Governing Board | Community Strength within PVSchools

At our most recent meeting, the Governing Board approved several contracts that will provide everything from a kitchen and cafeteria remodel at Greenway Middle School to furniture at Sweetwater Community School to plumbing upgrades at Copper Canyon Elementary School. We have been fortunate that our community has long understood the need to maintain strong schools – and that includes the physical facilities as well as teaching and learning – and has consistently supported PVSchools by approving bond and override measures to directly put dollars into the district and our students and staff.

Another measure of the strength of our PV community is in the vast number of volunteers who provide time and talent in and out of classrooms and programs districtwide. Whether that is through involvement in PTAs and PTOs or via booster clubs, or offering to chaperone a field trip, judge a contest or bee, mentor clubs, read to students, serve on a curriculum or other committee, or participate in any myriad other volunteer opportunities in PVSchools, thousands of individuals annually give of themselves to support our students and staff.

One of the more unique opportunities to volunteer in Paradise is to become just that – a member of the award-winning Volunteer in Paradise (VIP) program who, after receiving 8-plus hours of training, support students in providing one-on-one and small-group tutoring in classrooms throughout PVSchools. But VIPs do more – this past fall, for example, 57 volunteers provided 114 hours of English as a Second Language tutoring to 155 adults. You will also find VIPs supporting practice testing and even assisting at the PVEA Prom Boutique!

Some of our VIPs are still in the classroom themselves – the VIP College Corps is comprised of students enrolled at PVCC and NAU who receive credit for the service-learning and practicum hours they earn while interning in PVSchools, also gaining field experience by tutoring elementary students. We also have four-legged PAWS in Paradise VIPs, certified therapy dogs who accompany their VIPs to enrich classroom learning experiences. This massive districtwide program is run by our dedicated VIP Coordinators Marisha Geraghty and Keara Deller.

Not only do classroom teachers and others value their VIPs, the work of our volunteers translates to a very viable return on investment for the district. As of March this year, VIPs had provided more than 10,650 hours, equivalent to a value of approximately $342,700, and both figures will rise once all hours are logged for the year. The work done in the classroom and throughout the district? Priceless. 

This week is the 50th annual National Volunteer Week and it is an honor and privilege to thank our VIPs and indeed all our PV volunteers for making a difference through their service to build a stronger PV community. Together, we can make sure the PVSchools educational environment and experience is a true journey of excellence for all.

On behalf of the Governing Board,

Anne Greenberg

President