Skip to content
Democrats of Greater Tucson Logo
  • Home
  • Events
  • News
  • About DGT
  • Join Now!
  • Donate
Previous Next
  • View Larger Image

Help Teachers Defeat Koch-Backed Cuts

By Larry Bodine|2020-06-20T17:07:28-07:00June 20th, 2020|Education|
The devastating economic crash due to the coronavirus pandemic has created huge budget shortfalls in every state.  Estimates show revenue allocated to education will drop from 15% to 30% next year.  For comparison, during the Great Recession (2010), education revenue only decreased by 8.6%.  A 20% reduction will cause the loss of 6,500 teaching jobs in Arizona in 2021.  A 30% reduction will mean over 10,000 lost teaching positions!

At the same time that revenues are falling, schools have new COVID-related expenses, for example: disinfection supplies and personnel, free meals for more students, digital devices and internet connections for remote learning (15% of students at $500/student), expanded learning time for students who have fallen behind academically (20 days/year for 50% of students), and more teachers (class size will need to be reduced in order to maintain social distancing).

Email Governor Ducey to ask for a special legislative session to increase education funding!

How Will The Koch Network Take Advantage Of This Situation?

Nationally, up to 700,000 teaching jobs could be lost because of the current economic downturn.  The Koch network and other privatizers have been preparing for this moment for a long time.  They have been slowly whittling away at our schools, but they are ready to move quickly toward privatization whenever an opportunity arises.

Their plan is clear.  After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the New Orleans public school system was shuttered and replaced with charter schools.  After Hurricane Maria in 2017, the Puerto Rico public school system was shuttered and replaced with charter schools and private school vouchers.  This is disaster capitalism in action.  It could happen in our state next year!

We have to start NOW to ward off a public school takeover in Arizona.  The 2021 state budget fight will begin after the election in November.  In the meantime, Arizona Educators United and REDforED need us to ask Governor Ducey to call a special legislative session to increase education funding for COVID-related expenses.  Although the 2020 legislative session is over, the Governor has indicated he will call special sessions to discuss concerns related to COVID-19 and the budget shortfall.

Kochs Off Campus!

CLICK TO SEND A LETTER TO GOVERNOR DUCEY!
Donate to Kochs Off Campus!

https://www.facebook.com/KochsOffCampus/

https://kochsoffcampus.org

 

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

FacebookTwitterRedditLinkedInWhatsAppEmail

About the Author: Larry Bodine

Avatar
Larry Bodine is the President of Democrats of Greater Tucson, and a PC in Legislative District 9.

Related Posts

  • Arizonans Still Must Demonstrate for Public Schools to be Fully Funded

    Arizonans Still Must Demonstrate for Public Schools to be Fully Funded

    March 11th, 2021 | 0 Comments
  • It is Alive: School Voucher Bill Advances in the Arizona State Senate

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

    February 4th, 2021 | 0 Comments
  • Professor: Expel the Koch-Sponsored Freedom Center from the University of Arizona

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

    February 2nd, 2021 | 0 Comments
  • Doug Ducey Goes to War Against Arizona’s Public Schools

    Doug Ducey Goes to War Against Arizona’s Public Schools

    January 12th, 2021 | 0 Comments
  • Dems Dominate in Pima County with Historic Wins

    Dems Dominate in Pima County with Historic Wins

    November 15th, 2020 | 0 Comments
  • WATCH: 5 TUSD Candidates for School Board

    WATCH: 5 TUSD Candidates for School Board

    October 20th, 2020 | 0 Comments

Search

Categories

Upcoming Events

  1. Steve Kozachik, Tucson Councilman, Ward 6

    April 26 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  2. Tim Steller, Arizona Daily Star Columnist

    May 3 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  3. Juan Padrés, Candidate for City Council, Ward 3

    May 10 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  4. Joyce Jones-Ivey, the only Dem on the Oro Valley City Council

    May 17 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
  5. Akanni Oyegbola, Acting Mayor of South Tucson

    May 24 @ 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

View All Events

Copyright 2021 by Democrats of Greater Tucson | All Rights Reserved | Supported by Riveted
Go to Top