Judge orders overhaul of Arizona school capital funding

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Dewain Fox issued a final judgment and permanent injunction requiring the state to establish a constitutional system for funding school facilities. State lawmakers have eight months to fix the capital funding system for the schools.

Fox also issued a 90-day pause on his judgment so Arizona Republican lawmakers, who control both legislative chambers and have been defending the funding system, can appeal his findings.

Jimmy Arwood, the Arizona School Boards Association’s Director of Governmental Relations, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss what this ruling means for the school system.

“Currently, what we have in Arizona is a grant-based system,” Arwood said, “…school districts have to apply for the school facilities division at the Arizona Department of Administration and receive approval for grants from there.”

Arwood emphasized how difficult it is for school districts with a minimal amount of staff to be able to cover all their necessities for the kids, and the facilities as well.

“…the state…for a very long time had not funded school facilities since the 90s,” Arwood explained, “…we want every school to have a uniform system of funding. That’s what the constitution says, and that’s ultimately what the legislature in our state has violated.”

According to Arwood, some school districts have roofs that are leaking, buildings falling apart, and even ones that go ten years without potable water.

“So they’re relying right now on local taxpayers to pass bonds to fund school facilities,” Arwood said, “…some voters vote for bonds, some voters don’t vote for bonds. That’s creating an unequal system for our kids.”

Arwood emphasized that the grant-based system is creating disparities, making it unfair and difficult for students in rural areas.

“If you were a third grader in 2017 when this next iteration of the case came forward,” Arwood explained, “…you would be a senior in high school today, and you would still have gone through the entire system without a fix to school facilities.”