Focus on TUSD - December 2006

Board President Notes
As the first half of the school year draws to a close, we hope that this month's Focus finds you in good spirits and looking forward to the holidays! The Board has completed several significant items of business since the last issue of FOCUS.

At the Nov. 14 Board meeting, the selection process for TUSD's representative to the new Joint Technological Education District (JTED) Governing Board was approved. The position was advertised, applications were received, interviews were conducted by a 20-member committee of representatives from across the District and community venues and six finalists were chosen. A public forum was held on Dec. 11, when the candidates responded to questions from both Governing Board members and the public. At the Dec. 12 regular board meeting, members appointed Ruth Solomon to a two-year term as the TUSD representative to the new JTED Governing Board, effective Jan. 1. The JTED Governing Board will be comprised of 11 members, one from each of the school districts that approved the proposition during the November election. We are very happy to have Ruth Solomon as our TUSD/JTED representative.

Also at the Nov. 14 regular board meeting, members approved the 2007-08 academic calendar, which is available on the TUSD web site.

Congrats to the Sabino High School Sabercats who played for the Class 4A Division I State Football Title on Dec. 9, at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale. Led by head coach Jay Campos, the Sabercats competed against the Scottsdale Saguaro Sabercats. Although Sabino lost the game, they had an outstanding season and finished with a record of 12 wins and only two losses.

The Governing Board is encouraged by the plan for the electronic preparation and execution of board agenda items and agendas. This exciting technology will be implemented in phases and is expected to be in place by spring. This means that our agendas will be a "click" away for interested community members, staff and students.

On Nov. 16, the first Quarterly TUSD Awards and Recognition Ceremony was held at Catalina High Magnet School, where over 300 people received awards for noteworthy achievements. Through these events, the District will recognize more people for their successes than could be done during board meetings. The next celebration will be Feb. 27 at Rincon High School, 421 N. Arcadia Blvd.

You have my very best wishes for a blessed and restful holiday season!

--Adelita Grijalva, Board President

From the Superintendent
On Jan. 1, a new school district will be born in Pima County. Its parents are the 11 Pima County school districts whose citizens went to the polls in November and by an almost 3:1 margin said "YES" to the Joint Technological Education District (JTED). TUSD was proud to be one of those 11.

The real winners are the students of Pima County. They are the ones for whom choices involving career tracks will become more and more available. The new district will coordinate career and technical education classes in all the districts and help them reach a new level of expectation and sophistication. Students may choose to attend classes in their own high school, or they will be able to choose to go anywhere a course exists in Pima County offering something they are interested in.

The JTED holds the potential for engaging students in ways not available before in Pima County. The ability to afford new technical equipment and tools in such areas as medical technology, biotech, automotives, aviation maintenance and other key career areas is just the beginning. Partnering with business and industry in new ways to provide students with hands-on internships is yet another area for expansion.

Each of the 11 districts will initially appoint one member to the new JTED Governing Board. Voters will elect members after these two-year appointments expire. Over the next several months, this board will be heavily involved in the unglamorous but very important work required to begin a new district. Next August, students will be able to enroll in JTED classes throughout Pima County

Did I say the students were the real winners? I'd have to say we all are, thanks to everyone who supported the JTED last month and the impact it will have on youth and their educational and economic futures.

Whatever traditions you celebrate, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Eid, Hanukkah, the New Year--or your own--I hope you will enjoy a peaceful, rewarding family-, food-, and fun-filled holiday season.

--Roger F. Pfeuffer, Superintendent

 

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The deadline to submit material for the January Focus is Friday, Jan. 12. The Focus will be published Friday, Jan. 19. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the Focus Online Submission Form.