Governing board to approve grant, turn around positions tonight

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Maricopa Unified School District’s governing board will meet tonight at 6 p.m. at the district office administration building, 44150 W. Maricopa-Casa Grande Hwy.

In addition to approving vouchers and personnel, board members will hear reports on staffing, district data, the use of fields by the district and the city, as well as updates from principals Rick Abel and Bonnie Gibson regarding Maricopa Wells Middle School and Maricopa Elementary School. Maricopa Wells is going into its third year of corrective action, and Maricopa Elementary is a feeder school also looking at school improvement.

A final reading of the extracurricular activity eligibility policy will be provided for board approval The updated policy will feature two-week grade checks with warnings for D grades.

The energy management policy, first presented to the governing board in June, appears on the evening’s agenda for a first reading.

Board members will be asked to approve both a sixth grade “Worth the Wait” sex education curriculum and a fifth grade “Puberty, Growth and Development” curriculum. Both are provided by the Pinal County Health Office school liaison.

The $3.3 million grant provided by the Ak-Chin Indian Community will come to the board for approval tonight. The grant provides for a MUSD Turn Around Project affecting five schools in the district:  Butterfield Elementary School, Maricopa Elementary School, Maricopa Wells Middle School, Maricopa High School and Saddleback Elementary School.

Grant specifics stipulate the hiring of 25 teachers to reduce class sizes. The funds will also allow for a district wide gifted coordinator, and a turn around director will be hired to determine progress and what steps the district needs to take to turn schools around. This individual will work with principals and the state department of education to evaluate teachers and train them in evaluating data. Eight paraprofessionals will also be hired for assessment monitoring.

In addition, the grant will fund four turn around coaches, who will be at the three elementary schools and Maricopa Wells, to provide academic and behavioral intervention and possibly assist with the gifted program. These new positions must all receive board approval.

To see a full agenda for this evening governing board meeting, click here.

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