At a May 21 public hearing, the Maricopa Community Colleges Governing Board will consider raising property taxes within the limit permitted in the state constitution and statute (A.R.S §15-1461.01).

Senate Republicans are proposing a nearly $8.8 billion spending plan for the coming year, a tiny -- 1.6 percent -- hike over current levels.

Summer School … these two words can sound like a one- to two-month jail sentence for students in school.

Another school year is drawing to a close — so if you have young children, they’re one year closer to the day when they head off to college. And both you and your children need to prepare for that day. Your kids can do so by developing good study habits. As for you, it’s never too soon to start preparing for the high costs of higher education.

"Had I known about the crime problems around Arizona State University I would have never let Kyleigh move to Tempe.” Those are the words of Karen Montenegro, the mother of murdered ASU student Kyleigh Sousa.

Principal Shelley Conner said she’ll miss camaraderie the most at St. John Bosco in Ahwatukee.

The city of Phoenix and Arizona State University announced that Sun Devil baseball will begin playing at Phoenix Municipal Stadium at the start of the 2015 season.

Seattle Pacific University 2013 winter quarter dean’s list has been announced.

Dr. Neal Lester, author and professor of English at Arizona State University, was honored with an achievement award for the College of Arts and Humanities at the University of West Georgia 36th annual Alumni Association Awards Gala. A native of Jefferson, Ga., Lester graduated from the University of West Georgia in 1981 with a bachelor of arts degree in English.

Alexandra Soto of Desert Vista High School has been named the recipient of the USDA/NIFA A-UBET Scholarship.

More than 300 Kyrene School District teachers were surveyed this year on their opinions of the newly-adopted teacher evaluation system, most agreeing the system’s feedback helped refine their practice.

Alexandra Soto of Desert Vista High School has been named the recipient of the USDA/NIFA A-UBET Scholarship.

As the gun debate stirs and emotions rise higher and higher, we tend to leave ration and logic out of the subsequent efforts to address what is an important public issue. Emotionally charged solutions seldom fix anything. They simply make a lot of people feel like something positive is being done but they truly accomplish nothing. And marching out victims to use as props for your initiative is a shameless political ploy. Politicians are great at using emotional issues to push their pet plans. Most of the efforts currently in flight to answer the recent tragedies in Colorado, Arizona, Connecticut (all very liberal enclaves I might add) are labeled as “Gun Safety” and “Gun Violence” initiatives. Looking at those terms, who is not for Gun Safety? And who is not for ending Gun Violence?

Congratulations to the winter guard teams from Corona del Sol High School and Desert Vista High School for taking first and second place in the Arizona State Winter Guard Championship on April 6. These two teams have been competing all season and have forged what can best be described as a “friendly rivalry.” On the floor, they gave their best and used the competition to push each other to higher performance levels. When each competition was over, they could often be seen hanging out together and forming friendships. The season is over with a terrific showing on behalf of Tempe Union High School District. This level of achievement is only possible with a strong commitment to excellence and willingness to put in many hours of hard work week after week.

Administrators at Arizona State University’s Preparatory Academy-Polytechnic campus will host a series of information sessions through May to discuss enrollment for the upcoming school year.

As a first generation university student and Phoenix native, I chose to study here in Arizona at Arizona State University because of its distinct take on legislative problem solving. Arizona is independent and unique; it incorporates both an agricultural economy and burgeoning city life all in one state.

The United States has seen a deluge of much-needed attention to the issue of bullying in the last decade. Horrific examples of young people harassing and abusing their peers — sometimes to the point that the victims commit suicide — have forced parents and educators to begin thinking about the issue and to initiate or expand bully prevention efforts. What is often missed in these discussions, however, is the problem of adults who bully young people.

The Arizona Board of Regents has approved tuition increases at the state’s three public universities.

Diane Brown, executive director of the Arizona PIRG Education Fund (formerly New Jersey’s and Illinois’ PIRG executive director), fails to mention (“SRP needs to provide vision, advance energy efficiency,” AFN, March 29) that Salt River Project (SRP) meets and exceeds all FERC, NERC, and EPA (FED government agencies) regulations and SRP provides lower utility rates than “regulated utilities” in Arizona.

Recently deciding to collaborate with Canon in a Digital University partnership is just one of the steps Arizona State University is taking to maintain its goals to achieve higher sustainability. Implementing “Sustainable Printing” has decreased its number of printers by 32 percent, but is still easily accessible for students.

For high school seniors this is the time of year when emotions run high. The month of April brings its own set of challenges as seniors approach May 1, National Decision Day. This is the day when seniors who have been offered admission to a college or university must accept or decline all offers. How will you make this very important, perhaps even life-changing decision? Here are a few tips to guide you:

Ryan Quinn (“Be careful when looking for cheap education,” AFN, March 24) offered a very enlightening opinion regarding the private, for-profit university educations that are being offered continuously on television, radio, Internet pop-ups and in print media. While it is valid that the poorer the economy, the more need for higher education if one is to secure a good job. These colleges also qualify for the same Pell Grants and student loans that state-run universities offer, but the degree usually has less merit in the marketplace. Taxpayer dollars being lent for these for-profit universities are frequently just another scam. Good advice from the letter writer — buyer beware.

Loyola Marymount University has announced the students named to the dean’s list for the fall 2012 semester. Among them are two students from Ahwatukee Foothills: Ramona Ekpe and Nickolas Smith.

Arizona is fortunate to have three fine universities in our state. All these institutions are to be commended for different aspects of academia; the one thing we can say for all of them is that a degree from any of them is highly esteemed. Yes, they can be expensive, but they offer an excellent education.

Parents, teachers, education leaders and activists gathered last week at the State Capitol for an informational meeting that discussed the new Common Core state standards and the possibility of replacing AIMS testing.