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Ideas We Couldn't Implement (And Why)

We were not able to implement the following ideas.

• Sell district property: According to the district's interpretation of state law, proceeds from the sale of district-owned property must be used to reduce district debt. The money cannot be used to increase the district's budget capacity.
• Eliminate middle school interscholastic sports and build intramural program: Middle school activities are an instructional component of desegregation orders and provide safe, supervised after-school activities for children who may otherwise be unsupervised after school.
• Four-day school week: Initial investigation does not show significant cost-savings. Impact on TUSD families far outweighs any savings.
• Stop building multi-purpose facilities: The Arizona State Facilities Board mandates that each school have a space capable of being used for student assembly sufficient to accommodate one-third of the student body. This space can also be used as a cafeteria, and for physical education and comprehensive health programs. The State funds these capital improvements.
• Stop paying retirement buy-out: District success is based upon honoring commitments. The ESP was offered, promoted, and adopted in good faith to district employees and will remain intact.
• Invest in AVID program district-wide: Schools would need to write grants to implement the program.
• Expand staff development programs: Student contact time is already limited, which does not allow for extra time to devote to staff development.
• Install hand sanitizer dispensers to replace soap & towels: This does not address removal of dirt and is not compliant with health codes.
• Be sure any new buses purchased are equipped with air conditioning: It may take over ten years to replace the entire fleet.
• Eliminate mandatory assessments: Assessments are essential in improving student achievement. Assessments such as AIMS are required by Arizona Department of Education.
• Close cafeteria at 1010: The profit/loss ratio is reviewed annually and closure is not recommended at this time.
• Eliminate full-day kindergarten: Full-day kindergarten is funded by the state. No cost-savings would be realized by eliminating it. With an emphasis on student achievement, full-day kindergarten is essential to academic achievement (Rodel, Lead with Five).
• Eliminate Assistant Principals: Board finds assistant principals to play a crucial role at highly populated schools.
• Rent school space to outside organizations for profit: The district by law can only recoup the costs associated with any rentals. A cost-plus approach is not allowable by law.
• Large lectures for high school students: Academic studies indicate that smaller classrooms enhance academic achievement.
• Standardize and reduce report card and progress report distribution: Regular communication to parents is crucial to academic achievement.
• Create non-profit organizations at each school site to handle fundraising: The legal issues and expenditure of time and money to implement this do not make this feasible at this time.