
Aurora announces closure of all schools Thursday due to protest against education cuts
announced closures
Thursday due to staff attending a "No More Education Cuts" statewide Day of Action at the Capitol. In an update Wednesday, Aurora Public Schools announced that all APS schools will be closed on March 20.
In a release, APS said, "The Colorado Education Association is hosting its
"No More Education Cuts" statewide Day of Action"
tomorrow, Thursday, March 20 for educators to advocate for public education funding. Aurora Public Schools has also actively been advocating for fully funded education. While our primary goal is always to keep our schools open, due to a large number of staff members who have reported absences, we will unfortunately need to close schools tomorrow."
School officials said the ongoing public education funding crisis will significantly impact APS and districts across Colorado. They expressed concern over potential cuts to public education which would lead to reduced staffing, cutting programs, and having fewer resources to support the students.
"We stand firmly in the fight for fully funded schools because our students, staff and community deserve nothing less. We will continue advocating at the legislative level," said district officials.
Thursday will be a non-student contact day, meaning it will be a regular workday for all APS staff members who have not submitted absences.
The district apologized to families that may be impacted by the closures and said regular classes will resume on Friday, March 21.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Axios
07-08-2025
- Axios
APS rolls back clean energy commitment
Arizona Public Service (APS) is reversing course on its landmark 2020 pledge to produce electricity with zero carbon emissions and be completely reliant on clean energy by 2050. Why it matters: This marks a significant retreat from one of the power sector's most ambitious climate commitments — just as the Southwest is grappling with worsening heat, drought and climate-driven strain on the grid. State of play: CEO Ted Geisler announced on a Wednesday earnings call that APS parent company Pinnacle West Capital Corp. is abandoning its "zero carbon" plan to instead aim to be "carbon neutral" by 2050. Under carbon neutrality, APS, the state's largest utility, would still emit carbon, but it would be offset by reducing emissions elsewhere. Zero-carbon means the 100% elimination of carbon emissions. Jill Freret, APS' director of resource integration and fuels, told 12 News Wednesday that the 2020 plans "were aspirational goals at the time." Zoom in: In a Wednesday press statement, Pinnacle West said that meeting the energy needs of Arizona's growing population requires "the most reliable and cost-effective resources available to us." "Clean energy remains an important consideration for us," Geisler said, "but always with a focus on a balanced energy mix that best serves reliability and affordability." The company will seek opportunities to "support reliability" through other resources, including natural gas. APS will also scrap other shorter-term goals, including getting 65% of its energy from clean sources by 2030, the Arizona Republic reported. Driving the news: APS also said Wednesday that the company — along with Salt River Project, Tucson Electric Power, UniSource Energy Services and the city of Mesa — would get natural gas starting in 2029 from a planned 600-mile pipeline that will extend from west Texas to the Valley. "It certainly has the potential to help support additional development and investment into Arizona," Court Rich, an attorney with Rose Law Group who specializes in energy and utility issues, told Axios. What they're saying: Corporation Commissioner Nick Myers praised APS on X for "backing off their Green New Deal style policies." The other side: Attorney General Kris Mayes and Bill Mundell, both former corporation commissioners, told Axios that increased reliance on natural gas will allow APS to seek rate increases to cover the costs of new plants.
Yahoo
26-07-2025
- Yahoo
APS Board members respond after vulgar text messages sent during board meeting
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque Public School Board Members are responding to controversy after a text message between a board member and her husband used vulgar language to describe the board's vice president. During last week's APS School Board meeting, members followed along on their laptops as they gave results of a self-evaluation. Story continues below Education: APS Board members respond after vulgar text messages sent during board meeting Trending: Working group offers recommendations for AI use in schools to NM lawmakers News: Metropolitan Detention Center reports 6th inmate death this year Board member Heather Benavidez called out the board on attendance, which then sparked a debate about one member who has missed many meetings while on maternity leave. 'But during that period, this board member did attend one meeting, so was she on leave or no?' said Benavidez. Benavidez's husband was following the meeting and sent a text to his wife, which popped up in large print on her laptop. Someone took this photo that has been circulating. KRQE News 13 obtained the picture. Her husband wrote a vulgar message about board member Courtney Jackson. It said, 'Courtney is a c***, which Benavidez liked, and wrote back, 'a stupid one at that.' He went on to state, 'There is no maternity leave,' and Benavidez wrote, 'What a crock of s***.' Jackson sent a statement saying: I was made aware of the comment and reached out the next morning, in accordance with our Board Governance Manual, to address what was clearly a hurtful and inappropriate personal attack. Through texts and a conversation, I expressed my hope that we can bring our focus back to students, where it belongs, and that board members can uphold a basic level of respect and decorum, even when we disagree. What was on display that night was disappointing and lacked the integrity we each committed to when we took this role. No one said we always have to agree, but we do owe one another respect. We are role models for the district. Disparaging comments only bring down the important work we're here to do. Though we did have a conversation, there has been no apology for the words used, which is unfortunate. But, I remain committed to rebuilding trust and modeling the leadership our students, families, and staff deserve. Benavidez sent a statement: During a recent board meeting, an unfortunate breach of my privacy occurred when someone took a photo of my computer screen—capturing a private conversation—without my knowledge or consent. I have since addressed and resolved this matter. As we approach the start of the new school year, my focus remains firmly on improving student outcomes. I am committed to moving forward and will not allow distractions or actions that seek to undermine my integrity or dedication to detract from the important work ahead. APS Board President Danielle Gonzales sent this statement: I will not comment on the issue directly. The APS Board of Education has established procedures for addressing concerns related to board member conduct and performance. We will utilize the appropriate channels as outlined in our governance manual to ensure that any issues are handled accordingly. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword


Black America Web
17-07-2025
- Black America Web
‘Good Trouble Lives On' Actions Honor John Lewis, Inspire Civil Rights Activism
Source: Interim Archives / Getty Five years after civil rights icon Congressman John Lewis passed away, communities are mobilizing to make some 'good trouble' on Thursday, July 17. More than a symbolic nod to Lewis and his commitment to voting rights and civil rights more broadly, organizers of the 'Good Trouble Lives On' Day of Action aim to inspire and ensure that Black and other impacted communities' concerns and needs are not drowned out by the new wave of authoritarianism. Led by a coalition of civil rights and pro-democracy groups, including Transformative Justice Coalition, Black Voters Matter, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights the 'Good Trouble Lives On' Day of Action the group stands firm against the surge in attacks on fundamental freedoms, equity, and violations of civil liberties. During a press conference, Transformative Justice Coalition co-leader Darryl Jones explained that Lewis' family did not want the anniversary of his passing to be a simple commemoration. 'We asked their permission to do this…their condition was they did not want it to be a somber remembrance of his life,' Jones said. 'But rather picking up the baton of what he stood for and running forward with it, building and moving toward the beloved community.' Organizers estimate over 1,600 events across the country, with the main event happening in Chicago, Ill. Anchor events will take place in Atlanta, Ga, St. Louis, Mo., Annapolis, Md., and Oakland, Calif. Communities have organized everything from marches and rallies to mass mobilizations and other movement-building events. While events may differ across communities, there is a throughline of commitment to carrying forward the fight for racial justice, voting rights, and dignity for all. The 'Good Trouble Lives On' coalition called for an end to the following: The Trump administration's extreme crackdown on our civil rights, from our right to vote to our right to protest and speak freely. Politicians and lawmakers targeting Black and Brown Americans, immigrants, trans people, and others with hateful, dangerous policies. The wealthy and well-connected slashing programs that working people rely on – including Medicaid, SNAP, and Social Security – to line their own pockets. In many ways, the group's demands serve as a challenge to the masses of people who believe in something better for their families and communities. The demands also follow Lewis' urging for people to help build the Beloved Community. In an op-ed published in the New York Times shortly after his death, Lewis encouraged Americans to come together and recognize the ongoing work required to sustain democracy. 'Democracy is not a state. It is an act, and each generation must do its part to help build what we called the Beloved Community, a nation and world society at peace with itself,' wrote Lewis. 'Ordinary people with extraordinary vision can redeem the soul of America by getting in what I call good trouble, necessary trouble.' Echoing a similar sentiment during Tuesday's press conference, League of Women Voter's CEO Celina Stewart gave her take on what it meant to get into 'good trouble.' 'It means that to do good, sometimes you have to take risks and you have to rock the boat, be a little unruly, put politeness aside, and fight for what you believe in,' Stewart said. 'Even when it means you get into trouble.' The League of Women Voters plans to mobilize 8.5 million voters between now and November 2026, with a focus on returning power to the hands of the people, invoking sentiments of various state-level Black-led power-building organizations across the country. April Albright, Legal Director and Chief of Staff for Black Voters Matter, encouraged people to join a 'Good Trouble Lives On' action, but also to understand that we all have a role to play beyond Thursday's actions. Recognizing the importance of 2025 as a local election cycle, Albright called on people to pay attention to the local level 'because power is birthed from the ground up.' 'We need every single facet of our communities actively engaging and making sure America continues to become,' she said. 'Let Thursday be a reminder that we still have to make America become that multicultural Democracy, where we all share in power and resources. But it's going to take our change of our heart, and it starts this Thursday.' SEE ALSO: Protecting Protest Rights And Dissent Amid Trump's Attack On Freedom Black Voters Matter Kicks Off Freedom Ride For Voting Rights On Juneteenth SEE ALSO 'Good Trouble Lives On' Actions Honor John Lewis, Inspire Civil Rights Activism was originally published on