Highlights from the School Finance Crash Course

Presenters at the ABEC School Finance Crash Course STANDING (left to right): Jim Zaharis, Vice President, Education, Greater Phoenix Leadership; Steve Schimpp, Policy Advisor, Joint Legislative Budget Committee; Michael Hunter, Senior Policy Advisor for Budget & Finance, Arizona State Senate; Chuck Essigs, Director of Government Relations, Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO); Dean Martin, Arizona State Treasurer; SEATED (left to right): Myriam Roa, CEO, Phoenix Elementary School District; Kevin McCarthy, Executive Director, Arizona Tax Research Association (ATRA).

Attendees at the ABEC School Finance Crash Course held October 30, 2007 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Phoenix, all left with a better understanding of how Arizona public schools are currently funded.

School administrators and school board members, executives from large business corporations, parent advocates, representatives from numerous education foundation and associations, doctoral candidates from ASU, and many other special interest groups, listened to every word spoken by the diverse panel of knowledgeable experts assembled by ABEC.

Chuck Essigs, Director of Government Relations for the Arizona Association of School Business Officers and Michael Hunter, Senior Policy Advisor for Budget and Finance for the Arizona State Senate, shared an in-depth look at how Arizona public schools are currently funded.

Jim Zaharis, (Greater Phoenix Leadership), Steve Schimpp (Joint Legislative Budget Committee), Dean Martin (Arizona State Treasurer), Myriam Roa, (Phoenix Elementary School District), and Kevin McCarthy (Arizona Tax Research Association), then followed the presentation by addressing specific issues from their perspective.

Approximately seventy-five people attended and heard information that is complex and very important, calling upon us to continue to build on our learning. In fact, buried within this issue of school finance are many key policy struggles that will become subject of discussion and negotiation throughout the legislative session. We also heard about two tax initiatives that, if they find their ways to the ballot, will have serious affects on our tax system.

One of ABEC's key goals is to educate ourselves and others about complex issues. School finance is one of those serious issues we will continue exploring.