With Arizona school funding ranked as some of the lowest in the nation, school administrators and grassroots organizations such as Expect More Arizona have become outspoken advocates for children when it comes to education. School superintendents and parents are now taking on a new role on a bigger playing field when it comes to informing legislators and the public of the impact of education on the future of the state, especially in rural areas.
Jennifer Hernandez, Expect More Arizona’s community mobilizer for Northern Arizona, and Holbrook School District Superintendent Robbie Koerperich both believe that it’s important to understand that the quality of education children receive has a tremendous impact on the communities they live in.
Dr. Koerperich explained that education affects everything from the type of job market in a given area to property values, the crime rate and the sense of community that people have. “A high quality early education all the way up to post-secondary education is key to a thriving community and economy,” he said.
When it comes to providing a quality education, the bottom line is funding. Without funding quality teachers do not come to rural areas, technology does not reach the hands of students and possibilities have limitations.
“We deal with a different dynamic here. In the Valley there is a lot of competition for funding because of the number of schools competing for students. Here, I think we’ve developed a sense of complacency and our students suffer as a result,” stated Koerperich.
One funding opportunity will be decided May 17 when Proposition 123 goes before the voters for consideration. Its passage would provide $3.5 billion in funding to Arizona over the next 10 years. The funds would settle a long standing lawsuit between the legislature and schools to provide inflation funding that was owed to the schools. There are no restrictions on how that money can be spent, and many schools plan to use those funds to increase teacher salaries and fund classroom needs if the measure should pass.
Even if Prop. 123 passes, Holbrook schools may be facing another funding challenge. Since the Holbrook School District serves a large number of Native American students, it also receives desegregation funds, which are now in a precarious position. At this point, 18 school districts are collecting $211 million per year, but a recently proposed bill seeks to eliminate that funding. “These monies ensure that 18 teachers will be funded. If these funds go, then how will we have the resources for professional development? We’d lose teachers and class sizes would go up,” said Koerperich.
Hernandez, whose organization strongly supports Proposition 123, stated that as important as funding is, advocacy is just as important. “We need to speak up for our kids and let our legislators know what we need for them,” she noted.
Just a generation ago, students were preparing for jobs in a local market and the skills they were taught were the skills they would use in the workforce. With today’s rapidly changing technology, students are now being taught how to adapt and think ahead of the curve, and that requires access to tools that make that possible. “Globalization has changed the job market and technology in rural Arizona is not equal to other areas in the state. Take coding for example. Coding is the biggest skill set we can teach our students right now,” said Koerperich.
He explained that the goal is to prepare kids so they can leave for college but not necessarily to have them stay away. “Our goal is not to take them away from their hometown, it’s about coming back and making it stronger,” he stated.
Part of that goal involves quality teachers, but getting and keeping teachers in a rural area has long been a challenge. While salary is always a factor, a new generation of teachers is bringing with them a new expectation.
In a recent recruiting trip to Oregon, Koerperich observed a shift in what teachers are looking for in a job. “Pay is key, but most wanted to know what sort of technology would be available in the classroom, salary was secondary,” he said. “We’re way behind the industry when it comes to that.”
With so many issues to be addressed, Hernandez hopes that citizens will realize that their voice alone can have a tremendous impact on the future of their children and their community. By visiting the Expect More Arizona website, resources are available that put that power to good use.
“Education is what changes the trajectory of life, we can do this for our kids,” stated Hernandez.
The website not only directs you to where to email your state representatives, it also provides a carefully worded pre-written statement for those who would rather not write one of their own. There is a section on college and career planning for parents to help their children map out their future, regardless of their education goals. Citizens who want to weigh in on education bills can use the site to sign up for Request to Speak, an online tool that allows the public to give legislators feedback on bills. The system provides a way to show that you support or oppose a bill, and provide the reason why. There is no speaking, as the name implies. It’s simply a matter of signing up online and typing in your opinion.
Hernandez believes that through public involvement and support for education, change will come. “We have to make our schools the best they can be, not to compete with others, but because our kids deserve it,” she said.
To learn more about Expect More Arizona, visit www.expectmorearizona.org.
