Deep funding cuts threaten education

All-day Kindergarten first to go, but many important programs also on the chopping block

2/17/10

By Jesse Horn

With the world shaping to be an even more competitive market place, it is increasingly important for our youth to be educated if they are going to stay on top of the global competition. There are many reasons why researchers, doctors, and authorities point that early education is critical for success, yet our state is in a desperate struggle to first survive. With our state budget facing a massive shortfall, one of the items on the funding chopping block is all-day kindergarten.

Although Governor Brewer indicated that “Education is fundamental to Arizona’s societal and economic future, and we must protect it to the maximum practicable degree,” she has proposed that K-12 education return to 2006 fiscal levels, which will enable our state to retain its federal stimulus funds. If this takes effect, the state will be dropping 14% on what it spent on students’ last fiscal year, $3,370 per student.

In an exclusive with the Mogollon Connection, Governor Brewer indicated that “Every generation faces unique challenges that evolve from the changing times and new technologies. This generation faces one of the worst economic downturns our world has ever seen and violent threats to the United States that are difficult to pinpoint. It is very important that youths become active members of their local community and strive to serve and support our nation. This includes taking responsibility for their own education.” Yet in spite of this belief, our state government is no longer swimming towards a goal of success, and instead it is struggling to just stay afloat.

Along with these changes, Brewer’s proposed budget would eliminate disabled student scholarships, end gifted support, and halt grants for early education, vocational programs, and teacher training. This would also put a stop to support programs such as AIMS intervention for struggling students.

In addition to direct school cuts, Brewer’s budget will reduce AHCCCS rolls by 25%, or loss of coverage to an estimated 310,000 people. It will dissolve the KidsCare program which provides health coverage for struggling families and nearly 47,000 children across the state. Most remarkably it will also begin the closer of the Department of Juvenile Corrections. This would cause the transfer of custody of these minors to county detention centers, lay off an additional 900 state employees, and put an additional burden on already struggling county entities.

The state is truly in a difficult and desperate situation. Even in spite of these unbelievable proposals, survivability will hinge on the state government borrowing and deferring $1.5 billion, and enacting a tax increase.

This is just the starting point for schools. With the economic domino effect wreaking havoc on the rural Rim, many employment opportunities have dried up, causing a migration of families. The Heber-Overgaard School District has had a reduction of 80 students this past year, causing a decrease in $450,000 of already needed funding.

“Everything is on the table this year,” Heber-Overgaard Superintendent Ken Vanwinkle stated in regards to making budget cuts. “We will likely be going to half-day kindergarten, and we will be looking at even further administrative cuts.”

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	Deep funding cuts threaten education All-day Kindergarten first to go, but many important programs also on the chopping block 2/17/10 By Jesse Horn With the world shaping to be an even more competitive market place, it is increasingly important for our youth to be educated if they are going to stay on top of the global competition. There are many reasons why researchers, doctors, and authorities point that early education is critical for success, yet our state is in a desperate struggle to first survive. With our state budget facing a massive shortfall, one of the items on the funding chopping block is all-day kindergarten. Although Governor Brewer indicated that “Education is fundamental to Arizona’s societal and economic future, and we must protect it to the maximum practicable degree,” she has proposed that K-12 education return to 2006 fiscal levels, which will enable our state to retain its federal stimulus funds. If this takes effect, the state will be dropping 14% on what it spent on students’ last fiscal year, $3,370 per student. In an exclusive with the Mogollon Connection, Governor Brewer indicated that “Every generation faces unique challenges that evolve from the changing times and new technologies. This generation faces one of the worst economic downturns our world has ever seen and violent threats to the United States that are difficult to pinpoint. It is very important that youths become active members of their local community and strive to serve and support our nation. This includes taking responsibility for their own education.” Yet in spite of this belief, our state government is no longer swimming towards a goal of success, and instead it is struggling to just stay afloat. Along with these changes, Brewer’s proposed budget would eliminate disabled student scholarships, end gifted support, and halt grants for early education, vocational programs, and teacher training. This would also put a stop to support programs such as AIMS intervention for struggling students. In addition to direct school cuts, Brewer’s budget will reduce AHCCCS rolls by 25%, or loss of coverage to an estimated 310,000 people. It will dissolve the KidsCare program which provides health coverage for struggling families and nearly 47,000 children across the state. Most remarkably it will also begin the closer of the Department of Juvenile Corrections. This would cause the transfer of custody of these minors to county detention centers, lay off an additional 900 state employees, and put an additional burden on already struggling county entities. The state is truly in a difficult and desperate situation. Even in spite of these unbelievable proposals, survivability will hinge on the state government borrowing and deferring $1.5 billion, and enacting a tax increase. This is just the starting point for schools. With the economic domino effect wreaking havoc on the rural Rim, many employment opportunities have dried up, causing a migration of families. The Heber-Overgaard School District has had a reduction of 80 students this past year, causing a decrease in $450,000 of already needed funding. “Everything is on the table this year,” Heber-Overgaard Superintendent Ken Vanwinkle stated in regards to making budget cuts. “We will likely be going to half-day kindergarten, and we will be looking at even further administrative cuts.” .”