Education

Peoria Unified School District Bond and Override Initiatives Added to November Ballot

By Jessica Gonzalez, member of Support Our School PAC

Voters will be asked to decide on two funding measures for Peoria Unified School District during the November election – a 13% maintenance and operations override renewal and a critical needs bond.

Both funding measures support the education of Peoria students without raising taxes. The override is a continuation of funding the district has been in place for the past 23 years. “Quality schools help protect our property values, reduce crime and attract jobs and economic opportunities to our community,” says Matt Bullock, chair of the Support Peoria Students Political Action Committee. “The override renewal alone contributes more than $28 million per year to local schools. We can protect this funding, without raising taxes, by voting yes on the bond and override initiatives.” Peoria Unified ranks in the top 10 school districts in Arizona, according to Niche.com. Contributing to the district’s ranking is a 95 percent high school graduation rate. That is well above Arizona’s average high school graduation rate of only 72 percent, according to U.S. News and World Report. Currently, school districts’ budgets are set by a formula from the state of Arizona. When there is not enough funding from the state to meet the needs of students, local districts can ask their community for support through bonds and overrides.

THIRTEEN PERCENT MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS OVERRIDE RENEWAL

A maintenance and operations override provides funding to support people and programs. This funding cannot be used for construction or capital improvements.

Locally, 33 surrounding districts in Maricopa County have a 15% override in place. Peoria is requesting a renewal of its 13% override.

In the Peoria Unified School District, the override funds teacher pay to help attract and retain quality teachers and keep class sizes small. It also funds important staff positions including school nurses, assistant principals and physical education teachers. Maintenance and operations overrides are in place for a term of seven years. Many districts ask voters to approve a renewal of the override after four or five years to maintain a consistent level of funding. Voters approved the last override for the Peoria Unified School District in 2015. If not renewed, the override amount decreases by one-third in its sixth year, two-thirds in its seventh year, and the funds from the override would be fully eliminated in year eight. The current maintenance and operations override, which makes up nearly one-tenth of the district’s annual budget, will begin phasing out on July 1, 2021, if voters do not pass a new override in November. According to the Peoria Unified School District, if the override continuation does not pass all staff would experience pay cuts and the district could no longer maintain school nurses and assistant principals on all campuses. In addition, class sizes would increase, programs such as arts, music, physical education and gifted education would be threatened, parents would have to pay for full-day kindergarten and fees to participate in extracurricular and athletic activities would significantly increase.

“It is critical to keep this maintenance and operations override in place for Peoria students,” says Bullock. “If the pandemic has taught us anything – I hope it is the importance of our schools, our teachers and our school nurses.”

CRITICAL NEEDS BOND

Bonds are similar to loans that are authorized by voters and used to purchase capital items and make capital improvements. The funding can only be used to fund projects that have a useful life longer than five years. The funds cannot be used for staffing. The $125 million bond for the Peoria Unified School District is focused on student and teacher safety, including investments in school security and key renovations to facilities in need of repair including air conditioning, heating, roofing projects, restrooms, parking, and other critical items. Funding from the bond would also be invested in technology, replacing aging buses, and acquiring land for the future construction of a new high school to keep up with growth in north Peoria.

If voters approve the bond, the secondary property tax rate is expected to remain at or below $1.48, which means the tax rate will not increase. The per pupil administrative are costs well below average. It is both one of the largest districts in the state and one of the most

fiscally responsible. Teaching Children To Learn With An Uncompromising Spirit Of Joy And Adventure! We recognize that children have a natural curiosity and a predisposition to enjoy the unexpected. Children engage in active exploration and investigation to make sense of their world. We strive to fuel children’s investigative impulses and encourage discovery, promote questioning and challenging of ideas, and formulate connections of experience.

13111 N 94th Dr Peoria, AZ 85381 (623) 221-4450 | bridget@journeyschool.com www.journeyschool.com

Cover Story

Compassionate CARE t White Dove Assisted Living Homes Provides Personalized Care For Elderly Loved Ones

By Michelle Talsma Everson

At White Dove Assisted Living Homes, owners Marinela “Nellie” and John Bora emphasize that the residents are “not just numbers on a door”—they get to know each one and are honored to care for them and welcome them home. “We know them by name; we know who they are and customize their care to fit their needs,” says Marinela “Nellie” Bora. “Caregivers are on site 24/7 and respond to their individual needs, likes and dislikes. We always treat residents and their families with respect and kindness.”

White Dove Assisted Living Homes has three nearby locations; Sunrise Mountain, Silvercrest and Arrowhead. The family-owned business began in the early 1990s when Bora saw her mom run a “foster home for the elderly” and thought that it would be a great chance to care for others while also being able to be home with her own family.

“My husband and I both worked for a Phoenix country club for over 11 years, working a lot of hours, and feeling like we never saw our own family,” she says. “I thought this would be a good way to earn an income while caring for the elderly and being able to see my own children more.”

She opened up her home to elderly residents and had three move in on the first day, she shares. She and her four sisters then began to all manage assisted living homes and White Dove Assisted Living Homes was founded. Her sisters manage other locations in the Scottsdale area; her three homes (Sunrise Mountain, Silvercrest and Arrowhead) are the only ones on this side of the Valley, she says.

“My husband liked the larger lots and the orange groves of this part of town,” Bora shares about her family’s decision to settle here. In addition to her sisters, she notes that other family members are also involved in White Dove Assisted Living Homes.

So what are some of the differences between White Dove homes and other care facilities?

“We are experienced, trained and dedicated to providing all the assistance that our residents may need,” Bora shares. “Here you will find a warm loving family atmosphere in a beautiful, furnished and decorated residential home… All three homes have live-in caregivers available to them 24 hours a day. All employees are trained and certified. Caregivers focus on working one on one with the patients to ensure they receive personal care and attention.”

When it comes to price, Bora notes that “compared to a larger facility, we are much less.” She emphasizes that residents receive 24/7 access to caregivers, private and semi-private rooms, and one-on-one attention.

Bora adds that caregivers at her homes are ready to serve residents with all levels of care needs—from feeding tubes to catheters, and other services—care is customized.

“One of the benefits of a home like ours is that, for example, if there’s a husband and wife where one needs hospice care but the other is more independent, we can serve them both and they can stay together,” she says.

“You can enjoy peace of mind knowing the senior citizen in your life is being well cared for,” according to White Dove Assisted Living Homes. “Our certified and trained caregivers assist our residents with dressing, bathing, and grooming. We make every effort for our elderly residents to live with dignity at this time of their lives.”

When it comes to the caregivers that serve her residents, Bora looks for employees who are honest and open. “I want to care for them too,” she says about her staff. She often prefers to train them herself, sharing her more than 25 years of experience with them. And, while each home operates very much like an extended family, each also meets state requirements and passes all inspections.

Each home has room for 10 residents, with spaces available now for locals who are interested in finding compassionate care for their loved ones. Caregivers most often live on site, which is Bora’s preference, but some come in shifts too.

While each local home is unique, all are spacious enough to comfortably accommodate their residents. For example, White Dove at Sunrise Mountain is a newly remodeled home with nine bedrooms and seven handicap accessible bathrooms.

In addition to on-site caregivers, each home is equipped to work with hospice care as well. “When a resident reaches end of life and needs that care, they don’t have to go anywhere, they can stay here,” she says. This helps to provide comfort to both residents and their families.

Added to hospice services, each home is ready to work with mobile services such as home health agencies and even hairdressers. Residents receive three home cooked meals a day plus snacks, and each local home is on a “large lot with big backyard, where residents can spend time outdoors,” Bora says.

Some other services include: • Daily assistance with bathing, dressing, and grooming • Assistance with walking and eating if needed • Incontinence care • Diabetic management • Cable TV, Internet, and telephone • Daily housekeeping and laundry • Transportation to and from appointments

Some regular activities that residents can expect include: • Arts and crafts • Book reading • Gardening • Bingo • Walking and exercise • Birthday and holiday celebrations • Occasional outings

Like many care homes for the elderly and other vulnerable populations, Bora shares that White Dove homes are following all COVID-19 precautions and cleanliness requirements. The health and safety of her residents and employees are important and at top of mind.

“We take what we do very personally,” Bora says. “It is important to us that our residents are happy and healthy.”

Bora shares that she is able to provide families with loved ones who need assisted living with tours of the three local White Dove Assisted Living Homes locations. Those who are interested can call 602-978-1393 for more information.

PLACE PLACE STAMP Peace of mind and comfort knowing STAMP HERE HERE that your loved one is in good hands.

Peace of mind and comfort knowing that your Peace of mind and comfort knowing that your loved one is in good hands. loved one is in good hands. At White Dove Assisted Living Homes we take At White Dove Assisted Living Homes we take pride in having our residents feel like home. At White Dove Assisted Living Homes we take pride in having our residents feel like home. pride in having our residents feel like home. We are experienced, licensed and trained, We are experienced, licensed and trained, dedicated to We are experienced, licensed and trained, dedicated to provide for all levels of care. dedicated to provide for all levels of care.provide for all levels of care. Our family has been serving the valley for 25 years. Our family has been serving the valley for 25 years. Our family has been serving the Valley for over 25 years. WHITE DOVE ASSISTED WHITE DOVE ASSISTED

LIVINGHOMES LIVINGHOMES 602.978.1393602.978.1393 Cell: 602.677.2627 Cell: 602.677.2627

@ARROWHEAD 6741 W Robert E. Lee St. Glendale, AZ 85308 @ARROWHEAD 6741 W Robert E. Lee St. Glendale, AZ 85308 @SUNRISE MOUNTAIN @SUNRISE MOUNTAIN @SILVER CREST@SILVER CREST 23161 N. 87th Dr. 23161 N. 87th Dr. 7941 W. Briden Ln. 7941 W. Briden Ln.

Peoria, AZ 85383 Peoria, AZ 85383 Peoria, AZ 85383 Peoria, AZ 85383