Arizonans Still Must Demonstrate for Public Schools to be Fully Funded

This photo was not taken during the Invest in Ed rallies last year. ► Neither was this one.▼ Or this one. ▼ These photos and the featured one were all taken on Wednesday, March 10, 2021, as Arizona citizens chanted "Red for Ed" and circled around the State Capitol numerous times protesting Republican Legislators' attempts to "undermine the will of the voters," as Arizona Education Association (A.E.A.) President Joe Thomas put it. GOP legislators have passed bills that would circumvent Invest in Ed/Proposition 208 funding (SB1783) and expand school vouchers (SB1485) which the voters rejected two years ago. Only last [...]

By David Gordon|2021-03-11T16:32:15-07:00March 11th, 2021|Arizona, Education|

It is Alive: School Voucher Bill Advances in the Arizona State Senate

Here they go again. Like monsters from B Movie franchises that never die (like Jason, Freddy Kruger, and Candy Man) school voucher measures are brought back to life year after year by Republicans in the Arizona State Legislature. Use Request to Speak to tell legislators you OPPOSE SB1452 The latest incarnation of voucher expansion is Senate Education Committee Chairperson Paul Boyer's Senate Bill (SB) 1452 which would allow students on free and reduced lunch or those children that attend Title One Schools to apply for Empowerment Scholarship Accounts to attend private schools, including religious ones. This bill passed [...]

By David Gordon|2021-02-04T18:07:54-07:00February 4th, 2021|Education|

Professor: Expel the Koch-Sponsored Freedom Center from the University of Arizona

Dr. David N. Gibbs, a respected Professor of History at the University of Arizona, is calling for the Republican-financed, Koch-sponsored "Freedom Center" to be kicked out of the university's academic program. He spoke at the January 26, 2021 meeting of the LD9 Democrats, which was attended by more than 100 participants on Zoom. Dr. Gibbs set forth three steps to expel the freedom center from university campuses: Make it a priority of the Democratic Party to cut state funds to the three freedom centers at Arizona universities. Put public pressure on the university to get information on [...]

By Larry Bodine|2021-02-19T17:40:08-07:00February 2nd, 2021|Education|

Doug Ducey Goes to War Against Arizona’s Public Schools

In his 2021 State of the State Address, Governor Doug Ducey, in an attempt to make nice with the rabid Trumpist science-denying fringe, attacked public schools for not moving fast enough to reopen for in-person instruction. The most significant part of the address was Ducey taking a belligerent tone towards public schools. He said: “But it’s time to get our students back where they belong. With every public-health professional, from Dr. Fauci and the CDC on down, saying that the safest place for kids to be is in school, we will not be funding empty seats or allowing schools to remain [...]

By David Gordon|2021-01-12T19:18:26-07:00January 12th, 2021|Education|

Dems Dominate in Pima County with Historic Wins

Now it can be said: Democrats in Pima County clobbered Republicans in the election. It was a historic win for education, diversity, and criminal justice. To wit: Democrats expanded their majority on the Board of Supervisors to 4 to 1. Public education won up and down the ballot. Democrats won 5 out of 6 Pima countywide elected offices. There was a massive Democratic turnout -- 80% of Democrats voted across Pima County, and in some precincts 95%. Voters elected the most diverse group of candidates in Pima County history to fill countywide offices — exemplified top vote-getter Gabriella Cázares-Kelly for [...]

By Larry Bodine|2020-11-15T08:45:19-07:00November 15th, 2020|Education, Elections, Governor, Labor|

WATCH: 5 TUSD Candidates for School Board

Five candidates who are running for four-year terms on the Tucson Unified School District Board appeared at DGT’s October 19, 2020, meeting: Ravi Grivois-Shah Natalie Luna Rose Adam Ragan Sadie Shaw Cindy Winston Sadie Shaw Sadie Shaw is an artist, art educator, and community advocate from Tucson, AZ. She earned her BFA in Art & Visual Culture Education from the University of Arizona. She is the former president of the Sugar Hill Neighborhood Association, serving two terms from 2018-2020. Because of her work in the neighborhood, Sadie was nominated by Ward 3 Council Member, Paul Durham, to serve on [...]

By Joe Biden|2020-10-22T09:03:16-07:00October 20th, 2020|Education, Elections|

VIDEO: David Lujan on Vote YES for Prop. 208, Invest In Ed

David Lujan explains why voters should pass Prop. 208, the Invest In Ed ballot initiative. He is one of the authors of the 2018 and 2020 versions of the initiative. Lujan is the Director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress. He is a former member of the state Senate and House of Representatives and has worked in public policy in Arizona for 20 years. David Lujan is one of the authors of the 2018 and 2020 versions of the initiative. Lujan is the Director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress. When Prop. 208 [...]

By Larry Bodine|2020-10-15T09:02:55-07:00October 15th, 2020|Education|

Educator and Community Stalwart Rex Scott is Running for Pima Supervisor, District 1

This article first appeared on the Blog for Arizona Rex Scott has been part of the Pima County Community since 1991. A teacher, assistant principal, and principal in the local area, Scott, who also served as a City Council Member when he lived in Athens, Ohio, wants to take this professional experience and utilize it as the next District One Pima County Board Supervisor. If elected this November, Scott, a former Republican and Independent before becoming a Democrat 16 years ago, vows to be a bipartisan public servant who is a “fair, objective representative for all the people [...]

By David Gordon|2020-10-02T13:41:45-07:00October 2nd, 2020|Criminal Justice, Economics, Education, Elections, Environment, Local Candidates and Electeds|

Steve Diamond, Candidate for Dist. 4 Pima Supervisor, Aims to Oust Anti-Science Incumbent

In a year that indicates a Blue Wave may be coming, the trends are good news to the Democratic candidate Steve Diamon, candidate for District Four Supervisor. A labor activist who is a pragmatic problem-solver who believes in promoting inclusiveness and equity, being accessible and transparent, forging just consensus and building forward, Diamond believes “that strong local communities where we care for each other and uplift each other are our best hope for ensuring that future (for our country.) If elected, Diamond would concentrate on: Helping the residents of Pima County get through the COVID 19 pandemic. Protecting the environment. [...]

By David Gordon|2020-09-30T17:15:02-07:00September 30th, 2020|Economics, Education, Environment, Local Candidates and Electeds, Supervisor|

VIDEO: Catherine Ripley, candidate for Pima Community College Board

Catherine Ripley, who is a candidate for Pima County Community College (PCC) Governing Board, spoke about educational priorities at the Sept. 21, 2020 meeting of the Democrats of Greater Tucson. She is an Adjunct Professor of Political Science at PCC, and also a former Naval Officer, US Diplomat, and business executive. Further information is online at http://www.cat4pcc.com. Among the problems at PCC that she addressed is the drop in enrollment from 70,000 students to 22,000 students. She asserts that the college does little followup and poor tracking to help students get into school and stay in school. She [...]

By Larry Bodine|2020-09-21T15:44:14-07:00September 21st, 2020|Education, Elections|