2 groups withdraw support for Ducey’s plan for K-12 raises

Two education advocacy organizations that had representatives standing behind Gov. Doug Ducey at a news conference where he announced a plan to give teachers pay raises have withdrawn their support for the so-called #20by2020 measure.

Both groups, Save our Schools Arizona and the Arizona Parent Teacher Association, released statements on

Wednesday withdrawing their support for Ducey’s plan to give teachers a 19 percent raise over the next three years.

Adding in the 1 percent given this year, the effect would be a 20 percent raise by the year 2020.

The statements from the groups criticized the funding of the plan, calling it unsustainable.

Beth Simek, the president of the Arizona PTA, released a video of herself reading the organization’s statement.

“The proposal, at initial onset, met with our legislative platform priorities,” she said.

But the group received a financial analysis from the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff on Tuesday that, along with the group’s own research, upended its support.

She urged lawmakers and Ducey to “find a sustainable, permanent funding source that does not hurt others in the process.”

Save our Schools Arizona, in its statement, said it was “cautiously optimistic” upon hearing the proposal. That feeling apparently waned for the group, which initially formed to oppose the expansion of Arizona’s voucher-style program for private schools.

“It is now clear the existing proposal is not sustainable or comprehensive as a means of increasing educator pay and re-investing in Arizona’s classrooms and schools,” the statement read.

Both groups said they would like to work on a new proposal.

“We would be happy to sit at the table again,” Simek said.

In an email, Daniel Scarpinato, a spokesperson for Ducey, said the governor had great respect for the groups.

“We don’t always agree on every issue,” the email read, “but we all agree that Arizona needs to do more for our teachers and our kids.”

Representatives from both groups were among the crowd of advocates, lawmakers and superintendents standing behind Ducey on April 12 as he announced the plan.

Since that announcement, Ducey and his staff have shared more details on conference calls with reporters, including one on Thursday morning.

His staff has said the plan would be paid for largely by the state’s booming economy and the belief it will continue to prosper.

That boom has led to increased tax revenue and decreases in health care spending, his staff has said. Other monies have been found in trimming some of Ducey’s budget requests that would have either created or expanded programs.