arizona schools closing again 2022

In-person learning is vital for the development, well-being and educational needs of K-12 students. Even so, that will only fix the problem for this spring. Please choose your school district in Arizona from the list below to view a calendar of your 2022-2023 school holidays. However, not all agree with repealing the spending cap. It would be a disaster for the parents, and I think parents of all ideologies would be resentful of the Legislature not passing something to alleviate that problem.". I'd like to receive updates & guidance about the 2022-2023 School Year. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. "It looks like we will begin moving that piece forward in the next couple of weeks," said State Sen. Shope. 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. Parents are best suited to make decisions about their childs education. Investing in education ensures we have a pipeline of qualified workers and innovators. Prop 208 is a voter-approved tax hike on high-earners. 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. 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. A clear picture of school-based COVID-19 outbreaks has so far proven elusive . 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. Prefer to send a check? Two years ago, most of society shut down in the face of a deadly virus we knew little about and couldnt defend against. District Administration. With this announcement, we are making sure parents and families have options if a school closes its doors, he said. It affects all of us. Tell that to parents where COVID cases, test shortages are closing schools. These efforts are crucial, and we recognize that schools are making every effort possible to continue providing instruction during closures. I think the Democrats are obviously trying to create the impression that were not going to (override the limit) and schools are going to go over the cliff, when in reality, around here, no ones really talking about that, he said. Campbell, who was a senior reporter at The State Press, is working for the Phoenix news bureau. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Oh sure, COVID-19 is spiking yet again with the highly contagious omicron variant. Look at our options. Is there anyone who wants to put them through that again? First Name Last Name Email Please indicate your role in your school or district. 1 weather alerts 1 closings/delays. Its frustrating, he said, because every dollar needed for salaries and to fulfill budgets already has been approved by the Legislature. You must link the words "Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting" to the original URL of the story. Kids arent dying from COVID-19. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. They may get sick but for them it is, thank God, more like getting the flu than getting a death sentence. Read more at UArizona News. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". In Arizona, he said on Tuesday, were going to ensure continued access to in-person learning.. Doug Ducey, who for months had emphasized personal responsibility over pandemic-related mandates, signed off. Click to reveal USA TODAY. The school spending cap was enacted as part of a wave of proposed laws the Legislature asked voters to approve to limit taxes and government spending. The Sunnyside School District says it will lose more than $16 million dollars in funding. Its time to choose. 6 Arizona schools awarded the 2022 National Blue Ribbon School honor. 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. With your help, AZCIR has set out to provide a more comprehensive, regularly updated picture of where students and staff are contracting COVID-19 across Arizonaand how schools are responding. 2023 Cronkite News. Maria Polletta is an investigative reporter for AZCIR focused on covering inequities in education. This tracker links to some school districts in the county that have their own dashboards, where they further break down case numbers by school. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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.. According to Education Forward Arizona, the Legislature last overrode the gap in 2007 and 2008. The money is already in the district bank accounts. In a public letter dated Aug. 11, they contended a resounding message must be delivered to any local government or subdivision of the state considering defying state law that lawlessness will not be tolerated.. 2023 FOX Television Stations, until MON 7:00 PM MST, Western Pima-South Central Pinal-Tohono Oodham Nation, Eastern Pima-Southeastern Pinal-Santa Cruz-Western Cochise, until SUN 5:00 PM MST, Maricopa County, Yuma County, Yuma County, from FRI 11:40 PM MST until TUE 11:30 PM MST, Maricopa County, from MON 9:00 AM MST until MON 11:00 PM MST, Northwest Plateau, Northwest Deserts, Lake Mead National Recreation Area, from SUN 11:59 AM MDT until TUE 12:00 AM MDT, Apache County, until MON 9:00 PM MST, Tucson Metro Area including Tucson/Green Valley/Marana/Vail. 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. 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. On CoronavirusNOW.com, you'llfind extensive coverage about COVID-19, including breaking news from around the country, exclusive interviews with health officials, and informative content from a variety of public health resources. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. . Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. It is adjusted each year to take into account inflation and the number of students who are enrolled. Over the years, lawmakers have voted to override it which hasnt happened yet this year. They have not overspent. "Back then in '80, we had schoolbooks and chalkboards and all kinds of things that didn't cost near as much.". But unvaccinated people, for the most part, choose to remain unprotected, relying on horse dewormer or voodoo or whatever it is they substitute for science. She said, for example, the Washington Elementary School District would lose over $25 million, Miami Unified School District would lose nearly $2 million, and Deer Valley Unified School District would lose more than $36 million. Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said a familiar issue is still the most pressing one for education in our state. This is something that shouldnt be an issue, but, unfortunately, the majority in the Legislature has decided to make it an issue.. Bullhead City Elementary School District has left open the option of a mask requirement if the COVID-19 situation worsens. Reassign students to Challenger or Don . 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. Closures will still last days to weeks as district leaders cope with staffing shortages and try to stem COVID transmissions. Feb. 11, 2022. Two-thirds of each house of the legislature would need to vote on a concurrent resolution to approve the excess spending. Phoenix, AZ 85007. email: [email protected] Politics, cell towers and hate speech: Why 3 more superintendents are Florida schools move closer to a 12-month school year. 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. Photos, graphics and other visual elements are permitted for one-time-use only. Lets get this straight. AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. We also thank our legislative partners for passing legislation ensuring all educators and staff see no disruption in pay. This year, it seems its turned into a little bit of a political football field going back and forth, said Marisol Garcia, vice president of Arizona Education Association. Or search for your Arizona school district by name or zip: A L. M Z. Agua Fria Union High School District. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way. 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. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. You have permission to edit AZCIR material to reflect changes in time, location and editorial style only. 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. 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. Todays announcement is intended to give parents and educators as much certainty as possible so they can plan and make decisions. Shaena Montanari is an investigative reporter for AZCIR focused on covering health disparities. While other counties do not have dashboards, some school districts have made their own, such as Kingman Unified School District #20 in Mohave County. 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. Basically, wed have to cut two months worth of operation from our budget starting in March. Brown has previously interned at MSNBC, NBC 5 Chicago and PBS NewsHour West. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c0c320a4bc898f7 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. Um, no, AZ International Auto Show & New Car Buyer's Guide 2020 Model Year, Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. And Arizonas death rate remains one of highest in the nation, thanks in part to a governor who has used his emergency powers to actually prevent cities and school districtsfrom trying to protect public health. So says the governor who has actually foughtschools that enact public health policies aimed at staying open. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Madison School . Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . Eighty-five percent of our budget is salary and benefits. Close your doors for even a day and you will . The latest Arizona headlines, national news events of the day + sports and weather updates. That has a negative economic impact on all of us. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. "I originally planned to give a different speech today," she said. According to Bridge Michigan, over 6% of the state's K-12 students missed at least one day of in-person classes this week due to COVID-related shutdowns. Itll be scheduled, and I think most people expect that itll be passed by enough to make (the overages) no longer an issue.. Edwards, who graduated from ASU in 2021, has interned with Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine and Crime and Justice News. 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. He said he has sympathy for districts larger than his who face an even greater loss. Chaos and confusion: Back to school turns ugly as Delta rages Nearly 18 months into the pandemic, there's no consensus on how to keep students and staff safe. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. Gov. "If its not addressed in a permanent manner, we are going to be pretty much sealing our feet from now on be at the bottom of the nation in funding," said David Lujan, a former state lawmaker. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. A spending limit set 40 years ago doesnt work today. Find out how your news organization can use Cronkite News content. Robbins announces changes to the future of University of Arizona's medical programs. Taylor Lane expects to graduate in May 2022 with a bachelors degree in journalism. Cronkite News, the news division of Arizona PBS, is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University. Back in 1980, a cap on school funding, also known as an Aggregate Expenditure Limit, was added to the Arizona Constitution. But because of legislative inaction, our districts are facing a school closure ticking timebomb. Its time we ask ourselves the question: Is it fair to continue asking children to sacrifice and suffer in order to protect unvaccinated adults? 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." Sadly, some legislators are already playing political games, trying to convince themselves and the public that the problem is because of district over-spending. Email covid.edu@azcir.org, or contact AZCIRs reporters: Which school districts have mask mandates in place? However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. 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. Questions? School's out for the rest of the school year, as a result of the pandemic. Similar Facebook posts were shared in early August 2021 claiming some schools are closing their doors again, such as here, . The State Legislature, under the Arizona State Constitution, has the power to authorize expenditures in excess of the limitation for a single fiscal year. As a result, school districts cannot legally spend the money the Legislature already approved months ago as part of the state budget. But in 2018, the Legislature extended Proposition 301, without exempting it. One of the political issues at play is Proposition 208, which put a 3.5% tax increase on people with incomes over $250,000 for single tax filers or $500,000 for married filers. Stay up-to-date on the most recent guidance, resources, and professional development offered by the Arizona Department of Education and our partners. 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. Lane, who is a digital production intern with The Arizona Republic, is working for the Phoenix news bureau. 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. From how it spreads to where it originated, here's a look at everything you need to know about the deadly contagion. When does the states ban on school mask requirements take effect? No schools were reported several weeks in January and February. This technical roadblock means without immediate bipartisan legislative action districts across Arizona will have to eliminate 15% or more of their already approved budgeted expenses this spring. 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. 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.

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