THE NEWSPAPER OF AVONDALE, BUCKEYE, GOODYEAR, LITCHFIELD PARK & TOLLESON
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This Week
NEWS ............... 6 Students holding benefit for late classmate’s family
SPORTS ......... 14 Curtis beats obstacles to become tennis star
9 DAYS .......... 16 Looking for something to do? Check out the 9 Days a Week calendar
LETTERS.........................10 BUSINESS..................... 12 SPORTS...........................14 FEATURES......................18 NEIGHBORHOOD.......21 YOUTH............................23 OBITUARIES..................25 CLASSIFIEDS.................26 SOUTH
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The Voice of the West Valley for 34 years
May 15, 2019
LESD increasing teacher pay, other changes BY ANDREA ESTRADA
West Valley View Staff Writer
When the Litchfield Elementary School District held multiple surveys and focus groups for its stakeholders, staff salary and class size emerged as central areas for improvement. In one survey alone, increasing teacher compensation was the highest-ranked choice — with 49% of its 512 respondents deeming it their top priority — while reducing class sizes in kindergarten and sixth through eighth grades was the second highest-ranked choice. In an effort to strengthen those compensation and staffing areas, the LESD governing board voted this spring to increase pay for teachers and staff, reduce class sizes and expand employee benefits. Superintendent Jodi Gunning said addressing the needs of its educators is especially important to the district and will ultimately maintain a high retention rate. “We are in a teacher shortage, and it’s something we’ve been facing for years. One of our district priorities has always been retaining those best and brightest teachers because we know what a direct impact they have,” Gunning said. The last time LESD teachers received a pay increase was last year, Gunning added.
Michelle Steik is a teacher at Verrado Heritage Elementary School, which is in the Litchfield Elementary School District. LESD recently authorized faculty pay increases, among other changes. (Photo courtesy Nicholas Lyle Photography)
“We’ve always focused on teacher compensation. This last year, we were so fortunate that our voters approved an additional percentage in our override, and with those monies we give directly to our teachers.”
Extra funding from the state and that override — which provides district classrooms with additional funding for seven
LESD...continued on page 2
Goodyear closer to building Sonoran Valley Parkway BY CONNOR DZIAWURA
West Valley View Managing Editor
The city of Goodyear has taken a major leap in its long-awaited Sonoran Valley Parkway, which will eventually bridge the northern and southern ends of the city. One month after the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) published an environmental impact statement for the proj-
ect, the federal agency has signed a record of decision saying it plans to grant Goodyear a right of way for the project. The 15-mile roadway will be 250 feet wide and consist of two to six lanes connecting Rainbow Valley Road to the community of Mobile and State Route 238. An initial phase, expected to accommodate around 24,000 vehicles per day, will
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consist of one lane in either direction and include a temporary, 20-foot wide construction access road; no u-turn crossovers and no median. Room will be left for up to four additional lanes, though if pursued BLM would need to conduct additional environmental
Parkway...continued on page 2
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