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AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS www.ahwatukee.com
REACHING OUT
Wednesday, May 16, 2018
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Districts warn teachers: Mind your T’s and Q’s
AHWATUKEE FOOTHILLS NEWS BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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The petition drive for a ballot question on a proposed tax surcharge on high-income Arizonans to raise more money for public education has created a potential tempest with a T-shirt for teachers and local school districts, including Tempe Union and Kyrene. Both districts, as well as Mesa and Chandler, have warned teachers that wearing the
signature red shirts to class could violate state law and cost them as much as $5,000 in civil penalties – at least if there is any message on them, including #RedforEd. Some districts, including Kyrene and Chandler Unified, specifically warned teachers that opponents of their six-day walkout might try to turn them in for violating Arizona statute 15-511, which prohibits the “use of school district or charter school resources or employees to influence elections.”
Besides that, it also strictly forbids district employees from wearing any buttons or other items advocating for any political initiative or candidate while on school grounds as well as trying to influence students toward a particular viewpoint. Right now, districts apparently are worried for their employees. “We’re not an enforcement agency. There
AHWATUKEE When their birdsFOOTHILLS won’t behave, ownersNEWS flock to her THEY NEED DRIVERS
See
RED SHIRTS on page 14
BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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BOTTOM-LINE COACHING
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JOINT PRACTICING
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arbara Bingham Deutscher is for the birds. And the Ahwatukee woman doesn’t mind anyone knowing that. After all, when she’s walking around the Tempe Art Festival with a giant macaw on her shoulder, it’s hard not to think she really likes feathered creatures. Besides, there are only about a hundred people like her in the world. Deutscher is a certified professional bird trainer and a parrot behavior consultant, though in her business, Harmony Animal Behavior, she will help just about any owner learn to have a mutually satisfactory relationship with just about any pet. But it’s hard not to consider her more of a human behavior consultant who teaches bird owners – particular those who own members of the parrot family – how to behave so that their birds do. The five birds that live in huge cages in her living room and on her patio are a testament to the need for someone with her skills and training. She’s rescued all five – Arie and Mack, two macaws; a white cockatoo named Boo and two conures who all seem perfectly at home
(Kimberly Carrillo/AFN Staff Photographer)
Barbara Bingham Deutscher of Ahwatukee talks to Boo, a white cockatoo and one of five rescue birds that live with her and husband Ken. She is one of about 100 certified professional bird trainers in the world.
with her horse, two cats and a 22-year-old fire bellied toad. “The cats get along great with the birds.
These guys aren’t little flighty birds. These are birds that can hold their own,” she said. PointSee
BIRDS on page 9