Carefree Truth
Issue #695, October 27, 2018
Mayor Les Peterson introduced Dr. Debbi Burdick, the Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD) Superintendent. He noted the CCUSD is one of the best school districts in the state. He is thrilled with their leadership and with the performance of their students.
Issue #695, October 27, 2018
Mayor Les Peterson introduced Dr. Debbi Burdick, the Cave Creek Unified School District (CCUSD) Superintendent. He noted the CCUSD is one of the best school districts in the state. He is thrilled with their leadership and with the performance of their students.
Photo by Herbert Hitchon
Dr. Burdick thanked the Mayor and Council for giving her the opportunity to speak. She reported that the big annual test scores are just in, and that CCUSD is still #1 in Maricopa County. It is #6 in the state, out of 227 school districts. She called the students and the staff "amazing", and felt very, very lucky to be in this community.
She began by stating the disclaimer that, as the Superintendent, she is not legally allowed to advocate for any ballot measure involving the schools. She was there to present the facts, so that voters could make an informed decision on November 6th.
CCUSD is looking to join what used to be called a Joint Technical Education District (JTED), but is now called a Career in Technical Education District (CTED), an action that requires voter approval in Arizona. There are 2 technical schools in the metro area, one in the West Valley and one in the East Valley. CCUSD is requesting approval to join the East Valley Institute of Technology (EVIT), located in Mesa, to give the Cactus Shadows High School (CSHS) students additional opportunities.
CCUSD is one of only three school districts in Maricopa County that is not in partnership with a CTED. There is a question on the November 6th ballot about CCUSD joining EVIT. If approved by the voters, the annual property tax rate increase would be $5 per every $100,000 of the secondary assessed valuation. All students who live within the boundaries of the CCUSD, even those who are in a parochial, private, or charter school, or are home schooled, are eligible to participate.
Between 2012 and 2017, within one year of completing EVIT training, 3370 students went on to a 2 or 4 year college, 1500+ were hired right out of high school, and 192 served in the military. The major fields offered include health care, cosmetology, automotive, culinary arts, building trades, and other, which includes a smorgasbord of offerings.
(At 9 minutes and 30 seconds in the video link at the bottom of this issue is an EVIT video that is a little over 2 minutes long, showing the main campus in Mesa and what it offers.)
EVIT has a satellite campus in Fountain Hills, and the goal of CCUSD is to have another one located in the former Desert Arroyo Middle School, behind Cactus Shadows High School (CSHS). When surveyed, students wanted Engineering, Health Care, IT/Technical, and Culinary/Hospitality brought to the retrofitted Desert Arroyo building, all of which would fit well within this community. Dr. Burdick invited questions from the Council.
Councilman Stephen Hatcher complimented Dr. Burdick on her presentation. He asked if different skill sets were taught at different locations or if all were taught at each location. Dr. Burdick explained that the CTED students would spend 4 hours in either the morning or the afternoon learning those courses and the rest of the day would be spent on academic studies. The courses requiring heavy equipment and infrastructure are taught at the main campus in Mesa. Aeronautics/Space courses are taught at the airfield in Williams.
If this partnership is passed by the voters in November, EVIT is interested in renting space in the Desert Arroyo building. They would bring in their instructors and equipment, and would retrofit the classrooms to accommodate the courses. Courses offered there would be in categories like culinary/hospitality and IT that do not require extensive infrastructure. Mr. Hatcher asked if EVIT accepts and solicits donations of equipment and tools. Dr. Burdick responded that they do. If anyone wished to make those donations to CCUSD, they would be put in touch with EVIT. Vice Mayor John Crane added that tool companies donate tools to trade schools with the thinking that if students learn on that brand, they will use it for life.
The Vice Mayor noted that this is totally different than the "shop" classes he took in high school. The students are taught, for instance, how to build houses, about electricity and plumbing. "It's incredible." He asked if the funds requested will pay for the Desert Arroyo retrofit or if that would be another "ask". Dr. Burdick explained that EVIT would turn the kitchen into an industrial kitchen needed for student certification. They could knock out walls and expand classrooms to house different programs. As interest grows, they will bring in more programs. Vice Mayor Crane pointed out that if passed, it would add .05 percent to our taxes. "That's a small number."
Mr. Hatcher asked if EVIT receives funding through the State, which collects the County taxes. Dr. Burdick confirmed that an estimated $1 million is collected from our area through the secondary taxes. That money goes into the State General Fund, and EVIT gets the dollars from the General Fund. Aside from retrofitting Desert Arroyo, EVIT has agreed to give some of that money back. The taxpayers pay about $17 million into the General Fund that goes to other school districts but doesn't benefit CCUSD. Dr. Burdick negotiated a deal in which CCUSD would receive a certain amount per technical education student. If those taking technical ed courses remains the same as the current number, this would provide an additional $600,000.
Councilman Mike Farrar noted that there is a big push by the State and the Maricopa County Association of Governments (MAG), advocating more of these programs. If this passes, when will the campus be ready? Dr. Burdick said the students would be able to go to the Mesa, Fountain Hills, and Williams campuses starting in the next school year. They hope to have some programs available at Desert Arroyo for the 2019/20 school year as well. Some that require heavier infrastructure might take a little longer. CCUSD plans to do another survey of the 2019/20 freshman class to gauge future student interest in order to bring in the right programs.
Mr. Farrar asked why EVIT in Mesa was chosen over the West Valley technical school in Deer Valley. Dr. Burdick replied that the one in Deer Valley came for meetings twice and never looked at the Desert Arroyo campus. They were selling their existing programs at their existing campuses. EVIT immediately looked at Desert Arroyo and talked about what programs they could bring there. Also, the Governing Board said they would not approve it if they couldn't get money back. EVIT was willing to give back a greater amount. It was a very simple decision.
Mayor Peterson asked if the school district would provide transportation to the other campuses. Dr. Burdick said CCUSD has vehicles of various sizes, so could use them for transporting students. Many juniors and seniors have their own cars. They can also car pool. It takes about 45 minutes to get to the Mesa campus.
Mr. Hatcher asked if EVIT provides a blanket liability policy. Dr. Burdick said she hadn't looked at that, but all the school districts have similar liability policies, EVIT has the same liability Trust as CCUSD. A person on the Trust used by CCUSD is also on EVIT's Governing Board, so she knows they would have similar policies.
Mayor Peterson said bonds have been requested in previous years that have failed to pass. He knew that CCUSD spans many communities, some of which voted for the bonds and others that did not. He asked where Carefree stood in this mix. Dr. Burdick said the last bond, 4 years ago, passed. It has been the Maintenance and Operations override requests that have not passed. Carefree has typically not voted for any item on the ballot. The measures that have passed have passed due to the Cave Creek/Phoenix corridor, which is where most of the students live. CCUSD territory includes Carefree, Cave Creek, Scottsdale, Phoenix, and unincorporated County. All are very different. Dr. Burdick hoped the presentation she gave might help to clarify the ballot question.
Mr. Hatcher asked if Carefree could put something about it on the Town website from an educational standpoint. Gary Neiss shook his head no. But Mayor Peterson noted that the Council members could write opinion pieces as individuals for publications. Dr. Burdick said the school district also had to be very careful. They run everything past attorneys before saying anything publicly to assure they aren't challenged. But they do have a sheet with just facts. Mayor Peterson requested that it be sent to Kandace Contreras. Dr. Burdick said it is also posted on the Chamber of Commerce website.
The Mayor and Council thanked Dr. Burdick for her presentation. She thanked them for allowing her to present.
https://vimeo.com/293874432
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.