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Thursday, March 19, 2009

CARE Legislative Alert Take Action Now!


Please take just a few minutes of your time to email and / or phone your legislator.

HB2630 School districts; personnel contracts will go before the Arizona House of Representatives today. This bill moves the deadline for school boards to give notice of a general salary reduction, make contract offers for the next school year, or give notice of intent not to offer a contract for the 2009-2010 school year, from May 15th to June 15th.

The bill was introduced only 3 days ago and is sponsored by House Speaker Kirk Adams. According to the Arizona Star, Adams said “there is some question whether there will be a new state budget by April 15. And central to that issue is how much money lawmakers will provide to public schools.” He further stated, “What we didn't want to have happen is school districts to make decisions based upon rumor and innuendo and not actually have a budget out there, to be laying off teachers without full knowledge of what's happening…It's just to give them more time for the process."

In the same article, John Wright, president of the Arizona Education Association, said that “pushing the drop-dead date back to June 15 creates a situation of leaving teachers in limbo: They don't know whether they should be out looking for work elsewhere, perhaps even making arrangements to move to another state.”

See full article, Notifying teachers of 2010 jobs faces delay

Representative Nancy Young Wright, Legislative District 26, told CARE that this bill will “not protect teachers or children, only legislators who want to delay dealing with the fall out from budget decisions.” "A realistic budget needs to be passed sooner rather than later," Young Wright said. "We could carve the education portion out of the budget and decide it quickly to provide relief to teachers, parents and administrators." She also noted that the bill was fast-tracked during a time when many districts are on Spring break, which means many people it affects won't have a chance to participate. Delaying the budget until June will limit the participation of those affected the most because school will be out and people go away on vacation, Young Wright said.

Assistant Minority Leader, Representative Kyrsten Sinema, Legislative District 15, reiterated Representative Young Wright’s statements. She told CARE that this bill is an “attempt to hide the fact that they (the majority leaders in the house and senate) plan to make additional massive cuts to K through 12 education, and they prefer to do it when no one is watching.”

CARE left messages with Representative Vic Williams, Legislative District 26, but has not been able to reach him for comment on this bill.

PLEASE CALL AND EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATURES NOW! Tell them to vote NO on HB 2630. Let them know we need a realistic budget that can be openly discussed and funds public education as soon as possible, not in June.

In the subject line of your email, write Vote NO on HB 2630 and your legislative district. For example:
Subject: Please vote NO on HB 2630, LD 26 Constituent