The campaign rhetoric and signs are gone from our desert byways with the completion of the midterm elections. The Arizona Republican Party has a super majority in both the Senate and the House with the power to overcome any veto by newly elected Governor Jan Brewer. The Senate President, Russell Pierce, sent out a letter on his election to friends signed "Tea Party Senate President-Elect". The public defeated Propositions 302 and 301 that would have turned over to the Legislature for the General Fund voter protected dollars concerning First Things First, Birth to Age 4, support systems and Land Conservation Fund. The state budget deficit appears to be over one billion dollars short with another billion dollars projected shortfall for next year. Finally, Senator John Huppenthal was elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction telling our area superintendents that he "looked forward to working as a team." With this all in place the question becomes "what now?" for the State of Arizona.
From public education comes the question how much can we take from our system and truly educate our young people. FHUSD placed additional dollars based on the federal teacher hire legislation that kept our KG and 1st grade classes below 25. We are told, though the money will eventually arrive at FHUSD, not to spend it as it will likely be lost through other means due to state budget shortfalls. Our preschool-grade 2 school, McDowell Mountain, received a 1st grader today from a Valley district with 40 1st graders in their classroom - 40! The same building received 11 new students, mostly from the Valley, in one 24 hour period late last month.
We cannot continue to lose programs, increase class sizes and cut staff to fully educate our 1 million public school children in our great state. Through this "Great Recession" let us expect of our Legislative leaders to protect the core elements of our schools that includes the art, music, technology and physical education. Let us expect that they strategically recognize their role as gatekeepers of Arizona's present and future with a firm intention to work with school superintendents and educational organizations to together steer through this economic storm. This is not a time for political agendas rather "people" agendas that include our public school students and their families. Finally, let us expect a transparent dialogue that is open and inclusive without regard for political party, ethnicity, social class or title. Let us expect forward and progressive thought and approaches as this is a 21st Century world interrelated to national and international events. President Lincoln said it best in December 1862: "Still the question recurs 'can we do better?' The dogmas of the quiet past are inadequate to the stormy present. The occasion is piled high with difficuty, and we must rise with the occasion. As our case is new, so we must think anew, and act anew."
I think it is so important for people to remember that for every $1 spent in early education, at least $7 is saved in later services (this is actually considered a low estimate as some research has found up to a $45 return on each $1 spent). Providing young children with a quality education will decrease grade retention, remedial or special education services, and the benefits continue to higher rates of high school graduation, less dependence of social services as adults, and even less crime. I wonder why people are so quick to take money away from our children which ultimately decreases our investment in the future -- we talk about fiscal responsibility, it is responsible to provide for our children now so they will be productive (i.e, tax paying) citizens which helps our economy in later years.
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