School Board welcomes Michael Muriett; sets calendar for next year

The calendar for the 2006-2007 school year is set. At its last meeting the Maricopa Unified School District’s Governing Board approved the calendar preference submitted by the district’s calendar committee, which was chaired by Maricopa Elementary School Principal Lynnette Michalski.

New teachers will report on July 31, 2006, while continuing teachers will report on August 2. The first day of school for students will be Tuesday, August 8, following a Meet the Teacher Day on August 7. The last day of school next year will be May 25.

The calendar shows 88 days in the first semester and 92 days in the second semester. Provisions have been made for four staff development days and seven early release days. Four of those early release days will be for elementary conferences, and the remaining three will be used for district-related activities.

Intercessions will be a week shorter next year for the first time in several years. Fall break will take place on October 16-20; spring break will be March 12-16. The winter or holiday break will begin on December 22 for students, who will return to classes on Monday, January 8, 2007.

President Jim Chaston (left) welcomed new board member Michael Muriett as Tracy Davis, another member of the school board, looked on.

Curriculum
Curriculum Director Gayle Smith presented a report on the district’s curricular plan. “We’re ready to jump to a new level,” explained Smith. “The best way to increase student achievement is to provide a guaranteed, viable curriculum.” The plan provides for curriculum mapping by subject area, peer collaboration teams, math and reading block scheduling and customer service as a mind set for all personnel. The four main focus areas are: student achievement, professional development, growth and communication.

Money Matters
A district-wide math textbook adoption was approved for next year. Houghton-Mifflin was selected as the program provider. Cost to the district will be $157,000 to $186,000 for middle and elementary school students, depending on enrollment figures.

Finance Coordinator Cindi Hostetler reported on the 2005 tax credit monies. The district received $14,360 from a total of 61 contributors. This figure is up from the 2004 amount, which was $11,635 from 52 contributors. Tax credit dollars can be used to fund educational field trips or travel, character education, sports, band, choir or orchestra, as well as other extracurricular activities.

Pima Butte Elementary’s PTO raised enough money through their fundraising efforts to purchase 10 overhead projectors and 20 learning centers to be donated to the school. Funds raised amounted to $4,350.

Two new buses will be purchased on a five year lease purchase agreement for a sum of $194,854.98. This is a savings of $15,000 because the vehicles were built for demonstration purposes.

The board approved a Fulton Homes donation of a 12-acre school site in Neely Estates, a development of 817 lots. The developer will also provide a cash donation of $81,700 at final plat.

New Schools and Naming Them
The School Facilities Board has approved two K-6 elementary schools, each designed to accommodate 850 students. One school is currently scheduled to open in 20007 and the other in 2008; these are most probably the Tortosa and Villages sites. Additional classroom space for 200 students at the high school was approved for 2008.

As requested previously by the board, a naming committee for new schools met and submitted several names for elementary schools. The following names for middle or junior high schools were submitted: Estrella, El Dorado, Pistacio Groves, Rio Bravo and Thunderbird. They committee agreed that there should always be a Maricopa High School, but that a second facility could be named Iron Horse High School. Board members asked the committee to meet again and to concur on three choices for school names. The board will then made a selection at its next meeting.