STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX
– The most recent
meeting of the Native American Caucus focused on education funding cuts and
equity issues.
“The
budget cuts disproportionately affect Native American students, especially those
in rural tribes. I don’t think it was political; that’s just the way it turned
out,” Rep. Victoria Steele, D-Tucson (District 9), said.
The new budget cuts nearly $10 million
from the 33 school districts on Native American Nations from funds that are used
to purchase classroom supplies and maintain facilities.
Rep.
Albert Hale, D-St. Michaels (District 7), raised concerns about transportation
issues that many Native American students who live in remote areas must
overcome.
“I know that transportation costs are
tremendous for some of our schools,” Hale said. “The budget cuts will make that
burden more difficult to bear. There are schools in the Window Rock School
District that are already having issues. This budget will worsen the
situation.”
Steele warned that the cuts to Joint
Technical Education Districts will have long-lasting economic consequences.
Currently, there is one centralized JTED located within the Navajo Nation, and
there are eight satellite campuses on reservations across the state. Each
location will lose $345 per participant in fiscal year 2017.
“This will basically destroy the JTED
program,” Steele said. “Many people will not get the skills and training they
need to prepare for a job after high school, which jeopardizes the future
economic stability of our communities.”
Janice
Palmer, Arizona School Boards Association director of governmental relations and
public affairs, said she expects additional education cuts at the federal level
and discussed the need for equity in education.
“We are trying to change the
conversation to focus on equity. Each student requires different resources and
support to have an equal opportunity for success. One child might need
breakfast; another child may need a speech pathologist and a teacher’s aide,
while another may need help with English proficiency,” Palmer said. “Each of
these services may not be ‘equal,’ however they are all required for individual
students to have an equal chance for a quality education.”
Palmer added that the Arizona School
Boards Association is partnering with Helios Education Foundation and West Ed to
host The Equity Event from April 8 through April 10 in Phoenix to find ways to
solve the educational achievement gaps. More information about the conference is
available at www.azsba.org.
Rep. Sally Ann Gonzales, D-Tucson
(District 3), said she decided to run for elected office so that she could help
close the educational achievement gap.
“Equity is something that I, as an
educator and as a parent, have been talking about all of my adult life,”
Gonzales said. “We have been struggling with this issue for decades, and it
needs more attention.”
Hale agreed.
“Statistically, Native American
students are at the bottom of a lot of lists, including high school graduation
rates,” he said. “That needs to change.”
At the
conclusion of the meeting, Rep. Jennifer Benally, D-Tuba City (District 7),
urged those attending to encourage more people to participate in the political
process.
“We need
more people to get involved, especially those on the reservations. When people
make their voices heard, change happens. If we don’t say anything, then we will
be ignored,” Benally, who is a retired Navajo Nation district court judge, said.
“As a judge, I saw what the lack of education did to people, and we absolutely
have to speak out for equitable opportunities. We absolutely need to have a
voice.”
-30-
