Funding Fight: Schools and EVIT Clash Over Career Tech Money

A big disagreement is happening between nine school districts and the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT) over who gets what share of the money for career technical education (CTE) programs.

The Districts' Perspective

The school districts say EVIT is not playing fair by cutting funds for CTE classes held on their campuses. They believe EVIT is keeping more money than it should.

EVIT's Stance

EVIT, on the other hand, thinks the changes they proposed will ensure the money is used wisely and that the programs are doing well. They want to link extra funding to program performance. This means if the programs meet certain goals, they get more money.

The Financial Burden

The school districts have to pay for running these CTE programs on their campuses. They say the new plan does not cover their costs and gives EVIT an unfair advantage. The districts want a bigger share of the state funds, but EVIT wants to reduce the amount they give each year.

Negotiations Breakdown

Negotiations between the two sides have not gone well. The districts asked EVIT to keep the old funding agreement until 2026, but EVIT said no. Instead, EVIT stopped making quarterly payments to the districts. However, they did let the districts use money from a special account to keep the programs running this school year.

Threats of Legal Action

The districts have threatened to sue EVIT if they do not agree to their demands. They say EVIT does not have the right to decide how much money to keep for itself. EVIT, however, says the current funding plan does not ensure the money is being used properly.

Divided Opinions

Three other districts—Mesa Public Schools, Scottsdale Unified School District, and American Leadership Academy—have agreed to the new funding plan proposed by EVIT. This shows that not all districts are against the changes.

The Bigger Picture

The fight over money for CTE programs is not just about dollars. It is also about who gets to decide how the money is spent and how well the programs are doing. Both sides have strong opinions, and it seems like a legal battle might be coming.