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NEWS
THE SUNDAY EAST VALLEY TRIBUNE | JANUARY 15, 2017
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Senate President Steve Yarbrough and House Speaker J.D. Mesnard, both from Chandler, greet Gov. Doug Ducey Jan. 9 as he prepares to give his State of the State address. Ducey shared details about his school proposals at a breakfast sponsored by East Valley chambers of commerce and the East Valley Partnership on Jan. 12.
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BY PAUL MARYNIAK Tribune Managing Editor
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early 500 East Valley business and community leaders enthusiastically applauded Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday as he outlined a 15-point plan for improving K-12 public education in Arizona. A pivotal part of the plan involves more financial rewards for teachers, ranging from raises to a free state university education for anyone committing to teach in Arizona. “I want the teachers of our state to know—you make the difference. I value your work and it’s time we return the favor,” Ducey said at a breakfast sponsored by East Valley chambers of commerce and the East Valley Partnership. “I have a commitment our educators can take to the bank—increased investment in our public schools above and beyond inflation every single year I am governor,” he added. Ducey, who gave his speech the same day he released his proposed 2017-18 budget, did not spell out details of how he would fund his plan. His budget also includes money for capital expenditures for repairs and new schools as well as an expansion of all-day kindergarten in poor school districts. For all teachers, Ducey promised “a permanent, lasting salary increase above” whatever raises they are receiving through Proposition 123, overrides or local school district initiatives. He did not say what that raise would amount to.
He was somewhat more specific as he laid out a plan to blunt the teacher shortage: eliminating the “crushing burden” of college loan debt. He proposed accomplishing that by having the three state universities and community college systems in the state work together to develop an Arizona Teachers Academy. Graduates of that academy would get a free education if they committed to teach in the state. He did not set a timeline for the academy’s development or indicate how long a commitment would be expected from its grads. For teachers who sign up to work in low-income districts, Ducey proposed a $1,000 signing bonus. He also proposed overhauling or even eliminating the state teacher certification process, noting that former U.S. Justice Sandra Day O’Connor would not qualify to teach in a public high school under current certification rules despite a long history of academic and other achievements. Virtually all East Valley districts provide all-day kindergarten through budget overrides or simple general fund expenditures and it was unclear if they would benefit from the help Ducey pledged for all-day K in low-income districts. The top leaders of the State Senate and House, who are from Chandler, have said previously that the state had only about $24 million in uncommitted money for the coming budget year. Ducey did not address budgetary issues.