Whereas the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board recognizes that the funding for schools in Arizona is a billion dollars below 2008 levels; and

Whereas the Paradise Valley Unified School District experiences daily the critical shortage of both teachers and staff; and

Whereas the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board is witness to the consequences of this chronic underfunding and sees the negative impact to teachers, staff, students, families, our community and our state; and

Whereas the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board has supported and worked for solutions to fund teacher and support professionals pay raises and other educational needs, only to see the Arizona Legislature fail to stop enacting tax cuts that run counter to our efforts; and

Whereas our educational community has worked hard and waited for the restoration of money for raises and resources for our classrooms in a valiant effort to maintain high educational standards; and

Whereas on behalf of our students and families, we cannot allow this crisis to continue without a plan to address these issues; and

Whereas we are confident our community, including parents, families, caregivers, business leaders, support professionals, teachers’ families, school District administrators, neighbors, and friends, will support meaningful pay raises for public school employees and increased education funding to educate our children and secure the future of Arizona.

Therefore, we support our school employees as they make their demands known for legislative action to secure the necessary funding for meaningful pay raises and education funding;

Be it resolved that the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board is in full support of our educators as they advocate for meaningful pay raises for public school employees and increased funding for public education in ways that are lawful and support the educational mission of our District. The Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board urges the Arizona State Legislature to work urgently on behalf of the children and families in our State to take swift and meaningful action to develop a viable plan to pay teachers the professional
salaries they deserve.

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The Paradise Valley Education Association (PVEA) will host its third annual Dresses and Ties for Girls and Guys event Saturday, April 21st from 10 a.m.- 1 p.m. and Tuesday, April 24th from 5-7 p.m. at the Foothills Resource Center.

The PVEA Dresses and Ties for Girls and Guys event is open PVSchools students, and all items are available free of charge with a limit of one free outfit per student. Students must bring their PVSchools Student ID. The event is organized and ran by volunteer teachers who collect prom attire donations throughout the year from the PV community.

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At the April 19th Governing Board meeting, 12 pieces of students artwork, including ceramics, watercolors, pencils and mixed media were added to PVSchools’ permanent student art collection. PVSchools purchased art pieces from the following elementary, middle and high school students:

• Miguel Loza, 1st grade student at Arrowhead Elementary School
• Maya Park, 3rd grade student at Mercury Mine Elementary School
• Sky Gartin, 6th grade student at Copper Canyon Elementary School
• Lauren Weiler, 6th grade student at Desert Trails Elementary School
• Kai Buensalido, 7th grade student at Explorer Middle School
• Samantha Carboni, 7th grade student at Desert Shadows Middle School
• Isabella Vuolo, 7th grade student at Sunrise Middle School
• Sophia Rillera, 8th grade student at Mountain Trail Middle School
• Denali Wight, 9th grade student at Shadow Mountain High School/North Valley Arts Academies
• Taylor Senior, 10th grade student at Horizon High School
• Jared Alexander Mann, 11th grade student at North Canyon High School
• Molly Nigro, 12th grade student at Sweetwater Community School

The artwork will be on display on in the Governing Board Room for three years before being distributed throughout the district. Each year, an art specialist, not associated with the district, is invited to adjudicate student artwork on display at the annual art festival.

PVSchools began purchasing student artwork in the late 1980s and has more than 250 pieces in its collection.

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Did you know that the PVSchools’ Community Education Department offers Montessori Preschool program at two locations - Desert Shadows Elementary School and Mercury Mine Elementary School?

If you’re researching preschool options, consider the philosophy and approach of a Montessori program. PVSchools’ Montessori Preschool programs are based on the principles of Dr. Maria Montessori. Students in the program engage in critical thinking, discovery and creative invention in a unique setting that fosters growth. Classes are taught by experienced Montessori-certified teachers.

Why choose a Montessori Preschool?

• Montessori classrooms are designed to enhance and develop a child’s natural curiosity, creativity and intelligence.
• Montessori teachers closely observe students to determine their interests, strengths and weaknesses and then create small group learning based on this unique understanding.
• Trained Montessori teachers guide children through rigorous and innovative academic programs using logic and discovery that moves from concrete to abstract.
• Montessori classrooms are places where children constantly share their thoughts and learning, inspiring younger students and learning from older students, which develops independence, self-confidence and a love of learning.
• The Montessori environment is one in which children learn by doing in a place where movement and spontaneous investigation are encouraged.

The program is tuition-based and is open to children across the Valley. For more information and to download the application, please visit www.pvschools.net/prek. To schedule a tour of one of our Montessori classrooms, please contact the Community Education Department at 602-449-2210. Before and after school Mascot Club is available for an additional fee.

Related content:

Infographic: Education through Natural Learning: The Montessori Method  

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Kyle Kline, a senior at Paradise Valley High School, and Lauren Paxton, a senior at Pinnacle High School, are two of the 22 high school students awarded the 2018 Flinn Scholarship, a highly competitive merit-based award for undergraduate study at an Arizona public university.

The Flinn Scholars Program, supported by the Phoenix-based Flinn Foundation and the universities, covers the cost of tuition and room and board at one of the state’s three public universities, provides funding for at least two study-abroad experiences and an off-campus internship and offers other benefits. The scholarship is valued at more than $120,000.

The scholarship benefits, beyond covering eight semesters of tuition, fees, and room and board, include:

• A three-week summer seminar in China for the full class following the freshman year, and at least one additional study-abroad experience;
• Funded participation in the Professional-Leadership Internship Program, exclusively for Flinn Scholars, at an Arizona company or organization;
• Mentorship from top faculty and exposure to local and world leaders, including leaders from Arizona’s business, civic, and academic communities;
• Fellowship in a community of about 80 current and nearly 550 alumni Scholars;
• Membership in a university honors college, with small classes, guest lectures, and research experiences;
  Intellectual, cultural and social activities developed for Scholars by both the Flinn Foundation and the universities.

Lauren will attend Arizona State University Barrett Honors College, and Kyle will attend the University of Arizona in the fall.

The typical Flinn Scholar achieves at least a 3.5 grade-point average, a top-5 percent class rank, a score of 1360 on the SAT or 29 on the ACT, and participation and demonstrated leadership in extracurricular activities.

The Flinn Scholars Program is operated by the Flinn Foundation Scholarship Program LLC and supported by the Flinn Foundation, a Phoenix-based private, nonprofit, grantmaking organization. The Foundation, founded in 1965 by the late Dr. Robert and Irene Flinn, also supports the advancement of Arizona’s bioscience sector, arts and culture, and the Arizona Center for Civic Leadership.

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Do you want to get ahead or retake a class to achieve a better grade? Looking for a high school summer program that works around your summer schedule?

PVOnline has options for you. At PVSchools, high school students have the opportunity to take one summer school class free of charge through PVOnline.

Taking an online summer class is challenging, and students are expected to spend at least 20 hours a week on coursework. Our certified and highly qualified teachers provide support to students throughout summer school. Teachers will follow students' progress, grade work and provide academic assistance.

The six-week session will run from June 4th-July 13th, with final exams conducted during the last week. Students interested should register through Infinite Campus by 6 p.m. on May 30th. Learn more about the online summer classes.

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The North Valley Arts Academies (NVAA) will host a Phoenix Fine Arts Fest on Friday, May 18th from 4-8 p.m. at Shadow Mountain High School. The festival is planned and led by student artists from the three NVAA schools - Desert Cove Elementary School, Shea Middle School and Shadow Mountain High School, and includes artwork and performances from both NVAA and non-NVAA students. This free event is open to the public and will include art, performances and hands-on family-friendly art activities for all ages.

Activities will include:

• Three art galleries, which will feature 100 pieces of art, including photography, 2D and 3D.
• Four hours of student performances, including vocal, instrumental, dance, theater, film and interdisciplinary. Performances include solo, duo, small group and large group combinations. Performances will take place at various locations throughout the campus.
• A variety of student-run workshops on topics such as music technology, visual arts, theater, dance and performance.
• Family-friendly activity center with booths and hands-on projects, including face painting, arts and crafts, club and student group booths.
• Food trucks will be onsite, including Aioli Food Truck, Modern Tortilla, Frosted Frenzy Cupcakes and Kona Ice.

The Phoenix Arts Fest is funded by the Youth Engagement Project Grant, which was awarded by the City of Phoenix’s Office of Arts and Culture.

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Volunteers play an integral role in the lives of students in PVSchools. National Volunteer Week, April 15th-21st, recognizes the value, contributions, support and work that volunteers do. As we celebrate National Volunteer Week, PVSchools would also like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all of our volunteers who make a difference in the lives our students each and every day.

At PVSchools, we welcome and encourage our parents to volunteer in their child’s school and chaperone class field trips. Research has shown that students whose parents volunteer in the classroom have higher test scores, receive better grades and have better attendance.

Another way that community members can be involved in our schools is by being a volunteer tutor in our award-winning Volunteer In Paradise (VIP) program. This program matches dedicated qualified volunteer tutors with students at one of the seven participating schools. Volunteer tutors work with students in either a one-on-one setting or in small groups with the goal of increasing student achievement. Volunteer tutors are needed in all subject areas in kindergarten through 6th grades at Arrowhead Elementary School, Campo Bello Elementary School, Desert Shadows Elementary School, Echo Mountain Primary School, Hidden Hills Elementary School, Mercury Mine Elementary School and North Ranch Elementary School.

VIP Fast Facts:

• There are 89 VIPs who provide 240 hours of academic intervention to students every week.
• Since August 2017, VIPs have volunteered more than 4,000 hours.
• VIP received the 2017 Arizona School Boards Association Golden Bell Promise Award.

Learn more about all of the volunteer opportunities that are available in PVSchools.

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With only a few weeks left in the school year, many parents are finalizing plans for summer learning options. PVSchools will offer a variety of programs available for the 75 days of Summer Break.

PVSchools’ Community Education Department will offer:

• Enrichment Classes are available at seven sites, including Boulder Creek Elementary, Fireside Elementary, Grayhawk Elementary, Mercury Mine Elementary, North Ranch Elementary, Pinnacle Peak Preparatory and Wildfire Elementary. With hundreds of options, your child will have the opportunity to explore a variety of engaging topics.
  
  
• Gifted Summer School is limited to elementary school students who have been designated by PVSchools as having gifted qualifications. The classes are offered at Fireside Elementary.
  
  
• High School Summer School is available at Paradise Valley High School.
  
  
• Mascot Childcare Camp is available May 30th- July 27th at the Family Resource Center with weekly field trips. Please note that there is no camp on July 4th. 
  
  
• Middle School Summer School is at Boulder Creek Elementary School.
  
  
• North Valley Arts Academies Broadway Camp is open to students in 5th-12th grades who have an interest in theater productions. This three-week theater camp will run from July 9th-26th at Shadow Mountain High School. Details are available on page 34 of the brochure.
  
  
• Sports Camps for a variety of sports will be available at Horizon High, North Canyon High, Paradise Valley High, Pinnacle High and Sunrise Middle.
  
  
• STEM Academy will offer classes in Code-Makers, STEM-Makers and Science-Makers at the CREST building at Paradise Valley High School. Details are available on page 34 of the brochure.
  
  
• Kindergarten Readiness Camp helps ease the transition into elementary school. The camp is at several locations throughout the district.

Registration is now open. The deadline to register for Mascot is the Wednesday prior to the week of the desired enrollment. For the majority of the remaining summer programs, the deadline to register is 24 hours before the start date. Learn more about our summer options.  

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The City of Phoenix and Campo Bello Elementary School will host a Community Health and Safety Festival on Saturday, April 28th from 8-11 a.m. at Campo Bello Elementary.

At the event, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Councilman Jim Waring. Additionally, a free breakfast will be served at 8 a.m., and the Campo Bello Student Council will operate a Smoothie Bike.

The event will also offer:

• Free bike helmets for children ages 5-18, while supplies last
• Bike Rodeo
• CPR training
• Free NOAH Family Clinic dental screening
• A presentation by Not My Kid
• Nutritional information
• Safety training booths

The community is encouraged to attend this free event.

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Shadow Mountain High School’s Percussion ensemble performed their Fall show at the Winter Guard Arizona Championship that was held on April 7th at Wells Fargo Arena at Arizona State University, which showcased more than 125 ensembles from across Arizona. Shadow Mountain High School earned the title of Percussion Local A Momentum Division 2018 Champion. View the performance video.

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PVSchools will host a Parent Spring Leadership Training for parent groups on April 25th from 10:30 a.m.-noon in the East/West Conference Rooms at the District Administrative Center.

Presidents or a representative from each parent group should attend this training in which Superintendent Dr. James Lee, district leadership and representatives from the United Parent Council will present valuable information about parent organizations.

Topics that will be discussed include:

• Best practices and research in recruitment
• Transitioning to middle or high school parent organization
• Building capacity in others
• Understanding your community in all its uniqueness
• Expanding your parent group reach

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Paradise Valley High School had an outstanding showing at the Arizona HOSA (Future Health Professionals) State Leadership Conference that was held April 2nd-4th in Tucson. The statewide conference was attended by more than 1,900 Arizona students, which included 50 students from Center for Research in Engineering, Science and Technology (CREST) Bioscience program at Paradise Valley High School.

HOSA is a Career and Technical Education student organization that provides professional development in leadership, teamwork and employability skills. CREST Bioscience is a leading chapter in Arizona. At the recent State Leadership Conference, 29 Paradise Valley High School students will attend the HOSA International Leadership Conference this July in Dallas.

First Place - HOSA Bowl (Team)
Noah Fox, Prati Lodha, Riley Reed and Isabella Santoni

First Place - Extemporaneous Health Poster
Josie Dahir

First Place - Biomedical Lab Science
Ramya Rameshkumar

First Place - Job Seeking Skills
Kyle Kline

First Place - Public Service Announcement (Team)
Kaitlin Turley, Anna Miroshnichenko and Stephanie Plouffe

Second Place - Creative Problem Solving (Team)
Ben Levy, Charles Lenstrom, Mac McGraw and Matthew Morales

Second Place - Biomedical Lab Science
Rishika Bysani

Second Place - Researched Persuasive Speaking & Writing
Aashika Desai

Second Place - Pharmacy Science
Isabella Wylie

Second Place - Medical Innovations - Original (team)
Fenwick Walker, Zoe Danielson, Kushi Praveen and Nicola Ferguson

Second Place - Transcultural Healthcare
Julia Groman

Third Place - HOSA Bowl (Team)
Hannah Butler-Robbins, Ryan O'Hara, Michelle Myers and Andrew Raby

Third Place - Medical Spelling
Shreya Chandak

Third Place - Nutrition
Amulya Bhaskara

Third Place - Researched Persuasive Speaking & Writing
Zoe Lesher

Fourth Place - Medical Spelling
Pri Karlapudi

Fourth Place - Biomedical Lab Science
Paige Nye

Fifth Place - Extemporaneous Writing
Mariah Johnson

Fifth Place - Pathophysiology
Alexandra Rolfness

Fifth Place - Pharmacy Science
Allee Ellershaw

Fifth Place - Transcultural Healthcare
Brian Mecinas

Fifth Place - Biomedical Lab Science
Preeti Kakade

The following students were elected as state officers Alexandra Rolfness, Region II vice president, and Josie Dahir, historian /reporter.

Platinum Membership - only 15 awarded statewide
Gregory Carnesi, Genevieve Craven, Josie Dahir, Frederick Eszterhazi, Morgan Fox, Kyle Kline, Prati Lodha, Ryan O'Hara and Ramya Rameshkumar

Gold Membership
Mac McGraw, Brian Mecinas, Riley Reed, Isabella Santoni, Mariah Johnson, Jasmine Delgado, Amanda Ginsberg, Courtney Malinski, Danyelle White, BriyaMarie Contreras, Jasmine Effendi and Krystal Garcia

Barbara James Service Award - Gold
Ramya Rameshkumar and Ryan O'Hara

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Pinnacle High School’s Graphic & Web Design students completed in the 56th Annual Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) State Leadership Conference that was held on April 6th-7th at the Westin La Paloma in Tucson. During the two day conference, 1,600 students representing 99 chapters across Arizona competed in 70 business-related events. This was the first time Pinnacle High School students attended the FBLA State Leadership Conference.

First Place - e-Business
Ninad Kulkarni, Hayden Paoletti and Bader Alrifai

First Place - Graphic Design
Carsen Jones and Hailey Nabity

First Place - Help Desk
Carsen Jones

Web Design
Tyler Hammar ranked 7th place in the category.

The students will attend the National Leadership Conference from June 26th to July 2nd in Baltimore.

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North Ranch Elementary School will host a Wrangler Roundup on April 28th from 10-11:30 a.m. at the school. During the event, you’ll have the opportunity to meet Principal Kenneth Spranger and members of the parent teacher association, as well as tour the campus. The event will conclude with a light reception at the school’s playground. To RSVP, please email Erica Sheade at esheadenrpta@gmail.com or www.facebook.com/Northranchespta/.

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Parents want their children academically prepared with the 21st century skill set to compete and succeed in a global marketplace. PVSchools provides students with the pathway to achieve this goal, starting with our Mandarin Language Immersion Program at Whispering Wind Academy.

Learning a second language at a young age has many benefits such as developing cognitive functions, enhancing problem-solving skills and scoring higher on standardized tests. Learn more about the Mandarin Language Immersion Program on Wednesday, April 18th from 6-7 p.m. in the Library at Whispering Wind Academy.

Students enrolled in the Mandarin Language Immersion Program are immersed in the language and culture while gaining invaluable insight into global awareness, as well as expanded language skills.

Related content:

• PVSchools Builds Competitive Edge with Mandarin Immersion
  
  
• PVSchools Mandarin video
  
• The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain

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On March 23rd, 55 Paradise Valley High School students competed in the Arizona Science and Engineering Fair (AzSEF) at the Phoenix Convention Center. In total, more than 900 students from across Arizona participated in the state-wide competition. The AzSEF is managed by Arizona Science Center and brings together first-place winners from science fairs across Arizona to compete for thousands of dollars in prizes and scholarships.

Gold Medal: Energy Physical - Zach Rolfness, Zach Nelson and Matthew Schwartz

Bronze Medal: Energy Chemical - Kylie Snow and Rylee McHattie

Bronze Medal: Embedded Systems - Akul Gupta, Angelo LaRosa and Kailer Morrison

Bronze Medal: Material Sciences - Alexandra Rolfness

Bronze Medal: Systems Software - Ben McCormac, Diego Delgadillo and Sydney Schulz​

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PVSchools is proud to announce that seven high school seniors have recently been named National Merit® Finalists.

Horizon High School
Akhil Mahant, Aidan Smith and Madison Vaupell

Paradise Valley High School
Ryan O’Hara

Pinnacle High School
Laura Mirtich, Pranav Narnur and Jonathan Yonke

Beginning in March and continuing to mid-June, National Merit® Scholarship Corporation will notify finalists that they have been selected to receive a Merit Scholarship® award. Merit Scholarship awards are of three types: National Merit® $2,500 Scholarships, Corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarship awards and College-sponsored Merit Scholarship Awards.

The National Merit® Scholarship Program is an academic competition for recognition and scholarships that began in 1955. High school students enter the National Merit Program by taking the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT®)—a test which serves as an initial screen of approximately 1.5 million entrants each year—and by meeting published program entry and participation requirements.

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PVSchools is proud to announce that Louis Hermida, a student at Paradise Valley High School, was named as a 2017-18 National Hispanic Scholar.

Each year, the National Hispanic Recognition Program honors more than 5,000 academically outstanding students from more than 250,000 Hispanic/Latino juniors who take the PSAT/NMSQT®. Eligible students must be at least one-quarter Hispanic/Latino, which is based on the program’s definition and achieve a minimum PSAT/NMSQT score for their region.

The National Hispanic Recognition Program is an academic honor that can be included on college applications.

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April marks School Library Month, and this year’s theme is Making Connections at Your School Library. PVSchools school libraries and especially our media specialists instill the love of books and reading into students. In most schools, the library is the hub of the school. Each school library houses thousands of books - nonfiction, fiction and resources. There are also individual student workstations available for use.

At PVSchools, our media specialists work collaboratively with classroom teachers to create a special area class that supports what students are learning in their classroom. Media Specialists also help expand a student's personal curiosity.  

In elementary school, students get their first glimpse of the world of books and lifelong love for reading. Throughout this process, our media specialist are there to guide and assist students on their journey of literacy. Our media specialists make the library warm, inviting and welcoming for all students who visit, and by doing so, they create a positive learning environment.

Middle and high school students working on reports and research projects also rely on the media specialist and the resources that are available in their school libraries. Media specialists can assist students by helping them select books or find websites that they can source in their reports. Our media specialist help instill the values of Digital Citizenship into students. This district initiative raises awareness of parents, students and teachers of online responsibilities, how to learn and have fun online safely, and of the consequences that can occur when online responsibilities are not fully understood.

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The North Valley Arts Academies (NVAA) students from the NVAA Visual Arts, NVAA Dance, NVAA Music Technology will participate in Phoenix’s First Friday on Friday, April 6th from 6-10 p.m.  The students will be located at the corner of Roosevelt and 5th Street in downtown Phoenix

This monthly event is designed for people in the community to enjoy the spirit and culture of downtown Phoenix, touring art galleries, venues and arts-related spaces from 6 -10 p.m. every First Friday of the month.

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You may be asking yourself, what makes PVSchools’ Gifted Preschool stand out from other gifted preschools? First of all, PVSchools is one of the nation’s few public school districts to offer established Gifted Preschool programs with four locations - Desert Trails, Desert Cove, Fireside and North Ranch elementary schools. Our Gifted Preschool teachers are Certified, have a Gifted Endorsement and an Early Childhood Certification.  

In Dr. James Delisle’s book “Dumbing Down America: The War on Our Nation’s Brightest Young Minds (And What We Can Do to Fight Back),” he states “What makes PVSchools standout is both breadth and depth of its offerings for young gifted children. These programs are enhanced by professional development opportunities for staff and community presentations for parents of gifted kids or those just interested in learning more. If you are looking for a ‘complete package’ of how to serve gifted young children, PVSchools is the Holy Grail you seek.”

Why not start with the best?

PVSchools’ Gifted Education Department will offer tours of its Gifted Preschools and Self-Contained Gifted program (K-6th grades) in April.

• Wednesday, April 11 at 9:15 a.m. at North Ranch Elementary School
• Thursday, April 12  at 9:15 a.m. at Desert Cove Elementary School
• Monday, April 16 at 9:15 a.m. at Fireside Elementary School
• Friday, April 20 at 9:15 a.m. at Desert Trails Elementary School
• Monday, April 23 at 9:15 a.m. at Sonoran Sky Elementary School (Self-contained program for K-6th graders)

Let your child’s Journey of Excellence begin at PVSchools. Take the next step and learn more at www.pvschools.net/preschool.

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Thunderbird Art Center will host an unveiling of a one-of-a-kind art mural on Saturday, April 7th from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Thunderbird Arts Center. The art project is a co-production of PVSchools, Thunderbird Art Center, Central Arts Alliance and Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock.

The mural, which features the likeness of Alice Cooper along with other Arizona figures incorporates background of the Arizona landmarks, as well as community type buildings such as an art museum, theater, etc. The mural took four to five sessions to plan and design with approximately eight North Valley Arts Academies Visual Arts students and art teacher Jennifer Jardine working on the project. Teens from Alice Cooper’s Solid Rock and Shadow Mountain High School spent several weekends painting the mural.

During the event, art instructors will offer free 20-minute workshops and demonstrations in various mediums, including youth dance, painting, ceramics, photography and more. The event is free, and the community is invited to attend.

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PVSchools is on the forefront of cutting-edge technology with a low latency (LoLa) node. A LoLa node is a computer network that is optimized to process a very high volume of data messages such as audio and video without delay. PVSchools’ Information Technology (IT) Department set up a computer that connects to the Internet at lightning speed, which allows musicians in different locations to perform together in real time without experiencing lag time or glitches. The LoLa node will help PVSchools leverage technology to extend rich music experiences for our students and the community.

The district recently loaned a second LoLa node to Arizona State University (ASU) to connect PV music students with opportunities at the university and beyond. In order to test this technology between the district and ASU, PVSchools partnered with Dr. Jason Caslor, assistant professor of Music and the associate director of Bands and Orchestra at ASU. A group of PV student musicians tested LoLa by virtually performing while 25 miles away.  Dr. Caslor conducted the students just as if he was in the same room.

A ground-breaking performance with PVSchools students and ASU’s Wind Ensemble Concert is scheduled on Tuesday, April 10th at 7:30 p.m. at ASU Gammage Auditorium. PV students will be at the PVSchools Technology Operations Center (TOC) and the ASU students will be at Gammage.  The performance is free, and the community is encouraged to attend.

In the near future, all five of the district's high schools will have a LoLa node, not only for music, but for dance with multiple cameras.

About ASU School of Music:

The ASU School of Music in the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts is committed to inspiring and empowering students to become creative leaders who transform society through music. The school’s internationally recognized faculty artists and scholars are dedicated to being compassionate and motivating mentors so students receive a world-class education and define themselves as musicians, scholars and leaders.

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Whereas, more than 150,000 students in at least 170 primary or secondary schools in the United States, including the 15 students killed on February 14, 2018, at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, have experienced a campus shooting since 1999, when the first mass shooting at a U.S. public school killed 12 students and one teacher and injured 21 others at Columbine High School; and

Whereas, the children who have attended American public schools since 1999 have never known a world without school shootings; and

Whereas, the basic life needs of children, including feeling physically secure and protected, must be met for them to succeed in school and life; and

Whereas, a vibrant, enriching and respectful school culture, where all students feel a sense of belonging and connection, is essential to school safety; and

Whereas, the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board believes both the physical and mental well-being of our students and employees is critical to their ability to thrive; and

Whereas, the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board has prioritized improving health supports and safety precautions to prevent gun violence and other acts of violence from occurring on campus; and

Whereas, the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board believes the school employee’s role in campus safety and student well-being must not include carrying a gun or having access to one in their classroom or work area; and

Whereas, the responsibility for keeping students and staff safe on campus, including from gun violence, is a shared responsibility that cannot be borne by public schools alone, and requires support from the community, local and state public safety agencies, and policymakers at the local, state and federal levels;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board declares its support for the rights of students to express their feelings and needs regarding school shootings and safety;

And be it further resolved that the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board calls upon:

1. Local, county and state public safety agencies to prioritize collaborative threat assessment and crisis planning with school districts.
2. The United States Congress and state legislatures, including the Arizona State Legislature, to prioritize the protection of students and school system employees from gun violence on campus by passing legislation that:
   1. More effectively regulates and restricts access to firearms, especially by youth and those experiencing mental health issues, and urgently addresses access to firearms capable of quickly producing mass casualties.
   2. Prohibits possession of firearms on school grounds except for use in a program approved by the school, and except by a person who is authorized by the state to carry a firearm who is specifically assigned to or hired to improve safety on that campus, such as a school resource officer.
   3. Provides funds, above those needed for basic building maintenance and improvement, for capital improvements shown to increase safety and security.
   4. Funds public health research on issues related to gun violence.
   5. Advances mental and behavioral health supports, including funding for more counselors and mental health specialists and an acknowledgement of their vital role on school campuses.

Adopted by the governing board at a meeting held on March 22, 2018.

Signed,

Mrs. Nancy Case
Governing Board President