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School districts concerned
by proposed cuts to education
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
The Benson and St. David school districts are starting to worry about what Arizona lawmakers are going to do to the education system locally and statewide with the proposed budget cuts for next year.
David Woodall, superintendent of the Benson School District, said he doesn't want to worry his staff, but at the same time, the reality of the proposed budget cuts to education could mean jobs next year.
In a prepared statement, Woodall said the Benson district currently serves 1,100 students, and has a total operational budget of about $6 million. The proposed cuts would mean a loss of $1 million next year.
In St. David, Superintendent Kate Mueller said with a budget of $3.4 million serving nearly 500 students, the proposed cuts would cost the district $587,000.
In calculating the impact to all 22 districts in Cochise County, it is estimated that more than $10 million will be lost and hundreds of jobs will be eliminated.
"Everyone can do some belt tightening, but what they are proposing to education is strangling," Woodall said. "There is no indication that we are influencing the process. There's a Republican majority calling the shots, and we need to convince some of them to review all of their options, and see what this will do to education."
Woodall said educators are becoming increasingly concerned, as the state is already ranked 49th in the nation when it comes to students vs. teacher ratios, and budget cuts will mean even more staff cutbacks.
Woodall and administrators statewide say it appears the GOP-led legislature is targeting education in a major way, as they release options for balancing the current year's budget, and look at a $1.6 billion deficit next year.
Newly-appointed Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, signed the first round of cuts into law last week as the Arizona Legislature works to balance the current year's budget. The state went from bad to worse over the last year as revenues decreased, and at one point the state treasurer said if the state didn't borrow money, there wouldn't be enough in the general funds to pay bills.
On Jan. 31, Brewer signed legislation to cut $580 million from the current budget, most of that from education. Arizona universities were hit the hardest, losing $142 million, community colleges lost $9 million and the state's public education system lost $133 million.
The current legislation cut current year funding to public schools by 2 percent. School administrators said while a mid-year budget reduction will be difficult, most schools can manage these cuts.
"First thing they had to do is balance the current budget, and we knew that would lead to some cuts," Woodall said. "Those we can deal with, but what they are proposing for next year would be devastating."
Some of the cuts being looked at include all-day kindergarten, soft capital, funding for experienced teachers and a proposed 10 percent cut in state aid to schools.
The Legislature also proposes continuing the business tax rate reduction and corporate tax credits and eliminating the county education equalization tax.
If these proposals are approved, administrators say public schools as citizens know it will go away. Districts say cuts of all-day kindergarten and other funding would lead to cuts in certified and support staff and eliminating elective and extracurricular activities.
Administrators say a state that is already among the worst in the nation when it comes to per student spending, will only get worse if lawmakers continue down the current, dangerous path.
The Benson and St. David school districts are starting to worry about what Arizona lawmakers are going to do to the education system locally and statewide with the proposed budget cuts for next year.
David Woodall, superintendent of the Benson School District, said he doesn't want to worry his staff, but at the same time, the reality of the proposed budget cuts to education could mean jobs next year.
In a prepared statement, Woodall said the Benson district currently serves 1,100 students, and has a total operational budget of about $6 million. The proposed cuts would mean a loss of $1 million next year.
In St. David, Superintendent Kate Mueller said with a budget of $3.4 million serving nearly 500 students, the proposed cuts would cost the district $587,000.
In calculating the impact to all 22 districts in Cochise County, it is estimated that more than $10 million will be lost and hundreds of jobs will be eliminated.
"Everyone can do some belt tightening, but what they are proposing to education is strangling," Woodall said. "There is no indication that we are influencing the process. There's a Republican majority calling the shots, and we need to convince some of them to review all of their options, and see what this will do to education."
Woodall said educators are becoming increasingly concerned, as the state is already ranked 49th in the nation when it comes to students vs. teacher ratios, and budget cuts will mean even more staff cutbacks.
Woodall and administrators statewide say it appears the GOP-led legislature is targeting education in a major way, as they release options for balancing the current year's budget, and look at a $1.6 billion deficit next year.
Newly-appointed Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican, signed the first round of cuts into law last week as the Arizona Legislature works to balance the current year's budget. The state went from bad to worse over the last year as revenues decreased, and at one point the state treasurer said if the state didn't borrow money, there wouldn't be enough in the general funds to pay bills.
On Jan. 31, Brewer signed legislation to cut $580 million from the current budget, most of that from education. Arizona universities were hit the hardest, losing $142 million, community colleges lost $9 million and the state's public education system lost $133 million.
The current legislation cut current year funding to public schools by 2 percent. School administrators said while a mid-year budget reduction will be difficult, most schools can manage these cuts.
"First thing they had to do is balance the current budget, and we knew that would lead to some cuts," Woodall said. "Those we can deal with, but what they are proposing for next year would be devastating."
Some of the cuts being looked at include all-day kindergarten, soft capital, funding for experienced teachers and a proposed 10 percent cut in state aid to schools.
The Legislature also proposes continuing the business tax rate reduction and corporate tax credits and eliminating the county education equalization tax.
If these proposals are approved, administrators say public schools as citizens know it will go away. Districts say cuts of all-day kindergarten and other funding would lead to cuts in certified and support staff and eliminating elective and extracurricular activities.
Administrators say a state that is already among the worst in the nation when it comes to per student spending, will only get worse if lawmakers continue down the current, dangerous path.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
cdg wrote on Feb 15, 2009 4:18 PM:
" First of all, there are no budget cuts. The budget increases every year. The liberals like to scream "draconian budget cuts" when they don't get as much of an INCREASE as they wanted/expected/think they deserve.
Secondly, there is no government office, including educational facilities, which couldn't drastically slash expenditures without sacrificing any essential service. They simply choose to run an inefficient operation, and scream for more money.
And finally, the public school system provides such a poor service for the money expended, and achieves so poor results, that we may as well shut the entire system down. Every school-age child should be given a library card and Internet access, and he/she will be able to achieve a far superior education on their own.
Then those who "teach" can find a productive way of making a living, and society as a whole will benefit. "
Secondly, there is no government office, including educational facilities, which couldn't drastically slash expenditures without sacrificing any essential service. They simply choose to run an inefficient operation, and scream for more money.
And finally, the public school system provides such a poor service for the money expended, and achieves so poor results, that we may as well shut the entire system down. Every school-age child should be given a library card and Internet access, and he/she will be able to achieve a far superior education on their own.
Then those who "teach" can find a productive way of making a living, and society as a whole will benefit. "
negodki wrote on Feb 15, 2009 4:27 PM:
" JV wrote "... the department of defense budget is 10 times the budget our gov't sets aside for the dept of education..."
This statement is both false, and irrelevant.
The article deals with the state budget. There is no Arizona State Department of Defense, and there is no allocation for defense in the Arizona State budget.
The federal government has a constitutional mandate to defend the country. It has no such mandate to allocate ANY funds for education.
SO, even if your 10 to 1 ratio were true (it is not), it would be more than proper.
Our public school system is an abject failure. Rather than spend x dollars per student in a failed system, the state should provide the same amount of dollars to the parents of each student to send their child to a school of their choice. That way, Arizona children might graduate high school with more than a third-grade education.
Or, as cdg proposes, give them a library card and Internet access, and let them educate themselves. It would cost a fraction of what we are spending now, and produce a far superior result. "
This statement is both false, and irrelevant.
The article deals with the state budget. There is no Arizona State Department of Defense, and there is no allocation for defense in the Arizona State budget.
The federal government has a constitutional mandate to defend the country. It has no such mandate to allocate ANY funds for education.
SO, even if your 10 to 1 ratio were true (it is not), it would be more than proper.
Our public school system is an abject failure. Rather than spend x dollars per student in a failed system, the state should provide the same amount of dollars to the parents of each student to send their child to a school of their choice. That way, Arizona children might graduate high school with more than a third-grade education.
Or, as cdg proposes, give them a library card and Internet access, and let them educate themselves. It would cost a fraction of what we are spending now, and produce a far superior result. "
JV wrote on Feb 12, 2009 7:16 AM:
THIS IS SILLY when the individuals whom you rely on for future leadership is one in the same when you cut this money out of education. These kids are going to fund your social security at retirement, make decision on your behalf in gov't, and our state legislature is willing to say "you can do without these funds".
I am continuously bewildered on budget mis-allocation of resources and lack of an education system. No wonder private industry is taking over your school systems and you loss money in child enrollment. You don't have the funds to teach them effectively anyhow.
NO WORRIES though.... the department of defense budget is 10 times the budget our gov't sets aside for the dept of education. Send our uneducated to war seems to be the consensus. "