Arizona Leads the Nation in Cuts to Education
Note from Superintendent Calvin Baker:
One of the questions I’ve heard repeated this school year goes something like this:
“We passed the override, so why isn’t my child’s class size smaller?”
The answer is that while the override made a significant, positive impact on funding for education in Vail, it is only partially offsetting cuts in funding from the State.
Funding for education in Arizona remains among the very lowest in the country. Unfortunately, as indicated in this story from the Washington Post, it isn’t getting better.
View the full report referenced in the article.
Vail Now Split Into Two Legislative Districts
New Legislative Districts
With the general election fast approaching, there are some major changes to know about concerning the new Legislative Districts (LD) for the Vail area. The majority of the Vail School District is now in LD 14. However, the northwest corner of the Vail School District is now in LD 10.
The white portion of the map shows the portion of the Vail School District that is in LD 10. Civano and Mesquite Ranch are in LD 10. All other portions of the Vail School District are in LD 14.
Below is the list of candidates and links to their websites for Legislative Districts 14 and 10.
Candidates for LD 14:
Senate: Patricia Fleming (D), Gail Griffin (R)
House: Robert Leach (D), Mark Stonebraker (D), David Gowan (R), David Stevens (R)
Candidates for LD 10:
Senate: David Bradley (D), Frank Antenori (R)
House: Stefanie Mach (D), Bruce Wheeler (D), Todd Clodfelter (R) Ted Vogt (R)
Candidate Visits to the Vail School District
The Vail School District always welcomes visits and the opportunity to discuss education in Vail with any legislative candidate.
Senate candidate Patricia Fleming recently attended a School Board Meeting and also visited the district office, where she spent time discussing issues with staff members.
In the past year, Senate Candidate Frank Antenori and House Candidate Ted Vogt also took time to visit schools in Vail and discuss issues with staff.
Citizens in the Vail School District are encouraged to research each candidate, consider the candidate’s position on education and related issues, and VOTE.
High School Intersession Program
Are you looking for a way to bring up your first quarter grade? Check out Intersession!
ELIGIBLE STUDENTS: Any Vail School District student with a grade of C, D, or F
LOCATION: Cienega High School, 12775 E. Mary Ann Cleveland Way
DATES: 1st Session Sept 24 -27 / 2nd Session Oct 1-4
TIME: 8:40 A.M. – 3:20 P.M., Monday through Thursday
COST: $75 per class per student (payable to Vail School District)
TRANSPORTATION: Pick up a bus schedule from your school’s front office or visit the district website.
LUNCH: Bring your own or buy it at the snack bar (the free/reduced lunch program will not be available)
WHAT TO BRING: Notebooks, pens, pencils, and a good attitude (No laptops)
NOTE: Classes capped at 25 students (15 students minimum)
DISCIPLINE/ABSENTEE POLICY:
• Any student who presents a discipline problem will be dropped from the class.
• Any student who misses more than a half day (3 hours) per session will be dropped from the class.
• A dropped student will not receive a refund and will not earn credit.
CURRICULUM AND GRADING:
All classes will use a similar curriculum to what was given in the regular classroom. The grade earned in Intersession will be averaged with the grade earned in the 3rd quarter. This newly averaged grade will then become the official 1st quarter grade. NOTE: Intersession can only raise grades; it cannot lower them.
EXAMPLE:
Quarter 3 grade of 50%
Intersession grade of 80%
Average of the two is 65%
Now 65% is the new official Quarter 3 grade for that class.
To register, print this form, return the bottom portion of this form to your school counselor or call Mrs. Dujmic at 879-2033 by 9/17/12. Classes are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
First Ever “Data Dig” with VSD’s Beyond Textbook Partners
BT Partners Come Together
Recently, Vail hosted the first ever, “Data Dig” with 17 partners through the Beyond Textbooks Program. Over 100 educators from across Arizona came together at Empire High School to look at or “dig” into Student Achievement Results. They analyzed how to improve classroom achievement for Arizona students. This will help with the implementation of the Common Core standards that will be assessed by 2015.
Beyond Textbooks is a tool specifically for teachers to plan, teach, and share materials online. This creates a greater efficiency and allows for a decrease in textbook costs. Beyond Textbooks started in the Vail School District and now is now helping Vail’s 67 partners across the state. Vail continues to be the “lighthouse” helping our partner district students achieve their true potential. Ultimately, when we win, our students win.
Vail Ranks #1, Taxes Increase, and more…
The September Vail Vistas has been sent to all Vail residents. The Vistas is a publication by the Vail School District designed to inform residents of Vail happenings including student and staff successes, superintendent’s reports, important information for homeowners, and community events.
In this issue:
- Find out how Vail where Vail schools rank statewide
- Learn why Vail School District tax rates rose after 13 years of decreases
- See which Vail teacher was honored by the President of the United States
- Become familiar with Vail’s three newest schools
- … and more
Get the inside scoop on all the above and more in the September Edition of the Vail Vistas.
Anne Gibson Highlighted in “Thinking Arizona”
Anne Gibson, a long time revered Vail activist, was recently highlighted for her dreams of Vail in “Thinking Arizona.” The article discusses how Gibson had a vision that the Vail School District could be the best district in the state and how she was relentless in making her vision a reality. Learn more and read this tribute to our very own Anne Gibson.
