AZ education and budget hearings from 520 to 928
Democrats keep the Capitol on the road Feb 17-Mar 5 to listen to you.PHOENIX -- As part of my on-going support for children and education in Arizona, I listened and advocated at the Capitol today with a new Tucson-based education support group called CARE.
I also met separately in my office with Tucson teachers to discuss education issues.
See details from AEA on Republican proposals for more proposed education cuts in the FY2010 budget.
If you want to speak up and have input on what's happening with education and funding, and I think you should, the House Education Committee will hold a Tucson hearing at 10am this Fri. Feb 13 at Flowing Wells High School's auditorium, 3725 N. Flowing Wells Road (just north of Prince). I plan to be there.
Committee Chairman Rich Crandall (R-Mesa) will run this meeting. He voted Jan 30-31 for the big cuts to education in the 09 budget 'fix', along with all other House Republicans.
Parents are holding a press conference at 9am outside the school, followed by a rally.
On overall budget issues, check out upcoming Arizona budget hearings by the Democratic caucus (UPDATE, details for Prescott and Flagstaff hearings; ASU, Sierra Vista, UA):
Tuesday, February 17 - Prescott
Wednesday, February 18 - Flagstaff/Northern Arizona University (RESCHEDULED - February 9 hearing was canceled due to winter storm)
Monday, February 23 - Arizona State University (Tempe campus)
Thursday, February 26 - Sierra Vista
Thursday, March 5 - University of Arizona (Tucson campus)
Legislative Dems have already held budget hearings in Casa Grande, Phoenix, Yuma and Tucson.
Hope you can make it to an event near you. More details on these events here later, or contact Cynthia Aragon at 602.926.5848
Comments
I come you not only as a devoted citizen of this wonderful state of Arizona, but also (and more importantly) as a mother.
I was born, and now live, in the city of Tucson. The same can be said for my son, Gerimaiah. I am soon to be married, and therefore finaly be able to provide a male role model for my son. This was not always so.
For since my son was born 4 years ago, I have been a single mother. I am proud of the fact that I have been able to balance work, school, and child care with whole hosts of other things that come with being a single mother.
I, however, could not have accomplished nearly what I have been able to if it were not for the child care assistance program from DES.
I recieved a letter from my son's school, KinderCare, yesterday refering to the cutting of support of atleast 15,000 families, due to the econoimic crisis and state-wide deficit, starting March 1, 2009. The letter also stated that we, the the people of the state of Arizona, are soon to recieve $50.9 million for child care from the federal government.
I have done related research and believe that with this signifigant increase in funding it makes no sense for the State of Arizona to throw children out of child care when help is right around the corner. We cannot expect to turn around Arizona's economy if its citizens (such as myself) cannot go to work because they cannot afford child care.
The state funding crisis will deprive many parents of the child care we need to go to work, school, or job training. It will also deprive our children of an opportunity to grow and learn in a safe environment with other children.
My son is my only child. I know no other families, so he is the only child in a large group of adults. These adults have jobs and adult concerns, if my son is deprived of school he is not just deprived of a place to go while I am at work and school, he is deprived of socialization, interation with others, and EDUCATION. The school he attends now isn't a day care it is a Pre-K. Pre-K's are the new Kindergarten of my generation. I am soon to be 27.
If our children's futures are not invested in, then we will be headed for disaster! You are asking for chaos, it's not common sence. As our representative you are responsible for our futures -- even 20years from now the decisions YOU make will relect on the little ones. My son will be 24 and voting, don't you want him well educated on the issues that will arrise in his time??? He won't be if his chance at education is stifled by sloppy attempts to solve a crisis that is of the "now".
Do you appreciate your sucess due to the education your parents fought for? Are you enjoying the resulting success of their efforts? Let our children have the same chance. I ecourage you to use the $50.9 million we will recieve, to support DES in their child care assistance program as well as public schooling!
I am hearing all sorts of horror storied about going for the educational funds of an already deficient public school system! WHY!?!
I oppose the proposed DES child care cuts. Children and families will suffer, and in turn we will spiral economically out of control. Please don't be one of the many hands to push us into an educational depression. We have hurt our children in so many other ways, let us not continue to harm their mental capacity as well.
Your Devoted Citizen,
Cora Nadine Edmonds
520-271-8868
greykatt091404@yahoo.com