arizona schools closing again 2022

Were talking closing schools altogether. Please choose your school district in Arizona from the list below to view a calendar of your 2022-2023 school holidays. AZCIR holds powerful people and institutions accountable by exposing injustice and systemic inequities through investigative journalism. Sadly, some legislators are already playing political games, trying to convince themselves and the public that the problem is because of district over-spending. In the past, when districts hit the decades-old aggregate expenditure limit, lawmakers voted to override it which hasnt happened this school year. 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. Not 2020 again? However, this wont just affect families with school-age children. It requires a two-thirds majority in both chambers. Public schools in Atlanta, Georgia also marked August 4, 2021 as the first day of the 2021-2022 academic year. Read more at UArizona News. Feb. 11, 2022. Shaena Montanari is an investigative reporter for AZCIR focused on covering health disparities. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 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. Prior to writing for District Administration he worked in daily news all over the country, from the NYC suburbs to the Rocky Mountains, Silicon Valley and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gov. Katie Hobbs signs house bill to fund Arizona State Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, American Airlines pilots authorize strike; pickets planned at Phoenix Sky Harbor. It is adjusted each year to take into account inflation and the number of students who are enrolled. Our number one priority will continue to be health and safety, and we will continue to work closely with public health officials to make the best decisions for kids, families, and our school communities.. Mental health breakdowns soared while academic achievement plummeted. The Sunnyside School District says it will lose more than $16 million dollars in funding. Published: Feb. 8, 2022 at 5:11 PM PST. We already see it in the number of employers frustrated by the lack of qualified workers. January 7, 2022. Phoenix, AZ 85007. email: [email protected] 2023 Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting. including Savanna Elementary School District in California and the Chandler Unified School District in Arizona. Politics, cell towers and hate speech: Why 3 more superintendents are Florida schools move closer to a 12-month school year. Then stop playing politics with our children and follow your own advice. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . Reassign students to Challenger or Don . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. For some of America's schools, 2022 sure feels a lot like 2020. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting is the states only independent, nonpartisan and collaborative nonprofit newsroom dedicated to statewide, data-driven investigative reporting. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Doug Ducey has put Arizona's public schools on notice. You must use our. Itll be scheduled, and I think most people expect that itll be passed by enough to make (the overages) no longer an issue.. All material must be attributed and credited prominently, and where appropriate for the material type throughout. The money would go towards teacher salaries and schools. Districts will be forced to lay off huge numbers of teachers, resulting in enormous class sizes. Published: 01/12/2022. Look at Mesa Unified School District up in the Phoenix area, theyd have to cut $78 million, or TUSD with $58 million, Marana with about $15 million, Amphi with $14 million, he said. 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. Though some counties and school districts are monitoring outbreaks at the local level, there is no centralized tracking system. Now, if only he would quit fighting schools that enact policies aimed at staying open. Cheney believes the Legislature is trying to prevent Prop 208, an income tax rate surcharge on high-earners, from going into effect by not lifting the spending cap limit. But we have some legislators who didnt like 208, and theyre still fighting it in court. I get the decision out when I get it out., Ducey defends use of school funding in face of feds threat to reclaim it. They also asked the governor to authorize Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, or school vouchers, for all students trapped in those districts. All stories must run in their entirety unless otherwise noted or agreed upon after discussion with AZCIR. This tracker links to some school districts in the county that have their own dashboards, where they further break down case numbers by school. Superintendent Hoffman explained Flowing Wells and TUSD could lose a combined $63.9 million this school year due to the aggregate expenditure limit during her State of Education address Tuesday. Your IP: Look at our options. Virtually no one's pressing to close schools, Hurt students for the unvaccinated? The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance". Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe. January 6, 2022 at 11:22 a.m. EST. 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. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - Arizona public schools face budget cuts of $1.2 billion dollars unless the state Legislature lifts the school spending cap by the end of the month. A two-thirds majority of the Legislature is needed to override the cap and allow the $1.2 billion to be spent. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Creative Commons. Mind you we already have a severe teacher and staff shortage at this point, said Margaret Cheney, the president of the Tucson Education Association. "This year, it seems it's turned into a little bit . We also thank our legislative partners for passing legislation ensuring all educators and staff see no disruption in pay. The formula that calculates school district spending is based on spending from the 1979-80 school year, according to the Arizona Center for Economic Progress. 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. The spending cap does not affect public charter schools, which educate about 240,000 K-12 students. Nearly 300 schools in the U.S. will remain closed for in-person classes after the winter break in an effort to address growing concerns over the latest COVID surge of . Read more at UArizona News. Coconino County publishes a COVID-19 school update every Friday that summarizes case rate and percent positivity at district level. "Back then in '80, we had schoolbooks and chalkboards and all kinds of things that didn't cost near as much.". 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. News. Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said a familiar issue is still the most pressing one for education in our state. MAP: Districts operational status across the U.S. 2023. PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey announced Monday that Arizona schools will be closed through the end of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. Similar Facebook posts were shared in early August 2021 claiming some schools are closing their doors again, . They have not overspent. By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. Campbell, who was a senior reporter at The State Press, is working for the Phoenix news bureau. Classes in Chicago Public Schools were canceled for the second day Thursday, the result of an impasse over the teachers union's desire to return to remote . The cap only affects district public schools; charter schools did not exist in 1980. 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. We changed the rules on schools. Public school districts, mostly across the Northeast and Midwest, closed this week as the omicron variant of coronavirus surges following the winter break and the country's students face a mental . These cuts translate to $25 million for the Washington Elementary district, $43 million for Phoenix Union, and $58 million for Tucson Unified, just to name a few examples. If lawmakers fail to raise the cap, public school districts could lose over a billion dollars in funding. While Duceys threat should play well for him politically especially with those always looking for an angle to expand the states school voucher program I wasnt aware that there was any groundswell of support for closing Arizonas schools. We saw what it did to our kids. (Arizona public school funding, by the way, alreadyranks lowest in the nation). Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Prop 208 is a voter-approved tax hike on high-earners. PHOENIX - Governor Doug Ducey announced Monday that Arizona schools will be closed through the end of the school year amid the coronavirus pandemic. . This is a lie. 2023 Cronkite News. Matt Zalaznick is a life-long journalist. 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. If the state legislature does nothing to lift a constitutionally-mandated spending cap, public schools could be looking at over a billion dollars in spending cuts. Essigs said some schools, unable to pay teachers and staff members, may have to end the school year early if the limit is not overridden. Madison School . Then work with us to abolish this arbitrary, antiquated policy. Or more specifically, we will pay … for parents to send their kids to private school. Schools will not be able to maintain their current day-to-day operations without action, she said. 1740 W. Adams, Suite 3008. We should be spending more now because we have technology, and we should make sure kids know how to use it. Two-thirds of each house of the legislature would need to vote on a concurrent resolution to approve the excess spending. The latest Arizona headlines, national news events of the day + sports and weather updates. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. 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. said Lewis. According to Education Forward Arizona, the Legislature last overrode the gap in 2007 and 2008. 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. Can we just fund our schools?" The aggregate expenditures of local revenues for all school districts shall not exceed the limitation prescribed in this section. Gov. In an abrupt reversal, Atlanta's public schools start the year remotely. Tell that to parents where COVID cases, test shortages are closing schools. 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. In central Arizona, the Congress Elementary School District board met Wednesday and reviewed contingency plans. What Ive heard from some Republicans is theyre waiting to hear about the court case on Prop 208 and the judge in that case says hes not going to expedite his ruling, she said. He has until March 10th.. In a statement, Arizona Superintendent Kathy Hoffman said: Legislative leaders have less than one month to prevent Arizonas school districts from facing existential budget cuts. 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. And as state and local officials argue over the bans merit, COVID-19 continues to spread. When does the states ban on school mask requirements take effect? 2023 Cronkite News. "That would be an incredible disaster. 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, Article 9, section 21, subsection 2 of the Arizona State Constitution, Murder, Money and the End of Days: The Lori Vallow story, Lori Vallow trial: Full-length audio files from inside the courtroom, Phoenix officer seriously injured by suspect, police say, Lori Vallow murder trial day 19: Hair from 'Doomsday mom' found on duct tape wrapped around dead son, Milwaukee woman stabbed sister to death amid feud: complaint, Cars parked at Gilbert daycares become target in latest string of break-ins, Shocking details revealed during 'Doomsday mom' Lori Vallow's murder trial: Live updates, Hair from 'Doomsday mom' found on duct tape wrapped around dead son, Here are tips on how to keep safe around water as summer nears, Some districts are considering to arm teachers amid school shooting epidemic, Arizona district installs weapon detection system in schools. In a news release, Ducey, alongside . 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. Phase 2, 2022-2023. You must link the words "Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting" to the original URL of the story. The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report. Do we ask our people to work for free for the last few months of the year? said Hector Encinas, the CFO for Sunnyside Schools. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. The Fifty. With this announcement, we are making sure parents and families have options if a school closes its doors, he said. Two years ago, most of society shut down in the face of a deadly virus we knew little about and couldnt defend against. However, not all agree with repealing the spending cap. Essigs said the Legislature projected the limit to decrease because of the decline in enrolled students during the 2020-21 school year because of the pandemic, which would lead to a lower spending limit this year, despite students returning to in-person learning. "We are hoping it gets through a little faster this year with the governor pushing, because that way, districts are not hanging in this weird limbo, where they dont know if they are going to stay open or not," said Beth Lewis with Save Our Schools Arizona. Business, finance, policy, compliance, operations. Kids arent dying from COVID-19. "That would mean laying off two-thirds of the teachers," said Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne. By: Sheenae Shannon, AEA Communications Director. Sara Edwards expects to graduate in May 2022 with a masters degree focused on business journalism. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Arizona Center for Investigative Reporting, Independent, nonprofit investigative journalism for Arizona. USA TODAY. Although the money from the proposition will go toward public education, Essigs said not one penny of that money is in this years budget., That money will not start showing up until next year, he said. The deadline for a decision is March 1. This is their way of saying no to 208 even though the voters passed it overwhelmingly, she said. Budget documents show that Chandler schools would lose more than $54 million. The 10,000 pupils in the Lansing Public School District are stuck in virtual mode until at least next week. As schools and education advocates are biting their nails waiting for the overrides, Kavanagh said hes pretty confident that the budget will be approved. Edwards, who graduated from ASU in 2021, has interned with Phoenix New Times, Phoenix Magazine and Crime and Justice News. Lana Berry, the chief financial officer of Chandler Unified School District, said schools have the money, they just need the authorization from the Legislature to spend it. Consequently, this list will no longer be updated unless case rates again force a substantial number of schools to close. Districts based their budgets on money the Legislature already approved. 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." 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. Or, they will have to close schools altogether by April 1. State Sen. T.J. Shope, a Republican, does not support repealing the cap. 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. In June, Arizonas Republican-led Legislature passed a state budget package that included a controversial provision prohibiting school districts from requiring masks. You are not adding new money or raising taxes, just letting them spend all the money you budgeted to them last year, she said. State health officials said there are now 1,157 known coronavirus cases and 20 deaths. Maria Polletta is an investigative reporter for AZCIR focused on covering inequities in education. There are solutions already introduced as bills thanks to Representative Jennifer Pawlik and Senator Christine Marsh -- I urge the majority party to act immediately and allow our schools to get on with serving their students and families.. 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. 360 Hiatt Drive, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418. Published: Feb. 7, 2022 at 3:20 PM PST. The biggest threat of widespread school closures comes not from the virus, but a school finance relic from 1980s, she said. Which counties have online dashboards or reports tracking COVID in schools? Menu. Copyright 2022 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The State Legislature, under the Arizona State Constitution, has the power to authorize expenditures in excess of the limitation for a single fiscal year. What that means immediately is that educators can lose their jobs starting April 1, programs can be canceled starting April 1, and class sizes can expand starting April 1, Garcia said. Mail it to AZCIR: PO Box 3665, Phoenix, AZ 85030. Copyright 2022 KOLD News 13. Bullhead City Elementary School District has left open the option of a mask requirement if the COVID-19 situation worsens. Updated by the minute, our Dallas Cowboys NFL Tracker: News and views and moves inside The Star and around the league . Gov. Maricopa County tracks schools with active and resolved outbreaks in a dashboard, but does not differentiate by school or district. Failing to act will harm students and families, Hoffman told legislators Tuesday in her address. 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. During her State of Education address at the Capitol on Tuesday, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman said if the cap isnt overridden by March 1, public school districts will have to cut 16% of their individual budgets before April 1. While other counties do not have dashboards, some school districts have made their own, such as Kingman Unified School District #20 in Mohave County. School's out for the rest of the school year, as a result of the pandemic. Do students and staff have to quarantine if they are exposed to COVID in schools? Its time to work together for the good of our children, families, communityand the future of this great state. The Legislature has until March 1 to override the spending cap. School closures and shifts to remote instruction are quickly becoming less common as COVID case rates drop in many states. 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. 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. 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. All rights reserved. The aggregate expenditure limitation shall be determined by adjusting the total amount of expenditures of local revenues for all school districts for fiscal year 1979-1980 to reflect the changes in student population in the school districts and the cost of living, and multiplying the result by 1.10. Pima County tracks cases by school district. The measure did not need to be signed by the Governor. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. We are not adding any new money or raising taxes, just letting them spend all the money that you budgeted to them last year. 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. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. PHOENIX The clock is running out for state legislators to override a cap on spending that would prohibit Arizona public school districts from disbursing nearly $1.2 billion thats already been approved by the Legislature and budgeted. */. John Brown expects to graduate in May 2023 with a bachelors degree in journalism and a minor in political science. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Arizona's schools may be forced to shut down as early as April 1 this spring. UArizona ranks 29 among top 100 universities granted US utility patents in 2022. The money is already in the district bank accounts. How aggressively will the state enforce the ban? First Name Last Name Email Please indicate your role in your school or district. District Administration. Prefer to send a check? They may get sick but for them it is, thank God, more like getting the flu than getting a death sentence. We will continue to work with families, public health experts and school leaders to ensure our kids can stay in the classroom and parents have a choice always.. That puts $638 million of funding a year at risk money that didnt used to count toward the limit but does now. By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. It does not store any personal data. In-person learning is vital for the development, well-being and educational needs of K-12 students. 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. While the education system was strained due to the COVID-19 pandemic and learning shifts, Hoffman said the biggest threat to schools is far from the virus or its complications. Work immediately to pass a clean concurrent resolution, without caveats, that allows school districts to exceed the Aggregate Expenditure Limit. 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. The aggregate expenditure limit, passed by voters in 1980, is an amendment to the Arizona Constitution that sets a spending limit for school districts based on total spending of all districts. 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. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. If the Legislature doesnt override the limit, schools will only have a couple of months to cut $1.2 billion.. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. In 2022, then-State Senate President Karen Fann said the 1980 law needs to be re-examined. Arizonas children lost precious years of childhood.

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