by Pamela Powers Hannley
Multiple levels of court cases related to TUSD's Mexican American Studies (MAS) are winding their way through the judicial system.
There's the case of former MAS teacher and whistle-blower John Ward against former MAS chair Sean Arce and teacher Jose Gonzales. (Three versions of this story and links to fundraising appeasl for both sides, here: 1, 2, 3. #1 is Ward's affidavit plus other statements; it gives you an idea why he blew the whistle. #2 is a fundraising appeal for former MAS head Sean Arce. #3 is a fundraising event for Ward. It's interesting to note that Attorney General Tom Horne spoke at the fundraiser for Ward. Is that some sort of conflict of interest for an AG?)
There's the lawsuit against SB2281– the racist Arizona Legislature bill crafted by then Superintendent of Public Instruction Horne and gleefully implemented by AG Horne. (Close as I can tell, #1 above is an excerpt from the supporting documents for this court case.)
And last but certainly not least… the decades-old TUSD desegregation suit. Is TUSD in compliance with the desegregation suit or not? This goes back and forth. (Here's some background.) Horme wants to keep his thumb on the pulse of what's left of MAS and wants to play a role in the creation of the replacement curriculum, which would be protected under the desegregation order. Recently, a federal judge officially told Horne to butt out of the TUSD desegragation case, but Horne is not ready to let go of the MAS bone.
Video after the jump.
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