/ Modified jun 27, 2016 8:25 a.m.

Proposition 123 Payments to Schools May Start This Week

First installment, at $260M, approved by voters in May special election.

MW education spotlight

The state Board of Investment will meet Tuesday to vote on distribution of money from the state Land Trust Fund to make the first payment from Proposition 123.

The payment, estimated at $260 million, comes two weeks before the start of school in the Vail Unified School District. Students there may not see many changes, but teachers will notice some differences.

“They will all be receiving a desperately needed, new laptop computer to access all of their digital instructional materials and digital plans,” Vail Superintendent Calvin Baker said.

In many school districts, including Vail, the Proposition 123 money will also help pay for teacher raises.

Many educators supported the proposal during the May special election but said the promised money is only a start.

“But sort of like you are hiking in Arizona in the summertime, and you’re running out of water, and somebody gives you a glass of water, even if it is not enough for you to finish the hike, it is deeply appreciated,“ Baker said.

The passage of Proposition 123 settled a six-year old school funding lawsuit. It also increases funding for K-12 schools more than $3 billion over the next decade.

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