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sbozarth23 October 11, 2008

School's closing due to employer sanctions law

sbozarth23
Recently, my husband and I got a letter in the mail saying our son's school may be closing due to low enrollment. The school blames it on the employer sanctions laws which, forced many illegal immigrants to give up their jobs. Due to this law the school's enrollment has dropped by 1600 students and our neighborhood is a ghost town. Many illegal immigrants in our neighborhood abandoned their homes or put them up for sale. The school's budget was also reduced by almost $8 million dollars which, means less teachers next year.

Is anyone out there also being affected by this new law?
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Parent Answers to "School's closing due to employer sanctions law"

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skellyparker
skellyparker December 6, 2008
There are a number of factors affecting school enrollment, and immigration laws are certainly a part of that. Condo conversions are another. Increasing home prices in certain areas also affects the number of families with children that can move in. Arizona schools are "schools of choice", where a child can attend any public or charter school that their parent chooses, especially if the parent is willing to transport the child to the school. In addition to all the charter schools (over 450 at last count), the tax credit for private school tuition organizations has made it possible for church-run and other private schools to offer reduced tuition.
Public schools all over the state are looking for new ways to attract students. Your local school may become a charter, or convert to a "traditional" or magnet school. It could close--at least until the neighborhood settles out and new families move in. That is very difficult, and doesn't save as much as it looks like it would.
In central Phoenix, we are seeing enrollment drop, partly due to all the factors listed above. As homes change ownership and the economy cycles back up, I hope to see more families move in. Until then, who knows?
I am a governing board member for a central Phoenix district, and we are looking at some really exciting changes to attract new students. I think in the long run, schools are getting much better due to the competition, but there are always growing pains attached!
leftovers
leftovers November 15, 2008
No. Our district is preferring to blame our low enrollment on "condo conversions". Apt's turning into condo's and many families having to move away. It's really all about money. Times are tough, but if we close the schools where will the kids go when things turn around?!

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