School district leaders in Ahwatukee Foothills, Chandler and Tempe urged business members Thursday to help schools by giving their time and spreading the word about tax-credit donations.

Three local superintendents warned about 150 people at a Tempe Chamber of Commerce luncheon about a ballot initiative that they say could cut funding in special education, transportation and other important programs.

In a "State of the Schools Address," Superintendents Maria Menconi of the Kyrene Elementary School District, Arthur Tate of the Tempe Elementary School District, and Shirley Miles of the Tempe Union High School District said schools face enormous pressures.

They must meet the rigorous requirements in the federal No Child Left Behind Act and Arizona LEARNS law while struggling to educate children who are learning English, are homeless and have special needs, they said.

And they must do it all on limited budgets, they explained.
 

You are all pivotal to the success of our schools," Miles told the business leaders