SanTanValley.com

Students  and Parents: Summer is fast approaching and many of you may be thinking about attending summer school to make up credits or advance your education. Here is the information that you will need for summer school. Computer Pick up Date: June 7 Start Date: June 10  

Early this morning, a drunk driver hit a school bus at Bella Vista and Quail Run.

The bus was headed for Florence High School with 12 students on board.  A report from Dana Hawman, Director of Public Relations with the Florence Unified School District, stated that everyone seemed to be okay, at the time the release was sent out.  Three ambulances were on site to check that the students were all right.

Florence Unified School District hosted the 1st Annual FUSD Science Fair at Copper Basin K-8 on March 5th as a part of the Arizona SciTech Festival (Feb. 9 to Mar. 17). An estimated crowd of 300 people were in attendance as family, friends and community members stopped by to show their support and to see what the students are doing.

Entries in the districtwide show included the top three winners from each school for each category: Animal Sciences, Behavioral & Social Sciences, Cellular & Molecular Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Earth & Planetary Science, Engineering, Environmental Sciences, Mathematical Sciences, Medicine & Health Sciences, Physics & Astronomy and Plant Sciences. Students in grades 5-6 were judged in the Elementary Division, while students in grades 7-8 were placed in the Junior High Division.

The Florence Unified School District Math Bee draws a great crowd every year, with as much buzz coming from the friends and relatives in the stands as from the busy kids in the competition! The districtwide event pits the top teams from each of the seven K-8 schools against one another to determine who is the best of the best.

I would like you to know how grateful I am for the FUSD Board of Trustees' decision to hire me as the next Superintendent. I have personally met with all Principals and Assistant Principals. We have a great team of leaders who are willing to do what's right and bring excellence to each school. I'm excited about the changes happening in our district.

Kim Myers was acknowledged as Poston Butte's Classified Employee of the Year.

"Kim assumes a task without complaint and then goes on to complete the task competently and with confidence," stated Principal Bob Pappalardo, "Kim is a very conscientious individual.

As Florence USD continues its evolution to excellence, we find ourselves in a year of great change; a new superintendent, new Board officers, and several changes in school leadership positions. What has not changed is our focus on KIDS FIRST. Every decision we make is grounded in student safety, achievement and growth. I am contacting you today to let you know that I will be a part of this ongoing evolution.

On Saturday, February 2, 2013, six middle school students (grades 6-8) from Anthem K-8 in the Florence Unified School District competed in the Pinal County Science Competition at Central Arizona College, bringing home one first place and three second place medals. Max Mielke and Carlos Garcia earned top honors in the “Rocks and Minerals” competition (geology) and also took 2nd Place in “Reach for the Stars” (astronomy).

I’m Gary Nine, Superintendent of Florence Unified School District. You may be aware that one of our students was suspended on Friday, February 1, 2013, because he had a photo of an AK-47 assault rifle as wallpaper on his netbook computer, which is issued and owned by the school district. All of our students agree to abide by an Acceptable Use Policy that outlines guidelines for student use of the district-issued computers. The Acceptable Use Policy provides that such computers are for student schoolwork and prohibits certain activities.

Dr. Ginni Shuss, Director of Exceptional Student Services, informed the Board that she has scheduled one of the nation's best trainers to come to the district for two days of Threat Assessment Training. Diana Browning Wright will train teams from each school on "legally sound, effective response to student threats of violence." The district currently has a five member threat assessment team, but desires to expand that group to provide better response capability districtwide.