Vote YES – A recent CCUSD graduate’s perspective

My name is Spenser Robert, and I graduated from Cactus Shadows High School (CSHS) in May 2010. As I write this, it’s almost a year later, and I’m finishing up my freshman year at New York University. While the transition from high school to college can be challenging for many, I was fortunate enough to have had exceptional academic preparation, due to the work of incredible educators such as Erinn Ferris, Meredith Fowler and Kelly Henson (Fowler and Ferris are still at CSHS). These teachers gave me the motivation to push myself academically. Fowler encouraged me to study both French and Spanish in high school. Henson worked with me for months on my NYU application and went as far as to call the university regularly to check up on my review status. She also wrote a glowing letter of recommendation. Ferris has written me numerous letters of recommendation and was instrumental in my acquisition of a four-year scholarship from Kiwanis of Carefree. Without these educators, I highly doubt I would have made it into NYU. With recent district budget cuts, I would hate to think that the district would be forced to loose great educators like these, leaving future graduates at a disadvantage.

Because of these CCUSD educators, I have been able to succeed at one of the most competitive universities in the nation. I have maintained straight As through both semesters this year even with a heavy workload of 18 credits per semester. Despite the fact that most of my peers at NYU come from expensive, private high schools, I have never once felt at a disadvantage. For that, I am forever indebted to the faculty and administration of CSHS.

Please vote yes for the Cave Creek Unified School District Override.

Vote YES – CCUSD Override November 8th – CCUSD alumni and parent’s perspective

My wife (class of 1996) and I (1998) are both alumni of the Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD). I attended preschool through high school within the district. After completing our college degree programs, we moved back to the community to raise our children.

Although the district has grown substantially since we graduated from CSHS, it has adapted, remaining successful and competitive among all Arizona districts. But that doesn’t mean that continued support through voting on ballot initiatives and seeking additional sources of funding can be dismissed or taken lightly. It should be evident that raising the standards of education in Arizona will yield the highest return on investment to our community in the long run. Lawmakers are further limiting resources that are being allocated to education. Expecting our schools to succeed without the support of the community cannot continue.

Teacher’s salaries must remain competitive to retain faculty that excels. This was a problem in the mid-1990s, when we lost several of my favorite teachers to other districts. Facilities are always in need of maintenance and must be upgraded when possible. Desert Arroyo is a stark reminder of how quickly buildings can deteriorate if left unattended. Lastly, students need to be given the opportunity to acquire a challenging, meaningful and rewarding education. That’s why curriculum is continually evaluated and updated. Lesson plans and class materials utilized during my time in school, for example, are no longer relevant nor challenge students of today.

I can proudly say that if not for a safe learning environment, energized faculty and a variety of extra-curricular activities provided by CCUSD, the desire to continue my education beyond high school and challenge myself to look for the lesson in each day as a professional may not have taken root.

Please vote YES for the CCUSD override November 8th.

- Luke Kautzman

Giggle Tree Preschool
Cave Creek Elementary – Jackrabbits
Black Mountain Elementary – Bobcats
Desert Arroyo Middle School – Rattlers
Cactus Shadows High School – Falcons

Vote YES – CCUSD Override November 8th – A parent’s perspective

As the mother of two wonderful children who attend Horseshoe Trails Elementary School in the Cave Creek school district, I welcome the opportunity to share my feelings of how impressed I’ve been with the teachers they’ve had. I’ve had experiences at each end of the spectrum. My daughter, a sixth-grader, has excelled in school from the day she started kindergarten, but my son, a second-grader, has struggled – especially with learning to read. What I’ve found so remarkable is how the teachers and staff have catered to each of their needs. My daughter has been placed in honors classes and encouraged to strive for excellence by challenging her. My son has been provided with extra support through small group sessions such as RTI (Response to Intervention). His teachers have always maintained an open line of communication with my husband and I regarding his progress and difficulties. In turn, we have been better equipped to help him with his schoolwork at home. I’m so incredibly proud to say that with his teachers’ exceptional guidance, support and accessibility in what is always a positive emotional environment, my son is not only thriving at school and achieving beyond what was expected of him, but his self-esteem and confidence has been boosted ten-fold. I fear that without the passage of an override in November, the individualized attention my son and my daughter have received over the years will disappear. The override money, which currently funds 60 teachers, is essential to keeping our class sizes down and fostering the individualized attention for our students that is necessary for each one of them to succeed.

In addition, when our family was going through a personal crisis, the teachers were there for my children emotionally, which is something our family will never forget. The kindness of the teachers helped my children get through their school days at a time when things were very difficult. Isn’t that what we want to create a strong and cohesive community?

I can’t possibly thank the teachers and staff at Horseshoe Trails enough for all they have done and continue to do daily not just for my children, but all those who attend the school. If our entire country had teachers as dedicated and well-trained as those at Horseshoe Trails and the entire Cave Creek Unified School District, we’d be well on our way to solving the problems with our education system.

- Dana Blank

CCUSD Board Approves of a November Override Election

Board faces districtwide cuts if override fails

CAVE CREEK, AZ – After suffering through nearly $6 million in cuts from the State over the last three years, the Cave Creek Unified School District’s (CCUSD) Governing Board unanimously approved a November override election.

The 15 percent override election will ask district voters to replace a K-3 override and an M&O override that have already been in place. If the November election fails, the district will lose $4 million over the next four years or 12 percent of the district’s annual operating budget.

“Because of the State budget cuts, local contributions and funding become critical. Without the renewal of the override funds, the district will lose about 60 teachers and the quality programs that go with them” says LearnYes Chairman Steve Hart.

LearnYes.org is a political community organization created to support CCUSD and its educational measures. To learn more, go to LearnYes.org.

At the May 25 meeting, the board was presented with an outline of what cuts the district would face if the November override does not pass. These cuts, which would be made over three years starting in the 2013 school year, cast a shadow over the district’s strong elementary school programs already in place. The district’s elementary schools would lose all of their PE, Art, Music, Band and Computer teachers, leaving the well for artistic and athletic expression fairly dry. Losing this special instruction would also eliminate prep and planning time for the elementary staff. About 13 ½ elementary school teachers’ aides would be gone despite the fact that there would be larger class sizes and less prep time. All librarians at the elementary schools and middle schools would be gone, as would all the World Language Program instructors at the elementary schools and middle school. The district’s elementary schools would also lose all-day kindergarten, which would most certainly affect the academic performance of all district children.

Since 2006, when all-day kindergarten began in CCUSD, the number of students that tested as proficient in Writing on the AIMS test has risen by 15 percent. According to district kindergarten teachers, this academic achievement would certainly suffer if all-day kindergarten was taken away. “We’d probably only have time to teach the three Rs and not be able to educate as deep and wide,” Horseshoe Trails Elementary School kindergarten teacher Sherri Rambo says. “The world is in constant change, and we have to change with it. Thirty years ago, a half-day met the needs of young children. Today, we have to teach kids to sustain themselves in a global society.” Rambo is a National Board Certified teacher who has been teaching kindergarten for 12 years.

The district’s middle school population has already seen hard times when the board was forced to vote to close one of its two middle schools last year to save money. If the November override doesn’t pass, the middle school population would lose 3 ½ teachers and go to a seven-period day, which would remove the ability to have teaming of students and teachers. The high school would lose eight teachers and also move to a seven-period day.

Despite the fact that the district voters have approved of only four of its past 16 education-related elections, Hart remains optimistic about passing an election in November. “I believe that our community now understands how significant any cuts are to a K-12 education and the importance of students and their education to our community,” Hart says.

As the district braces for one more round of budget cuts from the State for the next school year (2011-2012) – this one in the unprecedented amount of $1.6 million – it becomes even more imperative that the community steps up if the board approves a November election. Approval would cost district taxpayers only about $2.50 a month more than what they’re paying now on a home assessed at $250,000 – a tax rate that remains more than $1,000 less per year than surrounding districts. The extra $2.50 a month would re-instate reduced override funds due to failure of override elections in 2008 and 2009.

If an election is called, the LearnYes.org organization stands ready to support the decision and rally the community in support of its schools. “We should all be supporting education and teachers and their critical role in helping our children and students develop,” Hart says. “Our school district is a very important part of our community and something that is integral to the values in our community.”

Welcome to LearnYES Blog

Now that a 2011 Override election has been called for CCUSD, we will be blogging here. Visit often to get the latest updates as the campaign progresses. Be sure to visit our main website here as well.