First Week Back

Well we just finished our first week back in school. Maya has been sick with a cold which has been kicking her rear most of the week. She had to stay at home on Tuesday and Wednesday to get better. Sammy is doing well, he is very smart and we looked at one of the Jewish Day School's out here for him to go to when he starts Kindergarten in about a year and a half. We are not set on one so far, but realize he needs to be challenged and needs to understand his Jewish Heritage. We also liked the fact he was going to be learning Hebrew and practicing it early.We are still looking around.

Jason was able to meet with Arizona's governor on Friday, January 13th with regards to Education. He participated in a question and answer session with Governor Janet Napolitano, where students and faculty from the Chandler School District also participated as well as other presidents of teacher union's out here in Arizona. A big issue is funding English Language Learners fully and the way they are supposed to. Well, the state legislature hasn't passed a bill which accurately reflects the funding needed to educate English langauge Learners. Their has been a court case out of Nogales, Arizona going on for a while and the Judge finally ruled in December, that the government must fund ELL education fully by the 15th day of the start of the Legislative Session or start accruing fines which will come out of the state's general fund. So far the legislature which started back this week as well, has put three bills on the governor's desk which she saw last year and vetoed. The bills have had no change to them and when asked about the issue by Jason the governor responsded she is working with the legislature to find a solution which will do the students in our state justice.

Jason is going to Omaha, Nebraska next weekend for a union Leadership Conference. He was personally asked by the state president and his trip is fully funded by the association.

Well, Maya is now in bed crying and we(Karen and Jason) haven't ate anything yet so we need to go. We will keep this updated. ;-)