Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/610158
4 ADVOCATE | WINTER 2015/16 POINT OF VIEW by Andrew F. Morrill Difficult Lessons in Leadership llow me an observation about decisions and leadership —beyond the fact that they go hand in hand. Leader- ship in deciding an easy "Yes" is no real trick; neither is there much leadership involved in an easy and obvious "No." I envy leaders who can stay at either of these ends of the decision continuum. The real test comes when an answer isn't immediately obvious—when one must choose, and the options are neither easy nor particularly desirable. Resolving the five-year inflation funding lawsuit recently "settled" was about one primary issue: creating stability in the inflation mechanism of public school funding. When the legislature stopped fully funding inflation according to the language of Proposition 301, AEA joined the school boards and school business officials' associations (ASBA and AASBO) in bringing suit. Cave Creek vs. DeWit was not brought to settle once and for all the underfunding of pub- lic education in Arizona; it was not a funding adequacy lawsuit. It was also not politically motivated, meaning the resolution would not involve strategy to advantage Democrats or Republicans. The political viability of either party could not—and should not—have been a filter through which to view the terms of a settlement. AEA, AASBO, and ASBA agreed to the now-public terms of the settlement because we honestly believed—and the attorneys we hired to represent us agreed—that the students in our public schools would never see more stable, protected inflation funding than was being offered in the proposal before us. Accepting these terms (read full details of the settlement on page 6) would mean that our students can see money this fiscal year, with an immediate increased base reset moving forward each year. Rejecting them would subject students and educators to between 3 and 5 additional years of litigation - with no guarantee that schools or students would ever see an appropriated dime. We could not do that. Sometimes you make the best decision you can because you recognize the moment when a decision must be made. Absent the luxury of an easy choice or a crystal ball, when you believe you are looking at the likely best-case scenario, sometimes you take the deal. And then you move forward, trying to learn from each difficult decision. Arizona's leaders should learn from this moment and bring educators to the table for the next decision, and the next... This settlement involved the plaintiffs; the next decisions to be made must involve the leadership of both political parties. Government cannot be legislated from only one party, even when that party is in the majority. To those angry or frustrated that this Governor "got the win," I implore you to move past that to May 17, 2016, when you and all AEA members—and our supporters across the state —can complete what you began. The governor brought the feuding sides together because of the monumental public wave of support for public education created by AEA members and staff—driving the narra- tive in the press and sharing the stories of underfunding with families across the state. The governor responded to this public outcry and followed your leadership. The settlement may have ended in his office, but it began with you. This settlement is a win for students, educators, and public schools, but it is by no means a complete victory. We have many more difficult decisions ahead of us. This is not the end of the public education funding dialogue; it is the true beginning. Let me be clear about the stakes of the decision immediately before us. A NO vote on Proposition 123 means no money for students or educators, an additional 3-5 years in court, and no certainty of any inflation funding ever. There is no "almost" or second option that one can reasonably look to. I understand the difficulties of this decision. I am asking you to lead the YES vote on May 17 just as you have led the state to this moment. AEA OFFICERS Andrew F. Morrill President Joe Thomas Vice-President Nidia Lias Treasurer AEA STAFF Mark J. Simons Executive Director Sheenae Shannon Editor Roxanne Rash Graphic Design Advertising The AEA Advocate is published by the Arizona Education Association, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, Arizona 85004-1532. Phone: 602- 264-1774 or 800-352-5411 Fax: 602-240-6887. Email: sheenae.shannon@arizonaea.org. AEA's website may be found at www.arizonaea.org. Permission to reprint any material originating with this publication is granted provided that credit is given to the AEA Advocate. The AEA Advocate (ISSN 0194-8849) is published in Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer for $3.50 per year by the Arizona Education Association, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1532. Periodicals postage paid at Phoenix, Arizona. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the AEA Advocate, 345 East Palm Lane, Phoenix, AZ 85004-1532. Moving? Please let us know before you go. Simply clip your mailing label from the back of the Advocate and send it along with your new address to: AEA Advocate 345 East Palm Lane Phoenix, Arizona 85004-1532 - 9 Andrew F. Morrill, President Arizona Education Association