Tucson Unified could lose students, mask mandate funding

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TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) – Several Republican lawmakers have called on Gov. Doug Ducey to halt funding for any school district, like Tucson Unified, which has created mask mandates.

Republicans also want the state to take legal action against the districts.

Tucson Unified (89 schools, 47,000 students) became the third district in the state to require masks following an August 5 meeting. The other districts are the Phoenix Elementary District (14 schools, 5,000 students) and the Phoenix Union High School District (22 schools, 28,000 students). Movements may be in defiance of recently passed state law.

“I don’t believe we are breaking the law. We are fortunate that the state legislature did not have a two-thirds majority when it passed this bill and therefore requires a 3 month waiting period with the simple majority it did. had and therefore the law does not come into force until September 29. Says Dr Ravi Grivois-Shah, TUSD board member.

HB 2898 prohibits K-12 schools from requiring students to be vaccinated or wear masks in classrooms. State law was enacted in June, but the legislation does not come into effect until September 29. According to the Associated Press, there was a provision saying “the ban is retroactive.”

TUSD board member Natalie Luna Rose said she felt all of this was hurting students.

“Frankly, the legislature has a long history of not being pro-Tucson Unified and as a parent and board member, and alumnus of TUSD, I find this unacceptable,” says Luna Rose.

“We have over 42,000 students enrolled at TUSD. And I can’t imagine that the state government is going to try to harm these 42,000 students and their ability to get an education, ”said Dr Grivois-Shah.

Twenty-six state officials and senators signed the letter and asked for four things to happen. These requests are:

Withhold federal funding from any district that does not comply with the law.
Offer vouchers to families with students in these neighborhoods.
Send a letter to families reminding them of the mask warrant ban and informing them of vouchers.
Take legal action against any district defying the state.

“The blatant disregard for the authority of the state of Arizona shown by non-compliant local governments is an affront to the very heart of our state and our nation’s form of government,” lawmakers said in the letter. . “A resounding message must be delivered to any local government or subdivision of state that plans to defy state law – lawlessness will not be tolerated. “

The letter was signed by the following lawmakers:

Representative Jake Hoffman
For the season, the speaker Travis GRANTHAM
House Majority Whip Leo Biasiucci
Representative Brenda Barton
Representative Walt Blackman
Representative Shawnna Bolick
Representative Judy Burges
Rep. Joseph chaplik
Representative John Fillmore
Representative Mark Finchem
Representative Steve Kaiser
representative Quang Nguyen
Representative Becky Nutt
Representative Jacqueline Parker
Representative Beverly Pingerelli
Representative Bret Roberts
Representative Justin Wilmeth
Senate Majority Whip Sonny Borrelli
Senator Nancy Barto
Senator Sine Kerr
Senator David Livingston
Senator JD Mesnard
Late. Warren Petersen
Senator Wendy Rogers
Senator Kelly Townsend
Late. Michelle Ugenti-Rita

KOLD received a statement from Governor Ducey’s team. He says, “We haven’t looked at it yet, but we’ve looked at ideas on it. The governor is anti-mandate, but pro-vaccine and pro-parental decision on masks and other measures. Parents should decide what is best for their children, and these are the kinds of policies he will support.

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