Focus on TUSD - November 2006

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The deadline to submit material for the December Focus is Friday, Dec. 8. The Focus will be published Friday, Dec. 15. Email submissions to Chyrl Hill Lander or Sharon Dunham in the Communications & Media Relations Department or use the Focus Online Submission Form.

Board President Notes
It is an exciting and busy time for Tucson Unified School District and your Governing Board. Our schools have been celebrating milestones and achievements; Tucson High Magnet School, Kellond Elementary School and Catalina High Magnet School celebrated their 100th, 50th and 50th anniversaries, respectively, in September and October. The AZ LEARNS results were released Oct. 25 with all but one of TUSD's schools receiving Performing or higher labels. This news is great for the District and is testimony to the high quality of instruction and learning going on in our schools.

The Educational Enrichment Foundation held its Eighth Annual Ray Davies Lifetime Humanitarian Achievement Award Luncheon in October and raised more than $100,000 for use in support of TUSD students and programs. I was privileged to give a brief greeting to the more than 660 guests, and expressed appreciation for all of EEF's efforts throughout the year. The work of this foundation is truly invaluable in removing barriers for student achievement and creating an environment for improved teaching and learning.

The Governing Board received information at its Oct. 10 meeting regarding the District's Emergency Operations Plan for Student Safety. In light of recent national events involving violence against schools and their students, the Board was interested and pleased to learn that there has been planning for prevention and instruction and training for response and management of such crises.

Also at the Oct. 10 Board meeting, Board members heard an update on the pending Joint Technological Education District (JTED) election, which passed in all 11 school districts for which it was on the Nov. 7 ballot. The JTED will offer important technical/vocational learning options and expanded career opportunities to its students. The Board will be selecting a person at its December meeting to represent TUSD on the new JTED Governing Board, which will begin operating in January. For more information on the application process, contact Kathy Prather, Director of Career and Technical Education, at 225-4652 or kathy.prather@tusd1.org or see the information on the TUSD web site.

Governing Board policies on Student Attendance and Use of Technology Resources in Instruction Student Laptop Acceptable Use were approved by the Board on Oct. 10. Since these policies directly affect students, the Board asked students to review and provide input prior to the Board's action. The students' insight and remarks were serious and invaluable to the discussion. I encourage more incorporation of student voice in every aspect of the District's business. We need to ensure we are taking every opportunity for them to be heard. As a personal request, I would love some feedback regarding the possible Teen Town Halls.

And finally, I am honored, grateful and excited to have been re-elected to another four-year term on the Governing Board. I look forward to helping to lead TUSD in achieving its mission and fulfilling the promise of becoming an even better Tucson Unified School District.

--Adelita Grijalva, Board President

From the Superintendent
This time of the year traditionally provides some time, even amidst the flurry of activities from now until the new year begins, for each of us to reflect upon what has been done, what we can do better and what we have to be thankful for. I'd like to address some of those issues for TUSD as I see them.

First, as Ms. Grijalva explains in her column, we are moving positively forward in student achievement. I am proud of our schools and our classrooms as they successfully meet the challenges and continue to find creative ways to make students successful.

Second, we are also moving forward with significant changes in both our high schools and middle schools to concentrate on smaller learning communities and more personalized approaches to student learning. As a community, TUSD joined the 10 other Pima County school districts in approving the creation of a Joint Technological Education District (JTED). This will open up course offerings in significant career areas for students throughout the county regardless of where they are enrolled in school.

Third, we are continuing to improve our internal and external communications in TUSD, thanks to a newly restructured Communications & Media Relations Department. This has resulted in initiating a district-wide TUSD Quarterly Awards and Recognition Ceremony. Our first one was held Thursday, Nov. 16, at Catalina High Magnet School. We honored approximately 300 people – students, staff, parents, and community members – who have excelled individually or in group pursuits and who are helping move TUSD from good to great.

What can we do better? In public education there always will be something. As an organization we have chosen to focus on six strategic goals. There are many objectives under these goals but we're focusing on these six:

• student achievement
• people-friendly school environments
• competitive recruitment, hiring and retention practices
• intercultural proficiency
• integrated communication plan
• strategic and sound financial planning

These are the areas we are concentrating on for continuous improvement.

And what can we be thankful for this holiday season? There is much from which to choose:

• a teaching staff throughout the district that combines experience with newcomer enthusiasm
• an administrative staff that is trained to provide support to our classrooms
• a student body that has responded and continues to respond to the raising of expectations so our students' options are maximized upon graduation
• a parent population that is becoming more and more aware of what parent empowerment can mean, not only for their child but for their school and their district
• the business and political communities in Tucson that are stepping up to a new level of support for public schools
• and finally, for a school board that continues to exhibit leadership in urban education during a challenging time of change.

For all of that, we who work in TUSD on behalf of our 60,000 students may be thankful. Happy holidays!

--Roger F. Pfeuffer, Superintendent