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JULY 15, 2018
(Tim Hacker Photos/ Mesa Public Schools) Emerson Elementary students celebrated the last day of the 2017-18 school Red Mountain High School Principal Jared Ryan checks Steve Durivage gets the floors at Hughes Elementary in tip-top shape. year in May. maintenance details with a custodian.
Mesa Public Schools works all summer on safety and security BY MACIE WILLIAMS Tribune Guest Writer
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s Mesa Public Schools’ 64,000 students enjoy their last few days of summer reading and lounging in the pool, the district’s staff is hard at work ensuring a successful start to the school year.
The Mesa Public Schools operations department maintains 82 school campuses inside and out. Staff members specialize in maintenance, custodial and grounds, as well as new construction and renovations. The department has made several improvements over the years to work more efficiently, including hiring staff that conducts daily on-campus improvements
from 6 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. at individual schools. Projects range from painting and landscape maintenance to structural repair. “Every principal across the district feels like the single most important person during that week’s visit,” says Todd Poer, director of operations. “And having our
team available during extended hours eliminates disruptions during classroom instruction.” For the more than 29,000 daily student riders on the district’s school buses, safety is the transportation department’s top priority. After all, Mesa Public Schools See
MESA SCHOOLS on page 4
Volunteers sought to help Mesa teachers cope with class size Tribune News Staff
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ith many Mesa schools facing teacher shortages and growing class sizes, the value of trained volunteers assisting in classrooms has become increasingly important to student success, according to principals and teachers who partner with Your Experience Counts. A program of HandsOn Greater Phoenix, Your Experience Counts has been providing volunteers to schools for 12 years. The program provided 92 volunteers in 25 schools during the 2017-18 school year.
More volunteers are needed for 201819 to meet the requests of principals and teachers in Mesa Public Schools. The program addresses needs in other areas of the Valley as well, including Balsz, Osborn, Washington and Dysart school districts. Robby Meldau, principal of Eisenhower Center for Innovation in the Mesa school district, said that YEC volunteers “are fabulous teacher allies, powerful supporters of students and positive impactors of classroom dynamics.” “My teachers are especially grateful for how committed our volunteers have been to reaching every student and encourag-
ing them to learn,” Meldau said. Teacher Allison Zingale and volunteer Anthony Mandarino teamed to support a combination fifth-sixth-grade classroom at Eisenhower. Zingale has had a volunteer in her classroom for her four years as a teacher. “My students greatly benefit from having caring, skilled adults interact with them,” Zingale said. “Anthony helped my students by motivating them and giving feedback on math and reading and offering alternative strategies for students to be successful.” Mandarino has a degree in biological science and an interest in becoming a
teacher. “I work with students one-on-one or small groups to teach a lesson,” Mandarino said. “I try to connect with the students and keep them on track. It is really satisfying when they look at you and say thanks for the help.” YEC volunteers typically spend two to five hours a week in classrooms in grades 3 through 6. Volunteers bring a variety of life and work experiences to their schools. Many are retired from business, military or education. Some are stay-at-home moms or work part time. See
VISTA on page 4