EDITORIAL: APS work will need to be done together
It's clear there is a problem within the district, made painfully obvious at times through meetings and community discussions, and by now we're all pretty familiar with what many of these more important issues are.
Teachers are feeling stressed, overwhelmed and that their voices are not being heard when it comes to these concerns. While the catalyst can be traced to involuntary teacher shifts within the district, the processes behind the current situation are branching off into other facets.
Conversations within the district on how to better the situation are being shaded by frustration and impatience both within the district and in the community. It's an understandable reaction, as human beings as a species often tend to be impatient during a time where we have become used to having things at our fingertips.
But underneath it all, it has to be realized by all sides that this is not a quick fix. Just as its been claimed that this has been simmering for at least a year, it will be equally long-lived in finding answers.
That's an idea that's not likely to be popular, but that is the reality, despite some easy fixes that some might see out there. People want change now. They want to know that their kids are getting a quality education in an encouraging environment devoid of distractions.
But this can't be a quick conversation, nor can it be an easy fix because in order to truly repair the damage, anything fixed has got to last. This can't be something that persists like an open wound.
In order to do this, however, there has got to be transparency in the process. Yes, there will be some things that will require closed meetings, dictated by law, but any time the district can, it will need to be open and welcoming in its conversations.
This past Tuesday, during its work session, there were indications this is heading in the right direction as board members and administration discussed viable ideas that could go a long ways in mending the issue at stake.
But there is a responsibility by the public as well. It is bolstering that so many have taken interest in this issue. Naturally, they want to see this whole thing resolved, but we urge them to keep their eye on the prize.
It is important to voice concerns and to question, but this is an issue that requires all voices to work collectively and committed. As we've stated, there is not one answer that fixes all types of scenarios to any of this.
School board member Dan Zielke was exactly right that all parties need to be wary of pointing fingers, "because there are three more pointed back at you."
Introducing factors that have little bearing on the issue at hand only invites complication for a matter that is plenty complicated on its own.
We believe the district will get through this, one way or another. But how it does it is as important as the final fix itself. Hands have to be shaken in order to find resolution and the motivating factor has got to be the benefit of the students.
There is no doubt that this is a charged situation and it will continue to be charged for some time to come. There will have to be some give and take by both sides, but we can go a long way in building confidence if we are willing to understand and accept that this will not be an overnight fix. By working together and openly as one community we can get to a lasting fix that will benefit it all.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Politico
11 hours ago
- Politico
Trump signs executive order to 'protect' college sports
The Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, as well as the Federal Trade Commission will have to develop a plan to effectuate Trump's policy within 30 days. It is not immediately clear how the White House intends to enforce such a directive, but the Trump administration has been aggressive in pushing its agenda on universities before, such as its efforts to bring colleges to heel for their handling of campus antisemitism. The NCAA and universities have lobbied Congress to pass legislation that would cement their authority over the college athletics system. Two House committees on Wednesday advanced a bill that would bar student-athletes from being considered employees and, similarly to the executive order, shield intercollegiate sports officials from federal antitrust law. Three of the committee chairs leading that effort praised Trump and said the legislation, known as the SCORE Act, 'will complement the President's executive order, and we look forward to working with all of our colleagues in Congress to build a stronger and more durable college sports environment.' Trump's executive order comes hours after Charlie Baker, the head of the NCAA, said such action would be largely insufficient to address the structural issues with the collegiate sports industry. 'Our focus for now really needs to be on trying to get this stuff dealt with through the legislative process because that, at the end of the day, is really the only vehicle we feel can deal with those issues,' he said at the National Press Club in D.C. After Trump's order was issued, Baker issued a statement saying that the NCAA 'appreciates the Trump Administration's focus on the life-changing opportunities college sports provides millions of young people and we look forward to working with student-athletes, a bipartisan coalition in Congress and the Trump Administration to enhance college sports for years to come.'
Miami Herald
16 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Trump quietly renews Chevron's license in Venezuela, marking shift in U.S. policy
In a marked shift in U.S. policy toward Venezuela, the Trump administration has quietly approved a new license allowing oil giant Chevron to restart its operations in the South American nation, according to sources with direct knowledge of the negotiations. The decision this week represents a departure from earlier hard-line measures and suggests a recalibration aimed at balancing energy interests with ongoing foreign policy challenges involving the Nicolás Maduro regime. The new arrangement, described by sources as a 'specific license' rather than a general one, allows Chevron to resume more regular activity with Venezuela's state oil company, PDVSA. Under the framework, Chevron will reportedly pay the Maduro regime in barrels of oil rather than in cash — a shift that may give Caracas some latitude to commercialize its resources amid continued international sanctions. Sources say that one significant distinction between a specific license and a general one is that the former can be issued privately while the latter is granted is such a way that it is there for the public to see. 'They made it a specific license instead of a general license like the last one,' said a person briefed on the talks, speaking on condition of anonymity. 'Negotiations were held in Caracas yesterday negotiating some changes to the contract with PDVSA.' Asked about the new license, the State Department said it was only issued for Chevron's maintenance purposes and to create the conditions for the regime to repay the huge debt that it owes the Texas-based oil company, but that it would not aim to provide Maduro any type of financial relief. 'While we cannot speak to any specific licenses, the U.S. government will not allow the Maduro regime to profit from the sale of oil,' the State Department told the Miami Herald in an email. Experts, however, said it was hard to see how the Caracas regime would not benefit financially under the new arrangement. Venezuela's debt to Chevron had been estimated in around $3 billion before the amount was reduced following the Biden administration's decision to grant the Texan oil company a license to operate in the country. That license was revoked by the Trump administration earlier this year in a move that took effect in May and that significantly disrupted the finances of the socialist regime. Chevron was responsible for roughly a quarter of Venezuela's oil output, which earlier this year stood around 900,000 barrels per day. Other international energy companies—Spain's Repsol, Italy's Eni, France's Maurel & Prom, and India's Reliance Industries—were also affected by the U.S. restrictions. Collectively, those firms accounted for another 230,000 barrels per day of production. Chevron and the other companies have played a central role in Venezuela's efforts to recover from the near-collapse of its oil industry, which once produced 3.2 million barrels per day before declining to just 400,000 barrels per day in 2020. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world, just ahead of Saudi Arabia. Estimates from industry analysts prior to the license suspensions suggested that foreign companies were providing the Maduro government with an average of $700 million to $800 million per month. While official U.S. policy continues to call for democratic reforms in Venezuela, the quiet reauthorization of Chevron's operations indicates a more pragmatic approach in dealings with Caracas. Sources say U.S. officials have engaged in direct negotiations with high-ranking Venezuelan figures, including National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. Back channel talks reportedly remain active, involving U.S. diplomats based in Bogotá and senior Venezuelan officials. These conversations have included proposals to restore diplomatic presence by reopening embassies in Washington and Caracas, although no official announcements have been made. The policy shift also reflects evolving dynamics within the Trump administration. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, a long-time critic of Maduro, is now seen as playing a central role in shaping the administration's Venezuela strategy, while former special envoy Richard Grenell appears to have taken a back seat. 'The State Department or National Security Council is calling the shots now,' said the source, who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely. While Rubio has historically supported a tough stance against authoritarian governments in the region, his involvement in the Chevron licensing process suggests that broader U.S. strategic interests—particularly energy security—are now taking precedence. Industry observers note that despite efforts to keep the new license quiet, public disclosure may be inevitable as Chevron's oil begins to reenter Gulf Coast refineries. 'You can't keep it under wraps too long,' the source said. 'Eventually, the oil is going to look for passage through the Gulf to refineries in the U.S.' Chevron has operated in Venezuela for nearly a century and was the last major American energy firm to maintain a presence in the country amid sweeping sanctions. Its continued presence has long served as an indicator of U.S. policy direction. While the license renewal may open the door for other companies to explore similar arrangements, it also raises questions among Venezuelan opposition leaders and human rights groups concerned that any form of normalization with Maduro could weaken efforts to restore democratic governance. For now, the resumption of Chevron's operations marks a potentially significant turning point in U.S.-Venezuela relations — one that could reshape diplomatic, economic and political dynamics in the region.
Fast Company
16 hours ago
- Fast Company
Trump rollback on clean energy subsidies stalls major solar, wind projects and manufacturing plans
Singapore-based solar panel manufacturer Bila Solar is suspending plans to double capacity at its new factory in Indianapolis. Canadian rival Heliene's plans for a solar cell facility in Minnesota are under review. Norwegian solar wafer maker NorSun is evaluating whether to move forward with a planned factory in Tulsa, Oklahoma. And two fully permitted offshore wind farms in the U.S. Northeast may never get built. These are among the major clean energy investments now in question after Republicans agreed earlier this month to quickly end U.S. subsidies for solar and wind power as part of their budget megabill, and as the White House directed agencies to tighten the rules on who can claim the incentives that remain. This marks a policy U-turn since President Donald Trump's return to office that project developers, manufacturers and analysts say will slash installations of renewable energy over the coming decade, kill investment and jobs in the clean energy manufacturing sector supporting them, and worsen a looming U.S. power supply crunch as energy-hungry AI infrastructure expands. Solar and wind installations could be 17% and 20% lower than previously forecast over the next decade because of the moves, according to research firm Wood Mackenzie, which warned that a dearth of new supplies could slow the expansion of data centers needed to support AI technology. Energy researcher Rhodium, meanwhile, said the law puts at risk $263 billion of wind, solar, and storage facilities and $110 billion of announced manufacturing investment supporting them. It will also increase industrial energy costs by up to $11 billion in 2035, it said. 'One of the administration's stated goals was to bring costs down, and as we demonstrated, this bill doesn't do that,' said Ben King, a director in Rhodium's energy and climate practice. He added the policy 'is not a recipe for continued dominance of the U.S. AI industry.' The White House did not respond to a request for comment. The Trump administration has defended its moves to end support for clean energy by arguing the rapid adoption of solar and wind power has created instability in the grid and raised consumer prices – assertions that are contested by the industry and which do not bear out in renewables-heavy power grids, like Texas' ERCOT. Power industry representatives, however, have said all new generation projects need to be encouraged to meet rising U.S. demand, including both those driven by renewables and fossil fuels. Consulting firm ICF projects that U.S. electricity demand will grow by 25% by 2030, driven by increased AI and cloud computing – a major challenge for the power industry after decades of stagnation. The REPEAT Project, a collaboration between Princeton University and Evolved Energy Research, projects a 2% annual increase in electricity demand. With a restricted pipeline of renewables, tighter electricity supplies stemming from the policy shift could increase household electricity costs by $280 a year in 2035, according to the REPEAT Project. The key provision in the new law is the accelerated phase-out of 30% tax credits for wind and solar projects: it requires projects to begin construction within a year or enter service by the end of 2027 to qualify for the credits. Previously the credits were available through 2032. Now some project developers are scrambling to get projects done while the U.S. incentives are still accessible. But even that strategy has become risky, developers said. Days after signing the law, Trump directed the Treasury Department to review the definition of 'beginning of construction.' A revision to those rules could overturn a long-standing practice giving developers four years to claim tax credits after spending just 5% of project costs. Treasury was given 45 days to draft new rules. 'With so many moving parts, financing of projects, financing of manufacturing is difficult, if not impossible,' said Martin Pochtaruk, CEO of Heliene. 'You are looking to see what is the next baseball bat that's going to hit you on the head.' About face Heliene's planned cell factory, which could cost as much as $350 million, depending on the capacity, and employ more than 600 workers, is also in limbo, Pochtaruk said in an interview earlier this month. The company needs more clarity on both what the new law will mean for U.S. demand, and how Trump's trade policy will impact the solar industry. 'We have a building that is anxiously waiting for us to make a decision,' Pochtaruk said. Similarly, Mick McDaniel, general manager of Bila Solar, said 'a troubling level of uncertainty' has put on hold its $20 million expansion at an Indianapolis factory it opened this year that would create an additional 75 jobs. 'NorSun is still digesting the new legislation and recent executive order to determine the impact to the overall domestic solar manufacturing landscape,' said Todd Templeton, director of the company's U.S. division that is reviewing plans for its $620 million solar wafer facility in Tulsa. Five solar manufacturing companies – T1 Energy, Imperial Star Solar, SEG Solar, Solx and ES Foundry – said they are also concerned about the new law's impact on future demand, but that they have not changed their investment plans. The policy changes have also injected fresh doubt about the fate of the nation's pipeline of offshore wind projects, which depend heavily on tax credits to bring down costs. According to Wood Mackenzie, projects that have yet to start construction or make final investment decisions are unlikely to proceed. Two such projects, which are fully permitted, include a 300-megawatt project by developer US Wind off the coast of Maryland and Iberdrola's 791 MW New England Wind off the coast of Massachusetts. Neither company responded to requests for comment. 'They are effectively ready to begin construction and are now trapped in a timeline that will make it that much harder to be able to take advantage of the remaining days of the tax credits,' said Hillary Bright, executive director of offshore wind advocacy group Turn Forward.
