Public schools deserve a stable funding source
In May 2015, I was honored when Gov. Doug Ducey asked me to serve as co-chairman of his Classrooms First Initiative Council, leading a diverse cross-section of appointees from Arizona’s business and education communities, in support of his commitment to strengthening Arizona’s public schools.
The council’s goal, as directed by the governor, was to “develop a funding formula that recognizes and rewards performance, efficiency and innovation through flexible distribution of funds for every successful education delivery model.”
Consistent with his track record as a fiscally conservative, business-minded CEO, Gov. Ducey charged the council with re-slicing Arizona’s current education funding pie to maximize results.
During his 2017 State of the State address, Gov. Ducey incorporated a number of the initiatives proposed by the council: increasing teacher pay, expanding full-day kindergarten, restoring Arizona’s K-12 capital funding formula, developing a pipeline for new teachers in Arizona, and investing new resources toward workforce development programs.
The governor demonstrated great leadership by convincing conservative members of the Legislature to forgo additional tax cuts in favor of investing additional funding, beyond inflation, to his education priorities.
Unfortunately, due to limited discretionary revenue, these education investments were similar to bailing out a bathtub with a teaspoon. It’s time for Arizona’s business community to support the governor’s efforts and identify resources to invest in our schools.
The governor was smart in asking the council to fix the funding formula first. It is a common sense approach to a problem — assess the situation before recommending changes.
The task was not easy, and was complicated by often conflicting interests among the council members.
However, after 18 months of public meetings, work groups and presentations by local and national experts, we came to consensus that no matter how it’s sliced, Arizona’s current education funding pie simply cannot provide every student in Arizona with the ability to achieve — regardless of those who believe otherwise.
Our state requires additional funding for education, and the business community needs to come together to support a good idea that will generate the money we need to strengthen our schools, now.
Recently, a number of my fellow CEOs challenged the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Southern Arizona Leadership, and Northern Arizona Leadership Alliance to champion a 1.5 cent per dollar sales tax — one that is 100 percent dedicated to fully funding a number of the recommendations of Governor Ducey’s Classrooms First Initiative Council as well as permanently extending Prop. 301.
I wholeheartedly support the effort to find a sustainable source of new revenue for education.
Our business community consistently crows about its support for education, so now is the time to lead.
After nearly two years of working with education experts, we know that only when Arizona’s K-12 funding is appropriately sized will we ever be able to effectively examine other ways to further enhance our education system.
As the co-chairman of the Classroom First Initiative Council, I strongly urge my business colleagues to champion this new funding.
Gov. Ducey’s vision is clear, and it is time for those who support his leadership to assist in its execution with the resources necessary to position every student in Arizona for success.
Jim Swanson co-chaired the Classroom First Initiative Council with Gov. Ducey. He is an appointed member of the Arizona Charter Schools Board and is president and CEO of Kitchell Corporation. Email him at jswanson@kitchell.com.