The Florence Unified School District is excited to announce the repurposing of their Johnson Ranch Campus to expand their ability to support the students and adults in the communities they serve.

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.

The Students of the Month for February 2013 are:

The Florence Unified School District January Governing Board Meeting was held at the FUSD District Office auditorium on Wednesday, 1/9/13. Florence K-8 hosted the meeting, providing curriculum and student leader reports.

The Students of the Month for January 2013 are:

Good Evening, Parents,

Valley media have recently published articles about the heat that we have been experiencing, and some of our parents have expressed concern that our students are still engaged in outdoor recess, PE and athletics. 

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.

On July 2nd and 3rd, 2014, the Florence Unified School District Principals and District Administration came together for a two day conference to celebrate the achievements of last school year and design and plan of action for the 2014 – 2015 session.

Florence USD anticipates opening an online public auction of miscellaneous obsolete school equipment during the week of 1/14/2013.

The auction will run for 2 weeks from the date of release.

Proceeds will go to the Maintenance and Operations account, which funds salaries for teachers and staff, utilities and other general expenses.

The Florence Unified School District November Governing Board Meeting was held at the District Office Auditorium in Florence on Wednesday, 11/14/12.

Magma Ranch K-8 hosted the meeting, providing curriculum and student leader reports.

Jack W. Harmon Elementary had another successful year of helping the families and the community around the holiday season again this year.  The first event was the Annual Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Drive.  Students of Harmon Elementary collected over 432 canned foods, 79 turkeys and hundreds of other meal items such as potatoes, stuffing, beverages, desserts and breads.  The Harmon Student Council arranged, collected and sorted full meals for families to take home and prepare for their families.  Harmon Elementary was able to feed, 16 families, 102 people, in the Jack W. Harmon community.  

Harmon Elementary School 5th graders are in their first year of participation with the Battle of the Books program.

I interviewed Harmon’s BOTB Site Coordinator Nate Braunhut to find out more about the program and how it is benefiting Harmon’s 5th graders.

The program is voluntary among the students and there are participants from all 4th and 5th grade classes.

The students not participating attend each battle to watch as their friends and classmates as they match wits over some of today’s most popular children’s literature as well as old favorites.

Central Arizona College’s Hannah Wanstreet, a student in the hotel and restaurant management program, will spend this summer interning in Myrtle Beach, S.C., with the American Hospitality Academy.

Wanstreet completed exceptional work in her HRM coursework to earn the experiential learning experience and possible future job prospects.

Growing up Chicana in Morenci celebrates Hispanic heritage during Brown Bag Talk Sept. 26 at Signal Peak

PI NAL COUNTY, Ariz. - Central Arizona College invites the public to celebrate Hispanic heritage with a Brown Bag Talk entitled Growing up Chicana in Morenci on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 12-1 p.m.

All 20 of Central Arizona College’s radiologic technology students have passed the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists exam, keeping intact the 100 percent success rate unfurled by CAC students when the program began six years ago.

The news was broadcast live to the audience by Frank Mollica, the director of diagnostic medical imaging, during the fourth CAC Radiologic Technology Pinning Ceremony held on Saturday, Dec. 8, at the Superstition Mountain Campus in Apache Junction, Ariz.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) technology has been used by real estate offices, mining companies and municipalities for years. Students at Central Arizona College now will have an opportunity to learn how to use that technology through a course offered at its Signal Peak Campus in the upcoming spring semester.

Central Arizona College will offer four enhanced GED classes during the fall 2012 semester at the Casa Grande Center and Superstition Mountain Campus for GED students who are interested in pursuing a college or career pathway.

Central Arizona College is one of six organizations in Arizona selected to participate in a two-year pilot program to help GED students transition into college.

The College and Career Exploration Project will allow CAC to offer four special GED: Gateway to Success classes during the 2012 spring semester at the Casa Grande Center and Superstition Mountain Campus for GED students who are interested in pursuing a college or career pathway.

PINAL COUNTY, Ariz. – Central Arizona College is one of six organizations in Arizona selected to participate in a two-year pilot program to help GED students transition into college.

The College and Career Exploration Project will allow CAC to offer four special GED: Gateway to Success classes during the 2012 spring semester at the Casa Grande Center and Superstition Mountain Campus for GED students who are interested in pursuing a college or career pathway.

At Coolidge Unified School District’s Sept. 14 governing board meeting, Joe Galish, business teacher and Future Business Leaders of America advisor for San Tan Foothills High School, was recognized for receiving the New Adviser of the Year Award for FBLA at the 36th Annual Arizona State Conference for Career and Technical Education, according to a press release.

This award is reserved for advisers with one to three years of experience.

Rural Metro Fire Department is pleassed to announce that they will be partnering with the Combs School District for the 5th year in a row to visit with the Simonton, Ranch, Ellsworth, Combs Traditional Academy, and Harmon Elementary Schools to deliver safety messages to the children of San Tan Valley.