By
Emily Severson
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Location of celebration moved after student demonstration causes disturbance.
The passing of Proposition 301 shows a shift in the voters' attitudes toward public education, University of Arizona President Peter Likins said yesterday.
Public schools in Arizona have suffered from longtime neglect, and the passing of this proposition - a sales-tax increase that would provide money for state education - demonstrates a change in the voters' attitude, Likins said.
"Prop. 301 shows a change in tide for voters in Arizona because people are putting education above taxes," he added.
The money raised by the proposition will likely go to four areas of research and technology - biomedical science and technology, optics, information research and water systems, Likins said. The funding will also improve access to the UA through electronic education and work force development.
The celebration was originally going to be on the lawn east of Old Main, but it was moved to Tucson Magnet High School, 400 N. Second Ave., because of the Students Against Sweatshops demonstration. About seven members of the Tucson community attended the celebration.
"We moved because we were anxious to make sure the focus here stayed on Prop. 301," Likins said. "The disturbance on campus has drawn lots of students and could ruin the celebration."
Most of the money raised in Proposition 301 will go toward kindergarten through grade 12 and community colleges, Likins said.
"TUSD (Tucson Unified School District) receives 85 to 90 percent of the money raised in Prop. 301," Likins said.
Stan Paz, TUSD superintendent, said he would like to see some of the money the district receives spent on new ways to prepare students for high school graduation and also on pre-Scholastic Aptitute Test classes for all students.
Educators gave their thanks to Arizona voters for passing the proposition that increased the sales tax from 5 percent to 5.6 to provide money for education.
"We felt strongly to build from the bottom and allow young people the chance of a good education," said Bob Johnston of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, a representative from the Tucson business community.
The state's community colleges will also receive about 3 percent of the funds raised by the sales tax increase.
"This is a great day for children in Arizona," said Robert Jensen, chancellor of Pima Community College. "The business community has given us the message that they want to work together."
It is unclear where the new money will go because the funds go first to the Board of Regents, Likins said, but a determination should be reached this year.
"I go into Tucson classes everyday and I ask the kids who are the most important people in the school and sometimes they get it right and say, 'us,'" said Michael Gordy, of the Tucson Educators Association. "I would like to thank the voters in Arizona for realizing it, too."
