Another school year.
Another $20,000,000 in free luxury expenses for private after school extracurricular activities that many of Arizona’s wealthiest, the people who do not need the money, legally fleece from the Empowerment Scholarship Private School Voucher Account appropriations that working and middle class taxpayers put into state coffers.
Additional reporting from Craig Harris has shown that yet again mostly wealthy families are using state funds that strain credibility and common sense decency for items like one million dollars for piano lessons, 2.8 million dollars for swimming lessons. 1.1 million dollars for horseback riding, and $1.6 million for dance lessons.
Do not forget one million for Legos in another report.
Harris correctly notes that at Arizona’s traditional and charter public schools, most families have to pay for these extracurricular activities.
Commenting to Harris, Democratic Assistant House Leader and educator Nancy Gutierrez said about these out of control allocations for the free loading rich.
“It absolutely bothers me. It’s unjust. It’s not what our tax dollars are supposed to fund. If we are spending that kind of money for private schools and people just to go and get their kids dance and piano lessons and giving them state money to do that, that is all money that doesn’t get to a public school. And public schools we know serve more the majority of our students in Arizona.”
Unfortunately, Republicans at the State Legislature, beholden to their MAGA base which includes rich patrons and mostly reactionary home school families, are not budging on essential ESA reform like Governor Katie Hobbs and Democrats proposal to means test the program so no one earning more than $200,000 (double the median household income in Arizona) can be eligible for getting state funds to pay for their child’s private or home school education.
Commenting on that, Gutierrez said to Harris:
“I think a cap is the least amount that we can do right now. I think if you’re making over $200,000 or even over $100,000, then if you choose to pay to have your child in private school, then you can afford that tuition. I do not think that we should be subsidizing rich people’s tuition.”
In the same report by Harris, Republican State Senator John Kavanaugh said no way to reforming the qualifications to get an ESA private school voucher.
Republican House Representative and Appropriations Chair David Livingston, when asked by Harris about these questionable approved expenses, asserted one of MAGA’s favorite lying/distorted misinformation talking points, saying:
“I think we’ve seen major fraud at a number of big school districts that are tens of millions of dollars. So, if you want to talk about lego here or piano here, that’s fine. But it’s not the big stuff.”
When asked to comment on Livingston’s remarks about public school fraud, Representative Gutierrez responded to Blog for Arizona:
“I’d ask Mr. Livingston how he would know since vouchers have absolutely no fraud protection, no safety enforcement and no audits required. So, it seems that vouchers are completely unregulated, therefore fraught with the potential for fraud.”
Also commenting on the $20,000,000 windfall for wealthy families who do not need the money to pay for their children’s private school extracurricular activities, Superintendent of Public Education Candidate Dr. Teresa Leyba Ruiz stated:
“The latest reporting underscores what we already know: Arizona’s universal voucher program is completely out of control and our public dollars are being used to subsidize the wealthy.”
Arizonas public schools face a $200,000,000 shortfall this month partially because the state had to pay ten percent of those state funds to wealthy freeloaders who used it to pay for their children’s extracurricular programs, activities that public school parents are mostly on the hook for.
Again, what do Republicans in the State Legislature say about that?
Do nothing.
At the State House, Republicans have been preparing a measure to send to the ballot that would renew Prop 123 but only provide raises for teachers while screwing over other school staff. There are also grumblings that MAGA Republicans may attempt to slip in amendments at this late stage to deregulate charter schools and protect the ESA program in the State Constitution.
When questioned by Representative Gutierrez on whether the Prop 123 renewal would have those amendments, Representative Livingston said “I’m not sure. I personally do support both of those issues. But I don’t know where we are in the last two weeks of session on whether we’re putting those through are not.”
Later in another comment to Blog for Arizona, Representative Gutierrez offered:
“Prop 123 is vital to our public education system. We should be moving my clean continuation rather than playing games with hundreds of millions of dollars that now have to come from the general fund because the Republicans are using it to potentially enshrine vouchers into the state constitution. If they go down that road, it’s shameful, not helpful and should be left for an interim conversation with all interested parties.”
Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate Dr. Ruiz commented to Blog for Arizona:
“The attacks on public education and educators continue. As things stand, Prop 123 funding for schools and educators is being held hostage by certain Republican legislators in an attempt to deregulate charter schools and limit the ability of hardworking staff to be eligible for raises. Everyone, no matter their position in the school, deserves a fully funded, clean Prop 123 and nothing less.”
Former Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman recently penned an op-ed at AZ Central calling for the end of “legislative neglect” of the states public schools, writing:
“…Sadly, our public school system is holding on by a thread — and we are running out of time to act.
Arizona’s public schools need our support more than ever. In many school districts across the state, especially in rural Arizona, communities are facing excruciating budget decisions: Close schools? Lay off teachers? Eliminate music classes?…”
“…Our entire education funding system is in crisis. Early childhood and higher education funding have been on the decline for years. The entire education system needs to be well-funded to ensure a strong foundation for the state’s economy. Yet, despite the very real harm to families and communities, our Legislature has failed to adequately fund public education, and we are still 49th in the country for per-pupil spending…”
“…The Senate’s version is a step in the right direction, including more money for basic aid, maintenance and instruction. I also would advocate for solving the budget sinkholes created by Republicans’ refusal to put politics aside and establish guardrails for the universal ESA voucher program…”
“…The lack of support is particularly heartbreaking when I have also seen firsthand the tremendous successes of Arizona’s school leaders and teachers. From the bus driver to the reading specialist to the biology teacher, it takes a village, and there are countless passionate and hardworking people who are making a difference in children’s lives…”
“…It gives me hope and optimism when I’m in classrooms watching students’ faces light up. But it is a disservice to our youngest Arizonans to stay silent. I am ringing these alarm bells not only as an education leader, but also as a mom. With every year that my two young children approach their first day of kindergarten, I am appalled at the intentional neglect of public schools…”
“…Now is the time for all of us to stand up for public schools. Now is the time to tell the Governor and Legislature that education must be a top priority in this year’s budget. Our kids and teachers cannot wait, and they deserve so much better.”
Maybe instead of serving the wealthy by giving them hard-earned middle and working class taxpayer dollars for their kids to play with legos or go to the gym, Arizona Republicans should serve in their role as public servants and finally fully fund public schools.
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