Respect for Our Old Schools

   I attended an old high school in Louisiana, graduating in 1965. Today, that high school is still used for specialized education in science, math, and technology. This, in a town of only 15,000 people. What I learned from attending that old school is the advantage to a community that respects its old schools.
   Deer Valley has been educating students since 1934, with New River Elementary School. As the North Valley grew, schools were added and a school district was created. Decades ago, high school students in the far north end of the district would ride the hay wagons into Glendale to go to high school. It was an innovative beginning to a transportation system that now drives students about 3 million miles a year.
   The district started with K-6 elementary schools and middle schools for seventh and eighth graders. Our first high school, Deer Valley High School, was built in 1980 and our district became a "unified" school district. We had phenomenal growth for more than 25 years and now have 38 schools and nearly 36,000 students. Our high schools graduated nearly 2,500 students in May.
   For years, I fought with administration and the board in support of our older schools, mostly located in the southern part of our district. Unabated, administrators, teachers and staff transferred to the many new schools built in the growing northern portion of our district and academic and athletic advantages transferred to those schools. Most of the money for buildings went into the new schools.
   In 2008, we persuaded the board to dedicate effort to modernizing our older schools and the $148 million bond issue was placed on the ballot. With voter approval, money is now available for making our older schools better. Major work has been completed at Park Meadows and Deer Valley High School has major renovations in process. Even Mountain Ridge High School is having the old portable buildings removed and replaced with brick and mortar structures. It's a start to renewing our schools.
   But, the work is not over. Our board must balance budget issues with respect for our older schools. The most recent budget reductions disproportionately affected our K-6 (mostly older schools) schools.
   If elected to the board, I will commit my energies to protecting our old schools. Our family of communities deserves that respect for their schools.