Kudo and Raspberry of the Week

Ok - here's a new feature on the blog and radio program - each week I will highlight a 'Kudo' to a prominent individual who has done something to further quality education and services for children in our community. Likewise, I'll also award a 'Raspberry' to someone who has done something that they should be ashamed of.

And the winners are......

KUDOS to Governor Janet Napolitano (Arizona - D) for vetoing the ridiculous property tax repeal extension. This is something that was pushed through by Republican leaders in Arizona's legislation a few years back - sold as a 'tax break,' it effectively cut-off substantial funding for Arizona's schools. When legislators attempted to make the 'temporary' tax 'permanent,' Janet said, 'No Way!' Thanks, Janet, for sticking up for our kids, and for realizing that we ALL have to contribute to the education of children in the community, even if we don't have any ourselves. Contact Janet at her website.

A big RASPBERRY to State Superintendent Tom Horne, who recently stated that the funding needed for English Language Learner programs mandated by the state would only cost $40 million, instead of the $300 million that district superintendents stated it would cost. Want to know how he got to that number? Well, all you need to do is look at the allocation that he stated local (Tucson) districts needed....I was shocked when I saw it....TUSD, our largest district in this neck of the Arizona woods, gets a whopping........ZERO dollars, even though they have close to 9,000 English Language Learners. Tom's rationalizations? "Big districts have plenty of teachers, so they don't need to hire any more for this program." Huh? So, the district is supposed to provide FOUR HOURS of English instruction, EVERY DAY, and they'll receive no funds because they have 'plenty of teachers.' Jeez, when was the last time he was in a classroom in TUSD? I sure feel sorry for TUSDs new superintendent, and now understand why Roger Pfeuffer, outgoing TUSD superintendent, retired when he did. Contact Mr. Horne at the Arizona Department of Education website.

Thanks for reading,

Alisa