Hey all! So let’s see, I don’t think I’ve written yet about Valentine’s weekend so I will start there. Ivan and I were at the mall a couple weeks ago and got stopped at one of those kiosks where they try to get you to go on vacations and stuff, all you have to do is listen to the presentation. Somehow these people always get us. We were trying to decide what to do for Valentine’s day anyway so it all worked out. So we got a free night at this resort in Peoria (which is only like 10 minutes from where we live), $75 gift card to the spa, and $25 gift card for lunch. The room was really pretty, Jacuzzi tub and all of that. After we got checked in we decided to get some dinner and there weren’t many options because this place is in a fairly newly developing area. So we went to Chilli’s, and I haven’t drank in a very long time. I just don’t drink much anymore…so one Appletini and I was already feeling it pretty good. Haha. So anyway, we ate & drank and then I had wanted Ivan to see the Super Target…I love Target, and I went to this Super Target once before so I wanted him to see it. So we also decided, to make the trip fun to each take $20 and we got 30 minutes to roam the store to buy a gift for the other person. It was really fun. We were like sneaking around spy style trying to avoid each other and surprise the other. We’ve since decided we should do this like once a month at a different store each time just for the fun of it, and maybe vary the time frame or amount of money. In case you’re wondering, Ivan got me a purse (which I really like, I always get my purses at Target by the way) and a picture of a flower (which I like, goes with the colors in our bedroom). We had been talking about the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, so I got him that movie and a drinking/party game. He also got me a gift card for a manicure & pedicure for Valentine’s Day, and I got him (and I) tickets to a Coyote game when they’re playing the St. Louis Blues, which is this coming weekend. Anyway, the next day we had to sit and listen to the presentation about buying a timeshare and I have to tell you, it makes perfect sense for us. We are the kind of people who would actually use a timeshare, and once I learned how timeshares actually work I was definitely interested in hearing more. I always thought about timeshares as I knew of them from years ago. I thought you just owned a week wherever you bought, the same week every year, in the same location. Not so! Many people don’t even use the timeshare at the place they buy because you can trade it to stay in other resorts all over the world. In a sense, once your timeshare is paid off you have a lifetime of prepaid vacations at your disposal, plus major discounts to many other resorts. Sign me up! Stay tuned to see if we end up with a timeshare… J To wrap up the weekend we had a couples massage on Monday at the place where I am a member, and we got talked into getting Ivan a membership too. It’s funny because he was going to meet up with his cousin later and told him that we had plans—wouldn’t tell him he was going to get a massage! And now he has a membership too. Funny. So that was Valentine’s weekend.
Friday we finally got our new couch. Recap quickly: my employer supplies us with our furniture so almost everything we have is rented; we have bought a few little things here & there. We’re moving into a house this summer (renting, not buying) and so we’re starting to slowly buy up our own furniture and stuff. We’ve been looking at couches for a really long time, years, and finally found the one that met every need I had wanted. It was delivered on Friday and we’ve pretty much just been holding it down ever since. It’s a brown, leather sectional, nice big ottoman (we’re weirdos who really love big ottomans…who does that?) We just love it. It fits nicely in the apartment and will be great in the house too. And I’ve been buying up different art pieces and pictures to hang in the house. I always have seen these things that I just love but don’t have anywhere to hang in the apartment. I actually need to stop because I’m afraid I’m going to wake up and have filled the house too full already! We keep looking for the perfect pieces of furniture too. I guess I’m pretty picky. I just have an image in my head and can’t shake it until I find exactly what I was looking for ya know? We’re pretty sure we found a bed (a leather sleigh bed) and I finally found the perfect duvet cover too (www.westelm.com ). I happened to be watching a repeat of Oprah the other day when they were reorganizing people’s homes and saw some things I liked which they said were from West Elm. I went to the website and found MANY things I love! YAY! And there were some pictures from Crate & Barrel I’ve been eyeing for awhile so I went ahead and bought them, one from Pottery Barn too—finally went on clearance. It’s this huge red & white canvas that says Peace in like 14 different languages. I think a lot of people might use it just for Christmas time, but hey, I’m for Peace year round and thought it was really cool. So I’m very excited about that. The new house has two living rooms, so we’re thinking the upstairs living room will be “Ivan’s room,” ya know, decorated more to his taste since I guess I get the rest of the house. So I’ve been on Ebay a lot looking for different Cardinal & Ram decorations—while it will be more to his interests I’m not letting just anything on the walls! I’ve been trying to find some vintage things just to make it a bit cooler. I won the auction on this sign from the 1986 World Series which says, “Cardinals, This Bud’s for you.” Well apparently I won 25 of those signs!!!!!! They are signs that were hung up at the World Series and I thought the guy was selling them individually…nope, we now have 25, 18 square inch signs…so I’m thinking I might hang all of them up on one wall, kinda like a wall paper. Sounds kinda crazy maybe but I think it could look really cool. We’ll see how that turns out…! I’m also hunting craigslist for the upstairs furniture, maybe an air hockey table, that sort of thing. It’s fun!
What else…aside from my new online shopping habit (and Pier 1, I swear I go there once a week and leave with something or at least end up going back for something if I make it out of there without spending any money) I am developing a love of going to the theatre…which sounds really weird to say. Not like some theatre snob, but I just like any kind of live performance, and we happen to have a lot of theatre in Phoenix and the surrounding areas. It’s fun, and just something different to do ya know? So Sunday we went and saw “A Raisin In the Sun.” I had never read the book or anything but I had an idea what it was about. It was good. The actors all did a really good job, but I learned I think I’m more of a musical person, or at least more interested in things that have some comedy or light moments to it. I just enjoy it more. We just missed the Lion King, but Rent is coming in March and I would like to try to go see it.
Work with the part time job is going to be getting a bit busier. We just ended our basketball season, hip hop dance classes, and an arts & crafts class that I taught—the whole idea was for parents to work with their kids on the crafts I was leading so they could learn different things to do at home to work on their fine motor skills. It was a small group so it was nice to get to know the kids and their parents. Now we’re starting the baseball season, which is our busiest season. And we’re starting tennis, which is the first time we’ve had tennis for our kids. The other night we had a one-night tennis clinic for the kids, which was lead by tennis pros. For about 30 minutes before the kids got there the pros worked with me & my co-worker teaching us how to play tennis and all these little tips. It was so much fun! I definitely would like to spend some time playing and learning tennis. Maybe that’s what I’ll do this summer :) Spend my mornings playing tennis. Who knows! Anyway it was fun, and the kids loved it. I’ve been enjoying the part time job more & more lately as I get more comfortable with it and get to know the kids/parents more. I am taking the summer off from the job and am unsure about what to do this fall…there’s some volunteering I’ve been wanting to do for a couple of years with the International Rescue Committee (I’ve mentioned it a million times, they resettle refugees) but the time has never been right. It’s a volunteer thing that takes some commitment and consistency and with the part-time job I don’t think I can offer that. So I’m torn. Because I like the job, and also would like to stick with it because I think it could open up some opportunities in the future too for full time work, and get me out of OT eventually. The city has plans for a hug adaptive recreation facility, and if that goes through then they will need program coordinators and everything to run it…I dunno!!
So anyway, I will let ya go!!
Monday, February 23, 2009
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
Arizona In Dire Straits
**This is the email that is circulating about the possible budget cuts to education in Arizona**
IS IT JUST ME??? OR MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR A
REVERSE BOSTON TEA PARTY IN ARIZONA
The events of the past few weeks in Arizona have been of staggering proportion. The Cardinals, who had less respect than Rodney Dangerfield, are earning it everywhere and the average citizens of Arizona couldn’t be prouder. The Legislature, or at least the senior officials in control, in less than a week have shown they have absolutely no respect for Arizona’s average citizen, parent, or child.
Or, maybe it’s just me that thinks like that?
I’m 60, conservative, a Viet Nam vet, just a regular guy who votes in every election and believes in our system of government. This week I find that four elected legislators, who I’m sure are nice guys and good parents and/or grandparents, are able to sit together privately and propose a budget plan without consideration of the opinions of their peers and one that shows no respect for the situation facing the average Arizonan.
I mean aren’t elected folks supposed to consider what is best for all of the people of Arizona when developing proposals such as this?
Or, maybe it’s just me and I’m mistaken about that?
Virtually every Arizonan knows about the deficit and knows we’re all going to have to pull together to get through these tough times. Then on Friday we find that the “solution” will mean ½ day Kindergarten, a reduction from 180 school days to 175, school only 4 days per week, a huge increase in class sizes, reductions in salary for all, and the loss of jobs for 1,000s. It hasn’t said that in the newspapers, but I’ve been told the discussions have included these issues from people who are supposed to know. I guess that’s what happens when you reduce a budget by more than 21%.
The proposal asks for budget cuts this year of $103 million and $892 million next from K-12. Specifically, the plan reduces this year’s soft capital allocation (textbooks, curriculum and assessment tools, etc) by 43% but next year there will be $0 allocated for soft capital. There will be a 10% reduction in basic state aid, elimination of all-day kindergarten, an eight year phase out of career ladder (12% per year reduction), elimination of the math and science initiatives, and an eight year phase out of the teacher experience index. Further, to quote a friend of mine, “Heck, they even reduced the gifted program, just in case there was any child left untouched.”
In my opinion, there is little doubt we have a crisis in leadership. Many years ago I taught the Principal ship for NAU from a business book called LEADERS by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus. It is a classic, virtually a leadership bible, reprinted many times. They note that effective leaders focus their actions on “doing the right thing” while managers “do things right”. Also, topical to our situation is the premise that “the accumulation of trust is the measure of the legitimacy of leadership”.
So what?
Well, Mr. Kavanaugh, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Burns in one short week have shown they are exceptional managers, able to do things right, especially subtract. There is nothing wrong with the management function; it is a necessary component of organization. But you need leaders who understand the function of “doing the right thing” at the helm. Simply put, managers placed in leadership positions are divisive, while truly effective leaders in similar positions bring people together. If you have any doubts about the value of leadership vs. management, I have one word for you, Whistenhunt!
With all due respect, I’m pretty doggoned sure I’m not wrong about that.
Crisis is often just opportunity disguised in different clothing. As some forest fires can be healthy by getting rid of undergrowth and unhealthy trees, likewise our financial mess in Arizona is an opportunity for effective leadership to chart a new course. People are ready for change, they know it has to happen, but they have to trust the leadership and know that the leaders have their best interest at heart.
In less than a week, our veteran management team of Kavanaugh, Pearce, and Burns (Mr. Adams is pretty new) have managed to lose the trust of most of the Arizonans who have been watching with interest.
Or, maybe it’s just me and I’m wrong about that?
I’ve never met Jan Brewer, but my daughter was an accountant for a mental health agency when Mrs. Brewer sat on that agency’s board. My daughter describes Mrs. Brewer as pragmatic, caring, insightful, politely direct, and an effective leader. Unless some true leaders emerge on the Republican side, the good Governor Brewer may well be average Arizonans only hope.
With a veto, there may be enough Democrats and moderate Republicans to keep our veteran managers and their followers from overriding the veto. Heck, maybe the direction taken to this point is so obviously abhorrent that some Republicans will stand up and utilize some common sense. I hope so, because while raised a Democrat, I’ve been a registered Republican my entire voting life and this is the first time I’ve ever been ashamed to admit it.
Thomas Jefferson, the father of American education, felt that democracy could only succeed with an educated populace. Over the last few days we find that Arizona, now ranked 49th in educational funding, will lose over $1,000 per child under the current proposal.
Is it possible that we could fall to 51st?
I don’t believe Arizona has ever been higher than 46th in the last 30 years. Is it any wonder that few large businesses or industries have relocated to Arizona? Our legislators have never understood that an investment and commitment to education is the necessary third leg to draw industry, relying only on our wonderful climate and our status as a right-to-work state to broaden our employment base.
A true investment in education over the past 30 years would have drawn much more business relocation, broadening our employment base, and would have left us less dependent on construction as our major industry. It seems we still don’t understand that.
Or, perhaps, it’s just me and I’m wrong about that?
So, in the last few days we’ve read in the newspaper that not only must we cut the education budget by 21+% but that business also needs a tax break.
Let’s see if I’ve got this. We have this huge deficit because the economy has faltered and tax dollars necessary to fund government programs have plummeted. So we answer by cutting educational spending and KidsCare health-care program for 63,000 of Arizona’s children, knowing that number will grow dramatically because of the financial
dilemma our families are currently facing.
Further, according to ASU, the proposal is “the equivalent to withdrawing funding for more than 40,000 students.” ASU President Michael Crow called the options plan a blueprint for putting Arizona “on the path to resembling a Third World country.”
If this plan were accepted, we would be forced to reduce the salaries of virtually all in the education profession fortunate enough to keep their jobs. We would have to release 1,000s of hard-working middle and lower income blue collar workers, and we would have ½ day Kindergarten and school 4 days a week for grades 1-12 and increase the parents need for child care astronomically. Oh, well, I guess we could just let them stay home by themselves. But, I forgot, there will be plenty of folks available to watch the kids as so many have lost their jobs, just no money to pay them. And since we reduced pay and eliminated jobs, we have even less tax money to collect.
Sounds like a great plan, eh? Or maybe it’s just me and I’m wrong about this, too?
Over the past 15 years, in addition to working in schools, I’ve been a relatively successful businessman. I don’t claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer with regard to business, but neither am I the dullest.
About seven weeks ago after doing some research, I discovered that an increase in the sales tax of .01 would have generated a little over $1 billion to the state last year. This year it would be significantly less, but would still approach $1 billion, covering about 60% of the stated deficit.
While I was not really laughed at (just snickers, maybe) my proposal was quickly dismissed in a few different meetings because I was told the Republican-dominated legislature would never go for it. Now, I see that a similar referendum is picking up steam in California.
Unlike some in the legislature, I do not believe that such a temporary increase (utilized only until the economy is righted) will be the end of the world, the prevailing sentiment at the Capital, I’m told. After all, we should all be in this together and if so, maybe it’s not such a bad thought after all.
Of course, it may be just me and I may be wrong again?
This past Thursday I attended a meeting of about 20 superintendents and business officials. Toward the end of the meeting, one superintendent summed up his frustration by saying, “I just don’t know what to do. Even the legislators that represent us tell us openly that their input is not solicited nor considered.” We were then told that the Republican leadership get so many emails they don’t even try to read them, that phone calls and letters are the only way to make contact, as you really can’t see them personally and even if you did their minds are made up and they don’t really listen to you.
A true gentleman, kind and stately, then spoke and said, “Unfortunately, as long as you superintendents keep stretching and providing for kids, parents don’t feel the pain. What you must do is stop providing services until the parents are fed up. Then, the legislators move because they want to get reelected.”
After a pause, I stated that my District has had full day Kindergarten for 16 or 17 years and that in the past 22 months our voters had passed a K-3 Override, and M & O override, and a capital override. We will provide full day Kindergarten for as long as humanly possible for two reasons; it not only is the right thing to do for kids, our community has stepped up time and again and they deserve it. We just have to find a way to effectively communicate to our public the depth of the problem presented by the legislature.
Communities all over Arizona are just like ours. Regular folks are committed to our children, truly committed, always. Many politicians talk about putting kids first, but that seems to be just election year rhetoric utilized for political gain.
Of course, I may be wrong about that, too, but considering this proposal, I don’t think so.
And, the reverse Boston Tea Party, what do we have to do to get the legislature to consider adding .01 to our sales tax temporarily instead of decimating the state with this soulless proposal?
I’ve never really written anything like this before and while I’m going to distribute it to our staff and parents in Florence, to my fellow superintendents in the Arizona School Administrators group, the Arizona School Board Association, the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, the Arizona Education Association, and to our college and university leaders, maybe nothing will come of it. But I’ll feel somewhat better because I got it off my chest and can feel like I tried.
As many of our legislators don’t seem to care about us regular folks, don’t read our emails, accept few phone calls, respond to few letters, won’t see us personally, or ignore us, as when 120 superintendents showed up last Monday, it seems we need to earn some respect. They must see that they have a responsibility to all Arizonans not just those with big business interests.
It has been said that the true value of a culture can be effectively evaluated by simply measuring the priority it places on its children. Honestly, after reading this plan one can easily come to the conclusion that the only thing that was considered was dollars.
The Cardinals, NFC Champs and on the way to the Super Bowl, (WOW!) have finally succeeded in earning the respect of hundreds of thousands of folks within and outside of Arizona. Amazingly, we regular folks have a much more difficult task just trying to earn the respect of a few that we had a hand in electing. When you think of it, that’s really a pretty sad state of affairs.
On Sunday, January 25th, from 1-3pm, my wife and I are going to have a picnic at the Capital plaza and afterwards will politely leave a request to the legislature to show respect for the children and the average citizens of Arizona. It probably won’t be as much fun as we had watching the Cardinals this past Sunday, but if you’d like to join us there’s no telling what might happen. I completed this on MLK Day and we all know that Martin Luther King led the way in showing the value of peaceful demonstration.
I have never protested publicly, never demonstrated or carried a sign, I always have just trusted. But when Arizona’s children are determined to be less important than some decimal points, I think I have a moral obligation to show up.
It may end up that my wife and I just enjoy a private picnic, but who knows, maybe I’ll be wrong about that, too?
Gary 9
Superintendent
Florence USD #1
P.S. By the way, Mr. Kavanaugh, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Burns, just for future reference, regular folks don’t mind being well led, but they really don’t like being managed or not receiving consideration. But if you care to join us we’d love to have you. Might just be my wife and I, and I’m really pretty easy to get along with, but my wife now, better make sure you don’t get her dander up. Hope to see you Sunday.
P.P.S. I have provided the addresses, email address, and phone numbers of the gentlemen I mentioned above. While it is great if you contact them in that way, your attendance Sunday, however inconvenient it might be, will send a message to the entire legislature. Educators and school staffs are just regular folks, parents and kids are just regular folks; regular folks who deserve to be well led by those they elected. If you believe in participatory democracy rather than the select autocracy that formulated this proposal, please consider attending on Sunday.
By the way if you wear red, we can cover two bases; red shall not only represent the carnage that this proposal will produce, but, obviously, will be a deserving tribute to the Cardinals.
Arizona State Capitol Complex
1700 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890
Info. Desk (602) 926-3559
jkavanaugh@azleg.gov
Office (602) 926-5170
Fax (602) 417-3108
rpearce@azleg.gov
Office (602) 926-5760
Fax (602) 417-3118
kadams@azleg.gov
Office (602) 926-5495
Fax (602) 417-3019
rburns@azleg.gov
Office (602) 926-5993
Fax (602) 417-3225
IS IT JUST ME??? OR MAYBE IT’S TIME FOR A
REVERSE BOSTON TEA PARTY IN ARIZONA
The events of the past few weeks in Arizona have been of staggering proportion. The Cardinals, who had less respect than Rodney Dangerfield, are earning it everywhere and the average citizens of Arizona couldn’t be prouder. The Legislature, or at least the senior officials in control, in less than a week have shown they have absolutely no respect for Arizona’s average citizen, parent, or child.
Or, maybe it’s just me that thinks like that?
I’m 60, conservative, a Viet Nam vet, just a regular guy who votes in every election and believes in our system of government. This week I find that four elected legislators, who I’m sure are nice guys and good parents and/or grandparents, are able to sit together privately and propose a budget plan without consideration of the opinions of their peers and one that shows no respect for the situation facing the average Arizonan.
I mean aren’t elected folks supposed to consider what is best for all of the people of Arizona when developing proposals such as this?
Or, maybe it’s just me and I’m mistaken about that?
Virtually every Arizonan knows about the deficit and knows we’re all going to have to pull together to get through these tough times. Then on Friday we find that the “solution” will mean ½ day Kindergarten, a reduction from 180 school days to 175, school only 4 days per week, a huge increase in class sizes, reductions in salary for all, and the loss of jobs for 1,000s. It hasn’t said that in the newspapers, but I’ve been told the discussions have included these issues from people who are supposed to know. I guess that’s what happens when you reduce a budget by more than 21%.
The proposal asks for budget cuts this year of $103 million and $892 million next from K-12. Specifically, the plan reduces this year’s soft capital allocation (textbooks, curriculum and assessment tools, etc) by 43% but next year there will be $0 allocated for soft capital. There will be a 10% reduction in basic state aid, elimination of all-day kindergarten, an eight year phase out of career ladder (12% per year reduction), elimination of the math and science initiatives, and an eight year phase out of the teacher experience index. Further, to quote a friend of mine, “Heck, they even reduced the gifted program, just in case there was any child left untouched.”
In my opinion, there is little doubt we have a crisis in leadership. Many years ago I taught the Principal ship for NAU from a business book called LEADERS by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus. It is a classic, virtually a leadership bible, reprinted many times. They note that effective leaders focus their actions on “doing the right thing” while managers “do things right”. Also, topical to our situation is the premise that “the accumulation of trust is the measure of the legitimacy of leadership”.
So what?
Well, Mr. Kavanaugh, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Burns in one short week have shown they are exceptional managers, able to do things right, especially subtract. There is nothing wrong with the management function; it is a necessary component of organization. But you need leaders who understand the function of “doing the right thing” at the helm. Simply put, managers placed in leadership positions are divisive, while truly effective leaders in similar positions bring people together. If you have any doubts about the value of leadership vs. management, I have one word for you, Whistenhunt!
With all due respect, I’m pretty doggoned sure I’m not wrong about that.
Crisis is often just opportunity disguised in different clothing. As some forest fires can be healthy by getting rid of undergrowth and unhealthy trees, likewise our financial mess in Arizona is an opportunity for effective leadership to chart a new course. People are ready for change, they know it has to happen, but they have to trust the leadership and know that the leaders have their best interest at heart.
In less than a week, our veteran management team of Kavanaugh, Pearce, and Burns (Mr. Adams is pretty new) have managed to lose the trust of most of the Arizonans who have been watching with interest.
Or, maybe it’s just me and I’m wrong about that?
I’ve never met Jan Brewer, but my daughter was an accountant for a mental health agency when Mrs. Brewer sat on that agency’s board. My daughter describes Mrs. Brewer as pragmatic, caring, insightful, politely direct, and an effective leader. Unless some true leaders emerge on the Republican side, the good Governor Brewer may well be average Arizonans only hope.
With a veto, there may be enough Democrats and moderate Republicans to keep our veteran managers and their followers from overriding the veto. Heck, maybe the direction taken to this point is so obviously abhorrent that some Republicans will stand up and utilize some common sense. I hope so, because while raised a Democrat, I’ve been a registered Republican my entire voting life and this is the first time I’ve ever been ashamed to admit it.
Thomas Jefferson, the father of American education, felt that democracy could only succeed with an educated populace. Over the last few days we find that Arizona, now ranked 49th in educational funding, will lose over $1,000 per child under the current proposal.
Is it possible that we could fall to 51st?
I don’t believe Arizona has ever been higher than 46th in the last 30 years. Is it any wonder that few large businesses or industries have relocated to Arizona? Our legislators have never understood that an investment and commitment to education is the necessary third leg to draw industry, relying only on our wonderful climate and our status as a right-to-work state to broaden our employment base.
A true investment in education over the past 30 years would have drawn much more business relocation, broadening our employment base, and would have left us less dependent on construction as our major industry. It seems we still don’t understand that.
Or, perhaps, it’s just me and I’m wrong about that?
So, in the last few days we’ve read in the newspaper that not only must we cut the education budget by 21+% but that business also needs a tax break.
Let’s see if I’ve got this. We have this huge deficit because the economy has faltered and tax dollars necessary to fund government programs have plummeted. So we answer by cutting educational spending and KidsCare health-care program for 63,000 of Arizona’s children, knowing that number will grow dramatically because of the financial
dilemma our families are currently facing.
Further, according to ASU, the proposal is “the equivalent to withdrawing funding for more than 40,000 students.” ASU President Michael Crow called the options plan a blueprint for putting Arizona “on the path to resembling a Third World country.”
If this plan were accepted, we would be forced to reduce the salaries of virtually all in the education profession fortunate enough to keep their jobs. We would have to release 1,000s of hard-working middle and lower income blue collar workers, and we would have ½ day Kindergarten and school 4 days a week for grades 1-12 and increase the parents need for child care astronomically. Oh, well, I guess we could just let them stay home by themselves. But, I forgot, there will be plenty of folks available to watch the kids as so many have lost their jobs, just no money to pay them. And since we reduced pay and eliminated jobs, we have even less tax money to collect.
Sounds like a great plan, eh? Or maybe it’s just me and I’m wrong about this, too?
Over the past 15 years, in addition to working in schools, I’ve been a relatively successful businessman. I don’t claim to be the sharpest knife in the drawer with regard to business, but neither am I the dullest.
About seven weeks ago after doing some research, I discovered that an increase in the sales tax of .01 would have generated a little over $1 billion to the state last year. This year it would be significantly less, but would still approach $1 billion, covering about 60% of the stated deficit.
While I was not really laughed at (just snickers, maybe) my proposal was quickly dismissed in a few different meetings because I was told the Republican-dominated legislature would never go for it. Now, I see that a similar referendum is picking up steam in California.
Unlike some in the legislature, I do not believe that such a temporary increase (utilized only until the economy is righted) will be the end of the world, the prevailing sentiment at the Capital, I’m told. After all, we should all be in this together and if so, maybe it’s not such a bad thought after all.
Of course, it may be just me and I may be wrong again?
This past Thursday I attended a meeting of about 20 superintendents and business officials. Toward the end of the meeting, one superintendent summed up his frustration by saying, “I just don’t know what to do. Even the legislators that represent us tell us openly that their input is not solicited nor considered.” We were then told that the Republican leadership get so many emails they don’t even try to read them, that phone calls and letters are the only way to make contact, as you really can’t see them personally and even if you did their minds are made up and they don’t really listen to you.
A true gentleman, kind and stately, then spoke and said, “Unfortunately, as long as you superintendents keep stretching and providing for kids, parents don’t feel the pain. What you must do is stop providing services until the parents are fed up. Then, the legislators move because they want to get reelected.”
After a pause, I stated that my District has had full day Kindergarten for 16 or 17 years and that in the past 22 months our voters had passed a K-3 Override, and M & O override, and a capital override. We will provide full day Kindergarten for as long as humanly possible for two reasons; it not only is the right thing to do for kids, our community has stepped up time and again and they deserve it. We just have to find a way to effectively communicate to our public the depth of the problem presented by the legislature.
Communities all over Arizona are just like ours. Regular folks are committed to our children, truly committed, always. Many politicians talk about putting kids first, but that seems to be just election year rhetoric utilized for political gain.
Of course, I may be wrong about that, too, but considering this proposal, I don’t think so.
And, the reverse Boston Tea Party, what do we have to do to get the legislature to consider adding .01 to our sales tax temporarily instead of decimating the state with this soulless proposal?
I’ve never really written anything like this before and while I’m going to distribute it to our staff and parents in Florence, to my fellow superintendents in the Arizona School Administrators group, the Arizona School Board Association, the Arizona Association of School Business Officials, the Arizona Education Association, and to our college and university leaders, maybe nothing will come of it. But I’ll feel somewhat better because I got it off my chest and can feel like I tried.
As many of our legislators don’t seem to care about us regular folks, don’t read our emails, accept few phone calls, respond to few letters, won’t see us personally, or ignore us, as when 120 superintendents showed up last Monday, it seems we need to earn some respect. They must see that they have a responsibility to all Arizonans not just those with big business interests.
It has been said that the true value of a culture can be effectively evaluated by simply measuring the priority it places on its children. Honestly, after reading this plan one can easily come to the conclusion that the only thing that was considered was dollars.
The Cardinals, NFC Champs and on the way to the Super Bowl, (WOW!) have finally succeeded in earning the respect of hundreds of thousands of folks within and outside of Arizona. Amazingly, we regular folks have a much more difficult task just trying to earn the respect of a few that we had a hand in electing. When you think of it, that’s really a pretty sad state of affairs.
On Sunday, January 25th, from 1-3pm, my wife and I are going to have a picnic at the Capital plaza and afterwards will politely leave a request to the legislature to show respect for the children and the average citizens of Arizona. It probably won’t be as much fun as we had watching the Cardinals this past Sunday, but if you’d like to join us there’s no telling what might happen. I completed this on MLK Day and we all know that Martin Luther King led the way in showing the value of peaceful demonstration.
I have never protested publicly, never demonstrated or carried a sign, I always have just trusted. But when Arizona’s children are determined to be less important than some decimal points, I think I have a moral obligation to show up.
It may end up that my wife and I just enjoy a private picnic, but who knows, maybe I’ll be wrong about that, too?
Gary 9
Superintendent
Florence USD #1
P.S. By the way, Mr. Kavanaugh, Mr. Pearce, Mr. Adams, and Mr. Burns, just for future reference, regular folks don’t mind being well led, but they really don’t like being managed or not receiving consideration. But if you care to join us we’d love to have you. Might just be my wife and I, and I’m really pretty easy to get along with, but my wife now, better make sure you don’t get her dander up. Hope to see you Sunday.
P.P.S. I have provided the addresses, email address, and phone numbers of the gentlemen I mentioned above. While it is great if you contact them in that way, your attendance Sunday, however inconvenient it might be, will send a message to the entire legislature. Educators and school staffs are just regular folks, parents and kids are just regular folks; regular folks who deserve to be well led by those they elected. If you believe in participatory democracy rather than the select autocracy that formulated this proposal, please consider attending on Sunday.
By the way if you wear red, we can cover two bases; red shall not only represent the carnage that this proposal will produce, but, obviously, will be a deserving tribute to the Cardinals.
Arizona State Capitol Complex
1700 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007-2890
Info. Desk (602) 926-3559
jkavanaugh@azleg.gov
Office (602) 926-5170
Fax (602) 417-3108
rpearce@azleg.gov
Office (602) 926-5760
Fax (602) 417-3118
kadams@azleg.gov
Office (602) 926-5495
Fax (602) 417-3019
rburns@azleg.gov
Office (602) 926-5993
Fax (602) 417-3225
It's been how long?
A few weeks since the last post? That is because time as we know it has been spinning out of control. I feel like I don't have any of it anymore! Or maybe the key is that the time I do have I want to spend as a vegetable watching every reality show VH1 and Bravo have ever made. It's so mindless and always makes me feel better because I'm not a raving lunatic. Or am I? Hmm...
Anyway, I guess you could say we've been busy. Let's back up. Obama is our president! YAY! I'm happy, but I have to tell you I'm getting a little sick of people saying things like, "We're just waiting on this change" or "Change is coming, right...?" Um, the change happened. January 20th to be exact. Yes, I know everyone's waiting for this dramatic we're no longer in war, the rest of the world loves and respects us, we suddenly have money spewing from our pockets and amazing jobs, etc etc etc....yeah, he's not a freakin' genie there folks. Just like with anyone else it takes time, there's not a perfect answer, and remember all these other officials we elect, they get a say in everything too. So anyway, what I was expecting out of the deal, has already occurred-- we have an intelligent, well-spoken person in power who shares my point of view. Change is here...all the rest is icing on the cake.
Ivan and I went to see the musical "Hair." Yes, it's the one from the 60's. We loved it! I love live entertainment anyway but it was just cool. Great music, great message, and there a nude scene so that was fun too. haha
We went to the Suns-Bulls game a couple weeks ago. I wasn't sure who to root for but I don't really know the Bulls anymore so I went for the Suns. Ivan is a Bulls fan so we bet whoever lost had to clean the bathroom. The Suns hadn't lost a Saturday game all season so I was feeling good...and then they lost. So disappointing. Something cool though, Muhammad Ali was at the game watching. They put the camera and spotlight on him to wave at everyone, and when he was leaving everyone started chanting, "ALI." Very cool moment. Sad thing though was he looked soooo old. Like Alzheimer's old, where they just sit there and don't look like they know what's going on. He never clapped or even talked; the people with him were talking to each other across him but he just sat there. Pretty sad.
The Super Bowl...one disappointment after the next (cuz of the Suns game the night before). I didn't realize how much I wanted the Cardinals to win until I watched them come back with 2:30ish left in the game. I was happy but still so scared because that is actually a lot of time you know? We had another couple over to watch the game with, a guy Ivan plays football with and his wife. They were cool, it's always nice to meet couple friends where you like both parts of the couple you know? And they are a mixed couple which is nice too. I don't think about us being mixed or care really, but there is some odd sense of comfort or something when you're with other mixed couples. I can't really explain it. One of those things you don't know you're missing until you have it. Same thing for me when I hang out with girls. I don't miss it, until I'm hanging out with them and realize I'm having a good time and can't stop talking. It's because I'm always with Ivan & Jeff or something.
Anyway, I guess that's kinda it for recapping. I've been really busy with the part time job and classes too. I'm in a finance class right now and that kinda stinks. Not exactly a fun class. But at the same time pretty interesting with everything that is going on with the economy.
Speaking of the economy, some scary things happening in Arizona right now. Apparently our state is majorly in debt and there first thought on how to fix it is to cut funding to education. It's a scary time out here. I know this is happening everywhere but it seems really bad here. Nearly every house you see for sale is bank owned. Lay offs and hiring freezes are happening everywhere. And now they announce this major cut to education. So the school isn't exactly a happy place right now while we wait to see what's going to happen to all of us. There's been talk of cutting to 4 day weeks, cutting 1000's of jobs, cutting pay, just tons of cuts left and right. The district held meetings yesterday to talk to everyone but their answers were pretty much, "we don't know." The legislature will make its final decisions by March hopefully and then the district can figure out what they are going to do. Everyone's freaking out. We're in a hiring freeze and cannot buy anymore materials this year but who knows what next year will bring.
It's not really in me to freak out, I mean I worry because I do want to work here next year. As far as OT is concerned, this is the best job I've had, I'm happy with this district, I like the area, we've made friends, we're planned to settle here, move into a house this summer etc. So, yeah it's a little scary. I'm keeping an eye out on jobs just in case. The good news about therapy is that I have options-- hospitals, skilled nursing, etc. I just don't want to do that, but it's there if I need to. The other thought is that maybe this is the push out of therapy that I need. It's no secret I want out eventually, and being laid off from Country Companies back in '03 was the best thing that ever happened to me. So, who's to say this wouldn't be the best thing? We'll see though. I wanted more time to save money from this job before switching fields but I may not get it.
So wedding plans are on hold, they were before this job thing but now I'm glad because I'd like to be sure I have a job before I go splurging on a wedding. They were stalled because I have come full circle on not knowing what kind of wedding I want!! I started out with Vegas or a beach, thought I settled on a St. Louis, and then came back to a beach because I don't know if I can handle spending that much money on a wedding. So we will wait! We're moving into a house this summer so we need to furnish that and be sure I have a job, then I can move forward and really make some decisions.
What else...I went to see Revolutionary Road last night. I liked it. I don't know that it's a movie everyone would like but I feel like I can relate so much-- not to the relationship problems, but to the idea of 'I want more, I want to travel, I don't want to get stuck in life' etc. I have days that I think settling down in one place and having a family and all of that sounds like the most awful thing in the world, how average right? And days where it sounds really nice. That's kinda what is going on in the movie. In a really extreme way.
Well I guess I'll get going. I might post some information about what's going on in Arizona right now with the budget and everything so look out for that. It's a letter that is being circulated, getting everyone fired up!
Anyway, I guess you could say we've been busy. Let's back up. Obama is our president! YAY! I'm happy, but I have to tell you I'm getting a little sick of people saying things like, "We're just waiting on this change" or "Change is coming, right...?" Um, the change happened. January 20th to be exact. Yes, I know everyone's waiting for this dramatic we're no longer in war, the rest of the world loves and respects us, we suddenly have money spewing from our pockets and amazing jobs, etc etc etc....yeah, he's not a freakin' genie there folks. Just like with anyone else it takes time, there's not a perfect answer, and remember all these other officials we elect, they get a say in everything too. So anyway, what I was expecting out of the deal, has already occurred-- we have an intelligent, well-spoken person in power who shares my point of view. Change is here...all the rest is icing on the cake.
Ivan and I went to see the musical "Hair." Yes, it's the one from the 60's. We loved it! I love live entertainment anyway but it was just cool. Great music, great message, and there a nude scene so that was fun too. haha
We went to the Suns-Bulls game a couple weeks ago. I wasn't sure who to root for but I don't really know the Bulls anymore so I went for the Suns. Ivan is a Bulls fan so we bet whoever lost had to clean the bathroom. The Suns hadn't lost a Saturday game all season so I was feeling good...and then they lost. So disappointing. Something cool though, Muhammad Ali was at the game watching. They put the camera and spotlight on him to wave at everyone, and when he was leaving everyone started chanting, "ALI." Very cool moment. Sad thing though was he looked soooo old. Like Alzheimer's old, where they just sit there and don't look like they know what's going on. He never clapped or even talked; the people with him were talking to each other across him but he just sat there. Pretty sad.
The Super Bowl...one disappointment after the next (cuz of the Suns game the night before). I didn't realize how much I wanted the Cardinals to win until I watched them come back with 2:30ish left in the game. I was happy but still so scared because that is actually a lot of time you know? We had another couple over to watch the game with, a guy Ivan plays football with and his wife. They were cool, it's always nice to meet couple friends where you like both parts of the couple you know? And they are a mixed couple which is nice too. I don't think about us being mixed or care really, but there is some odd sense of comfort or something when you're with other mixed couples. I can't really explain it. One of those things you don't know you're missing until you have it. Same thing for me when I hang out with girls. I don't miss it, until I'm hanging out with them and realize I'm having a good time and can't stop talking. It's because I'm always with Ivan & Jeff or something.
Anyway, I guess that's kinda it for recapping. I've been really busy with the part time job and classes too. I'm in a finance class right now and that kinda stinks. Not exactly a fun class. But at the same time pretty interesting with everything that is going on with the economy.
Speaking of the economy, some scary things happening in Arizona right now. Apparently our state is majorly in debt and there first thought on how to fix it is to cut funding to education. It's a scary time out here. I know this is happening everywhere but it seems really bad here. Nearly every house you see for sale is bank owned. Lay offs and hiring freezes are happening everywhere. And now they announce this major cut to education. So the school isn't exactly a happy place right now while we wait to see what's going to happen to all of us. There's been talk of cutting to 4 day weeks, cutting 1000's of jobs, cutting pay, just tons of cuts left and right. The district held meetings yesterday to talk to everyone but their answers were pretty much, "we don't know." The legislature will make its final decisions by March hopefully and then the district can figure out what they are going to do. Everyone's freaking out. We're in a hiring freeze and cannot buy anymore materials this year but who knows what next year will bring.
It's not really in me to freak out, I mean I worry because I do want to work here next year. As far as OT is concerned, this is the best job I've had, I'm happy with this district, I like the area, we've made friends, we're planned to settle here, move into a house this summer etc. So, yeah it's a little scary. I'm keeping an eye out on jobs just in case. The good news about therapy is that I have options-- hospitals, skilled nursing, etc. I just don't want to do that, but it's there if I need to. The other thought is that maybe this is the push out of therapy that I need. It's no secret I want out eventually, and being laid off from Country Companies back in '03 was the best thing that ever happened to me. So, who's to say this wouldn't be the best thing? We'll see though. I wanted more time to save money from this job before switching fields but I may not get it.
So wedding plans are on hold, they were before this job thing but now I'm glad because I'd like to be sure I have a job before I go splurging on a wedding. They were stalled because I have come full circle on not knowing what kind of wedding I want!! I started out with Vegas or a beach, thought I settled on a St. Louis, and then came back to a beach because I don't know if I can handle spending that much money on a wedding. So we will wait! We're moving into a house this summer so we need to furnish that and be sure I have a job, then I can move forward and really make some decisions.
What else...I went to see Revolutionary Road last night. I liked it. I don't know that it's a movie everyone would like but I feel like I can relate so much-- not to the relationship problems, but to the idea of 'I want more, I want to travel, I don't want to get stuck in life' etc. I have days that I think settling down in one place and having a family and all of that sounds like the most awful thing in the world, how average right? And days where it sounds really nice. That's kinda what is going on in the movie. In a really extreme way.
Well I guess I'll get going. I might post some information about what's going on in Arizona right now with the budget and everything so look out for that. It's a letter that is being circulated, getting everyone fired up!
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