June 7 - 20, 2014
www.SanTanSun.com
CUSD celebrates A+ schools BY TRACY HOUSE
Three schools in the Chandler Unified School District have been awarded the distinction of A+, a prestigious three-year designation that celebrates outstanding schools as defined by a rigorous application process. Created by the Arizona Educational Foundation in 1983, the A+ School of Excellence program gives recognition to outstanding schools, provides a framework for school assessment and facilitates the sharing of best practices throughout schools based on common criteria. The process is lengthy and includes information on test scores, character education, leadership, parent
TARWATER: Robert Tarwater, Principal Jeff Hensley, Dean Abby Druck, Danell Tarwater and student council members proudly display Tarwater’s A+ banner. Submitted photo
involvement and academic pieces as part of the consideration. Observations are conducted by a team from AEF looking for evidence in the application and include interviews with students, parents and school staff. This year’s A+ recipients are Tarwater Elementary, Hancock Elementary and Basha High schools.
Robert and J. Danell Tarwater Elementary School Tarwater Principal Jeff Hensley says of the A+ designation, “I think it’s really a validation, a confirmation of what we are trying to do at the site. I know for the kids it really brings a lot of pride. They certainly can identify with what an A+ is. That holds meaning to them.” The principal at Tarwater since 2002, Hensley says, “For me it brings confirmation of what we’re trying to do in the community and brings a really strong sense of pride to a community. I’ve seen that in both times we’ve received it.” Tarwater received the award for the first time in 2009. The school held a celebration to commemorate the A+ award in which Robert and J. Danell Tarwater, the school’s namesakes, attended. “It was
Youth, recreation and transit at forefront of budget discussions BY JOAN WESTLAKE
The Chandler City Council approved several amendments to the fiscal year 2014-15 proposed budget during a special May 19 meeting. These amendments became part of the tentative budget voted on May 22. Residents can still voice their opinions about the budget until the final budget and capital improvement plan adoption at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, in the Chandler City Council Chambers, 88 E. Chicago St. The public meeting on the property tax levy adoption by the City Council is 7 p.m. Thursday, June 26, also in the council chambers. “This amendment process is built into the budget each year and allows members of the council to focus on some of the issues and challenges we are hearing about from our residents throughout the year,” Mayor Jay Tibshraeny says. “As you can see (in the accompanying amendment list), youth programs, recreation and transit needs remain at the forefront of our discussions. I personally felt that some of our aging facilities, like the Snedigar Sportsplex, which is 20 years old, were in need of
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SEE BUDGET PAGE 6
Chandler a special place to downtown redevelopment manager
Chandler student a U.S. Presidential Scholar BY MEGHAN MCCOY
BY ALISON STANTON
Now that she’s had almost three months to acclimate to the city, Chandler’s Downtown Redevelopment Manager Kim Moyers says she is devoted to recruiting business and helping to guide development into downtown. Moyers, who worked as an economic development specialist for the Town of Queen Creek for six years prior to coming on board with the City of Chandler, says that downtown Chandler has held a special place in her heart for many years. “When we moved here from Kokomo, Indiana, to Arizona eight years ago, it was a big change for us. Going to downtown Chandler gave me a sense of home, and so we spent a lot of time SEE MANAGER PAGE 8
some attention.” Chandler Budget Manager Greg Westrum explains that these amendments do not increase the total proposed budget because funds are from the council’s contingency reserve. This year’s $400,000 reserve was included in the proposed budget initially formulated by the budget office and can be used now or in January. The safety and education of Chandler youth are at the heart of two of Vice Mayor Rick Heumann’s amendments. He says that saving lives is the goal of swim lesson scholarships for children from the city’s most economically challenged households. “Our fire department does an awesome job of bringing awareness with their anti-drowning campaign but we still have children dying. This is not swim team lessons or advance strokes...this is basic, life-saving lessons so if kids fall in the water, they can get to the edge or swim across the pool and aren’t going to drown,” says Heumann. “To put up $5,000 to save children’s lives, to me, is a very low amount.” The Chandler Education Coalition
PASSIONATE ABOUT DOWNTOWN: Kim Moyers, the downtown redevelopment manager for the City of Chandler, says downtown Chandler has always provided her with a sense of home. Submitted photo
Named a U.S. Presidential Scholar, Arizona Virtual Academy senior Anna Han feels like she “won the lottery.” “I never thought it would happen,” Han says. “There is no way to say who is going to get it and who is not. I knew a lot of people who were contenders and thought they were amazing.” The Presidential Scholar in the Arts will travel to Washington, D.C., this month and perform at the Kennedy Center during the award ceremonies. The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964, by executive order of the president, to recognize and honor some of the nation’s most distinguished graduating high school seniors. In 1979, the program was extended to recognize students who demonstrate exceptional talent in the visual, creative and performing arts. Each year, up to 141 students are named as Presidential Scholars. Arizona Virtual Academy Head of School Cindy Wright
F E AT U R E STO R I E S CUSD offers summer nutrition program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . COMMUNITY . . . . . . . . . . .Page 9 Chandler chamber honors community members . . . . . . . . . . BUSINESS . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 17 Soccer team building its own ‘Legacy’. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . YOUTH . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 27 Summer travel tips from YTC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . NEIGHBORS . . . . . . . . . . Page 49 CCA manager retiring after 26 years. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ARTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Page 59
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SanTan Family Fun . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Center Section
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More Community . . . . . . .1-15 Business . . . . . . . .16-26 Youth. . . . . . . . . . 27-38 Opinion. . . . . . . . 47-48 Neighbors. . . . . . 49-58 Arts . . . . . . . . . . . 59-66 Spirituality . . . . . 67-69 Directory . . . . . . .70-71 Classifieds. . . . . . .72-73 Where to eat . . . 74-78