fiscal year. Gov. 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. A democrat from Chandler has introduced a bill to eliminate the cap all together. Budget documents show that Chandler schools would lose more than $54 million. "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. As a result, school districts cannot legally spend the money the Legislature already approved months ago as part of the state budget. 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. 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. But because of legislative inaction, our districts are facing a school closure ticking timebomb. The district provided no in-person classes from March 2020 through the end of the . 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. So that cash will just sit there, we believe.. Unvaccinated people were 32times more likely to die from COVID-19 than fully vaccinated people, according to the new Department of Health Services' analysis of data from November. 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. 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. Creative Commons. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. 2023 Cronkite News. 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. Do schools and child care establishments have to report COVID-19 outbreaks to their local health departments? So says the governor who has actually foughtschools that enact public health policies aimed at staying open. 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 . Superintendent Hoffman is also asking lawmakers to pass a bill that would ultimately repeal the spending cap, avoiding a showdown like this one, again. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c0c320a4bc898f7 185.6.9.159 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. 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. Copyright 2022 KOLD News 13. Public schools in Atlanta, Georgia also marked August 4, 2021 as the first day of the 2021-2022 academic year. All material must be attributed and credited prominently, and where appropriate for the material type throughout. Districts will be forced to lay off huge numbers of teachers, resulting in enormous class sizes. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. Gov. You are not adding new money or raising taxes, just letting them spend all the money you budgeted to them last year, she said. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. 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. Similar Facebook posts were shared in early August 2021 claiming some schools are closing their doors again, . Which states are hurting the most when it comes to teacher How To Work With Our Editorial Department. The latest Arizona headlines, national news events of the day + sports and weather updates. Doug Ducey, who for months had emphasized personal responsibility over pandemic-related mandates, signed off. 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. It is a Constitutional Amendment that was passed by Arizona voters in 1980 which created a spending limitation for school districts based on the aggregate expenditure of all districts. They have not overspent. 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. Coconino County publishes a COVID-19 school update every Friday that summarizes case rate and percent positivity at district level. said Lewis. They may get sick but for them it is, thank God, more like getting the flu than getting a death sentence. Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs doesnt think the Legislature will act before the March 1 deadline. Close your doors for even a day and you will pay. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. It does not store any personal data. 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. Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic, Santa Cruz Valley Unified School District, Maricopa County Community College District, You must credit us: For bylines, use Author Name, Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting. At the top of the text of the story, include a line that reads: "This story was originally published by the Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting." In a news release, Ducey, alongside . That depends; county health departments in Arizona can issue quarantine guidance. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. K-12 districts with mask mandates include: Higher education institutions with mask requirements include: Other districts have implemented partial mandates that apply only on school buses, on tribal land or when students and staff cannot implement social distancing. Questions? Pima County tracks cases by school district. Mind you we already have a severe teacher and staff shortage at this point, said Margaret Cheney, the president of the Tucson Education Association. That might mean cuts to labor forces meaning that our staff and teachers will get cut. 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. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. That has a negative economic impact on all of us. Garcia said the money returns to the Legislature and gets put back into a savings account and cannot be spent. Consequently, this list will no longer be updated unless case rates again force a substantial number of schools to close. 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. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary". Classes in Chicago Public Schools were canceled for the second day Thursday, the result of an impasse over the teachers union's desire to return to remote . 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. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Gov. Performance & security by Cloudflare. "That would be an incredible disaster. I originally planned to give a different speech today, she said. The latest Arizona headlines, national news events of the day + sports and weather updates. However, not all agree with repealing the spending cap. 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. Todays announcement is intended to give parents and educators as much certainty as possible so they can plan and make decisions. Arizona continues to rank dead last in the nation in per-student investment, according to Education Law Centers. You have permission to edit AZCIR material to reflect changes in time, location and editorial style only. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. In the past, said Chuck Essigs, the director of governmental relations for the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, overriding the limit was a technicality that was resolved quickly however, that wasnt the case this year. Cronkite News, the news division of Arizona PBS, is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. This tracker links to some school districts in the county that have their own dashboards, where they further break down case numbers by school. Arizonas children lost precious years of childhood. Copyright 2022 KOLD News 13. January 6, 2022 at 11:22 a.m. EST. Its frustrating, he said, because every dollar needed for salaries and to fulfill budgets already has been approved by the Legislature. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. 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. Taylor Lane expects to graduate in May 2022 with a bachelors degree in journalism. 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. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. According to Education Forward Arizona, the Legislature last overrode the gap in 2007 and 2008. 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. Were talking closing schools altogether. including Savanna Elementary School District in California and the Chandler Unified School District in Arizona. Basically, wed have to cut two months worth of operation from our budget starting in March. Two years ago, most of society shut down in the face of a deadly virus we knew little about and couldnt defend against. Click to reveal Robbins announces changes to the future of University of Arizona's medical programs. The spectacular surge of Omicron cases has left thousands of teachers and students sick, and many others quite logically fear . PHOENIX (AP) Arizona Sen. Kyrsten Sinema reported raising just over $2.1 million in her first full fundraising quarter since leaving the Democratic Party, a smaller haul than the $3.7 million raised by Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego, who is hoping to win her seat in 2024. I am tired of legislative leaders playing political games with public schools, educators and students. At least 25 school districtsas well as several higher education institutionshave implemented broad campus mask requirements, arguing they have a duty to protect their students, staff and communities. Arizona schools will remain closed through the end of the school year, Governor Doug Ducey and state Schools Chief Kathy Hoffman announced Monday morning. Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said a familiar issue is still the most pressing one for education in our state. Published: Feb. 8, 2022 at 5:11 PM PST. 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. PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey announced Monday that Arizona schools will be closed through the end of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. It is adjusted each year to take into account inflation and the number of students who are enrolled. School closures and shifts to remote instruction are quickly becoming less common as COVID case rates drop in many states. But in 2018, the Legislature extended Proposition 301, without exempting it. 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. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. A clear picture of school-based COVID-19 outbreaks has so far proven elusive . 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. 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. A clear picture of school-based COVID-19 outbreaks has so far proven elusive, given the rapidly evolving situation and the fact that neither the Arizona Department of Health nor the Arizona Department of Education publishes a dashboard of statewide COVID cases in schools. Its time to choose. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Whatever the case, it means even more stress on already stressed-out students, parentsand teachers. "That would mean laying off two-thirds of the teachers," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Independent, nonprofit investigative journalism for Arizona. We should be spending more now because we have technology, and we should make sure kids know how to use it. The irony is that this spring, school districts are running into something called the aggregate expenditure limit (AEL) that was created more than40 years ago. With out a fix to the school funding limit, schools will undoubtedly lay off educators, cut programs, and in the worst cases close their doors. AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The Legislature could and should pass a concurrent resolution before March 1 that will allow districts to exceed the Aggregate Expenditure Limit (AEL). Doug Ducey has put Arizonas public schools on notice. School closures and shifts to remote instruction are quickly becoming less common as COVID case rates drop in many states. "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. Politics, cell towers and hate speech: Why 3 more superintendents are Florida schools move closer to a 12-month school year. Look at our options. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Stay up-to-date on the most recent guidance, resources, and professional development offered by the Arizona Department of Education and our partners. The cap only affects district public schools; charter schools did not exist in 1980. Virtually no one's pressing to close schools, Hurt students for the unvaccinated? Districts based their budgets on money the Legislature already approved. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash. Kids arent dying from COVID-19. In 2000, when voters approved Proposition 301 to fund education for 20 years, they exempted that money from counting toward the expenditure limit. Yes. Its going to be very, very hard to do.. Investing in education ensures we have a pipeline of qualified workers and innovators. January 7, 2022. We are not adding any new money or raising taxes, just letting them spend all the money that you budgeted to them last year. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. Failing to act will harm students and families, Hoffman told legislators Tuesday in her address. 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. 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. "I originally planned to give a different speech today," she said. Edwards, who graduated from ASU in 2021, has interned with Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine and Crime and Justice News. Duceys wrong to use the pandemic as an excuse to expand school vouchers. The aggregate expenditures of local revenues for all school districts shall not exceed the limitation prescribed in this section. Tell that to parents where COVID cases, test shortages are closing schools. #mc_embed_signup{background:#fff; clear:left; font:14px Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif; } The measure did not need to be signed by the Governor. All stories must run in their entirety unless otherwise noted or agreed upon after discussion with AZCIR. Matt Zalaznick is a life-long journalist. Though some counties and school districts are monitoring outbreaks at the local level, there is no centralized tracking system. So, districts already have the state-approved money in their bank accounts. We also need to take the next step, to abolish this arbitrary, antiquated policy. 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.. Mental health breakdowns soared while academic achievement plummeted. He said he has sympathy for districts larger than his who face an even greater loss. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Arizona public schools face budget cuts of $1.2 billion dollars unless the state Legislature lifts the school spending cap by the end of the month. In a news release, Ducey, alongside Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman, said the extension of the school closures follows updated guidance from the CDC and the extension of social distancing guidelines until the end of April from the White House. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. In an abrupt reversal, Atlanta's public schools start the year remotely. MAP: Districts operational status across the U.S. 2023. (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. State Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said the amendment was a way to placate Arizonans concerned about high taxes. There are solutions already introduced as bills thanks to Representative Jennifer Pawlik and Senator Christine Marsh -- I urge the majority party to act immediately and allow our schools to get on with serving their students and families.. AZCIR is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, Tax ID #46-1209940. 360 Hiatt Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. Mail it to AZCIR: PO Box 3665, Phoenix, AZ 85030. Let me be perfectly clear that inaction is not an option, and its appalling that this was not the first issue addressed when the (policy) session started a month ago.. News. Now, schools cant even spend the still inadequate funds they were counting on to keep our schools open? These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads. Close K-3 school Desert Garden Elementary School off 71st Avenue and Ocotillo Road and repurpose the building into a preschool facility. State health officials said there are now 1,157 known coronavirus cases and 20 deaths. Hoffman stressed the importance of school funding, saying in a written copy of her address, the biggest threat of widespread school closures comes not from the virus, but a school finance relic from 1980, the aggregate expenditure limit.. including Savanna Elementary School District in California and the Chandler Unified School District in Arizona. No schools were reported several weeks in January and February. 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. In the past, when districts hit the decades-old aggregate expenditure limit, lawmakers voted to override it which hasn't . 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. 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.. Judy Schwiebert is a member of the Arizona House, representing District 20 in the West Valley. Unless school leaders inform you that the school is closed or cannot provide a place, then you still have a legal duty to send your children to school unless they are unwell. Watch Now. Not because of COVID-19 this time, but because of a perfect storm of problems with our state's school funding system. 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. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . Arizona Association of School Business Officials, Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. As schools and education advocates are biting their nails waiting for the overrides, Kavanagh said hes pretty confident that the budget will be approved. 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. 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. Another looks to April 2. However, this wont just affect families with school-age children. It allows people to lift themselves out of poverty. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. We changed the rules on schools. 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