PHOENIX — Arizona education officials have presented Gov. Jan Brewer with a list of priorities for spending about $170 million in federal stimulus cash.
The 23-page spending wish list prioritizes 38 items, with money for saving teachers’ jobs at No. 1.
About $100 million would be used to avoid teacher layoffs. State Superintendent of Public Education Tom Horne says keeping class sizes reasonable by retaining teachers is the most important aspect of education.
About a quarter of the $4.4 billion Arizona received from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is for education. Most of the $1.4 billion likely will be used to offset state cuts.
Horne’s plan targets another $170 million set aside for the governor to use for other state projects, including education.