Brewer touts need for education

“We have to get our population educated,” said Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday at the University of Phoenix Yuma Learning Center.

The ceremony marked the grand reopening of the Student Resource Center. It was recently upgraded to include 23 high-speed computers, two interview rooms, a faculty room, and printing and copy services.

“This is certainly the definition of what I believe is economic development,” she said in reference to the resource center.

“This is certainly one way that you can attain that education and be prosperous here and around the world. I want you to know that as we move forward it is very, very important that we craft education plans for Arizona's second century.”

To create jobs and improve the economy, “we have to have a strong, well educated, well skilled workforce and this is a priority of mine. Education is my No. 1 priority. It is a clear need that schools really need to address the unique situation and circumstances of rural Arizona, both for K-12 and higher education.”

Brewer said this despite having approved budget cuts that slashed millions of dollars provided by the state to fund public eduction during the 2012 fiscal year.

The spending plan enacted by state lawmakers and approved by Brewer reduced K-12 spending over the entire fiscal year by at least $134 million. This followed hundreds of millions in cuts to public education in previous years, including elimination of state funding for full-day kindergarten programs.

Additionally, the 2012 budget reduced university funding by about $198 million and took about $70 million away from the community college system.

Chris McDaniel can be reached at cmcdaniel@yumasun.com or 539-6849.