Governor vetoes cuts to education; but at what cost?

The Governor should be given respect for her actions last week. In line-item vetoing the education cuts from the general appropriations bill and the K-12 budget reconciliation bill, she has spared public education, at least for the moment, from the devastating cuts proposed by the legislative leadership. In vetoing the general revenue bill in its entirety, she allowed the state property equalization tax to be reinstated. She deserves credit for keeping her word and standing firm against the majority of elected officials within her party.

But what do her actions mean for future of public education in Arizona?

In only line-item vetoing the K-12 BRB, she allowed several policy changes to become law that will further break the social contract between society and public school employees. The new laws will prohibit districts from using seniority as the basis for retention, allows districts to target groups and/or individuals for pay cuts, and removes the statutory deadlines for contract notifications. If these changes are allowed to take effect in 90 days, teachers and many classified employees that currently have negotiated protections will effectively become at-will employees.

Those of us old enough to remember when teaching was thought of noble profession thought there was an implied deal between society and public educators. You were never going to get rich from teaching, but in return you would earn enough to provide for a family, receive a good benefits package, and have job security. We are reminded every weekend when we face our bills that a teacher’s salary is not what it used to be. In real dollars, the average teaching salary in Arizona has dropped by 5.5% in the last 20 years. Added to this, our benefit packages are no longer a good deal. In my district the out of pocket cost for family health coverage is $750 per month; equivalent to 28% of a beginning teacher’s base salary. But we still had job security; that was until last Friday.

And then there is still the matter of the budget. While the Governor’s actions eliminated the cuts from the current proposal, the budget is still out of balance by about a billion dollars. With the majority caucus in the legislature showing no signs of even being willing to consider generating new revenues, the Governor’s veto may only be delaying the inevitable.

So what now?

It is easy to be discouraged, but our efforts are needed more then ever. Between now and the next special session (likely in mid October) we must convince Republican legislators that their political futures are tied to the future of public education. Republican and Independent educators need to explain to them why the policy changes cannot stand and what the real effects of cuts will be. Please continue to contact your legislators, attend legislative district meetings/events, and consider becoming a precinct committee person. Together we can be a rational voice within the Republican Party.

Average salary data from: ALEC: Report Card on American Education