Catherine Ripley: How Pima Community College is Adapting to Dramatic Shifts in the World

Catherine Ripley, the Chair of the Pima County Community College governing board, spoke at Democrats of Greater Tucson on November 7, 2022. She spotlighted dramatic changes, like the decline in high school graduations, college enrollment and the birth rate. Today’s graduates want an education to get a job now.  With the average cost of college … Read more

Trump Extremists Behind Harassment of Save Our Schools Petitions

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Save Our Schools Arizona Leads the Fight to Stop Private School Voucher Expansion

Gov. Ducey cannot stop hyping the Universal Voucher Expansion Law that he signed ten days after the end of the Arizona Legislative Session. Saying “this is a monumental moment for all of Arizona’s students. Our kids will no longer be locked in underperforming schools. Today, we’re unlocking a whole new world of opportunity for them … Read more

Put the Surplus into Public Education, say LD16 Candidates Keith Seaman and Taylor Kerby

Democratic LD16 Candidates Taylor Kerby and Keith Seaman argued forcefully that the state’s $5 Billion surplus should be plowed into the public school budgets. They spoke at the April 25, 2022 meeting of Democrats of Greater Tucson. Keith Seaman is from Casa Grande and seeks a seat in the state House. He is Vice President … Read more

Superintendent Dustin Williams Sounds Alarm on Republican Attacks Against AZ Education

Pima Schools Superintendent Dustin Williams decried the “full-on assault” on education by Republican legislators. He spoke at the March 14, 2022 meeting of Democrats of Greater Tucson. To play the video and read a follow-along transcript, just click the little arrow button  at the bottom left. To view it full screen, just click the square button  at … Read more

Anti-School Bills in the Arizona Legislature

The Republican state Legislature is leading the “egregious destruction of education,” according to Dustin Williams, Pima County School Superintendent, who spoke at the March 3, 2022 meeting of Democrats of Greater Tucson. He discussed several pending bills that use “the tactics of fear” on what can be taught in school. SB1138 would limit transgender students … Read more

Positions of the Arizona Association of County School Superintendents on 90+ AZ Bills

House Bills H2008                  Civics Instruction                                                                        Neutral/No Position H2009                  Violation of State Law                                                               Neutral/No Position H2019                  Paid Governing Board Members                                          Oppose H2026                  Literacy Endorsements                                                             Support H2027                  CTED Revisions                                                                            Support H2034                  CTED Associate Degrees                                                            Support H2039                  Live, Remote Instruction                                                            Support, w/ Grant Exemption H2040                  ESA Notification                                                                          Support H2077                  Candidates, Electronic … Read more

Kathy Hoffman, seeking Re-election as AZ School Superintendent, Overcomes Major Challenges

Lack of funding is embarrassing Arizona is at the bottom of the ranking for funding public education. When asked what her policy and budget priorities would be moving, she said, “There are a couple of areas where Arizona continues to lag behind the nation that I find to be very embarrassing. The fact that we … Read more

Supervisor Rex Scott Recaps Challenges of First 7 Months in Office

Pima County Supervisor Rex Scott took office in January, at the height of the Covid pandemic, and immediately had to confront issues regarding evictions, childhood education, county roads, affordable housing, redistricting, and higher water prices. Speaking at the LD9 meeting on August 24, 2021, he recounted how he solved most of the issues. The hot … Read more