OCT 19 - NOV 1, 2019 | www.santansun.com
Relentlessly local coverage of Southern Chandler and our neighboring communities
Chandler students score high on AzMerit test BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
The Chandler Unified School District performed well above the state’s average in math and English assessments, yet individual schools showed little improvement from the previous year. Fifty-nine percent of all CUSD students passed the state’s AzMERIT English exam and 58 percent passed the math portion. In 2018, CUSD had a passing rate of 56 percent for English and 58 percent for math. The statewide average in both subjects was 42 percent – meaning less than half of Arizona students in public
and charter schools are proficient in English and math for their grade level according to state standards. AzMerit results are part of the formula the state uses to grade schools to give parents an idea of how well a school is preparing students for college and the workforce. Chandler Unified, one of the state’s largest districts, had 26 schools receive “A” grades last year. And schools that perform well earn state bonuses. Last year Chandler Unified schools reaped a total $2.1 million in extra money because of their scores. All public and charter students in
grades 3 through 12 take the tests, although data released last week shows hundreds of students – particularly in high school – manage to avoid taking them. One education expert said that because students know they don’t need the test to graduate, many simply avoid it or take a different assessment test. Education Department spokesman Stefan Swiak said the English Language Arts test is a combination of essays and pull-down choices. That test also assesses students’ knowledge of literature they are expected to have read at their grade level. Results from the 2018-19 AzMerit
tests put Chandler Unified near the head of the class among East Valley school districts. District-wide passing rates for English in the other districts in the region were: Higley Unified, 63 percent; Kyrene, 60; Queen Creek Unified, 56; and Gilbert Public Schools, 53. District-wide passing rates in math for those districts were: Higley, 63 percent; Queen Creek, 62; Kyrene, 57; and Gilbert, 52. Three other East Valley districts recorded district-wide passing rates in both areas below 50 percent. See
MERIT on page 6
This Chandler family’s life is a circus – literally BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
Eating fire is no problem for Martin Taylor, even if his long beard might get in the way. “You’ve never seen fire-eating until you’ve seen somebody do it with a beard,” he said. It’s not just a daring trick the Chandler dad does to impress spectators; fire-eating is essentially part of the family business. The Taylors will soon be pitching a big-top tent in the East Valley and staging their family-friendly circus act that elicits the old-world charm of the Ringling Brothers. “It’s a very vintage experience,” said Elia Taylor, Martin’s daughter and one of the performers. She’s a classically-trained dancer,
juggler, and contortionist who has performed with her family for years. Big-budget traveling acts like Cirque du Soleil dazzle audiences with elaborate sets and special effects. But the Taylors prefer smaller, intimate shows that showcase the individual performer. “We’re trying to bring back the real side of circus,” Elia added. Each member of the Taylor clan has a special talent they bring to the production. One balances swords on their face, another does trampoline stunts and one dress as a mermaid. “We’ve been introduced to so much over our lives and eventually you’re allowed to pick whatever you want,” Elia said. Martin and Barbara Taylor let their See
CIRCUS on page 8
Martin Taylor, father and master of ceremonies, and Barbara Taylor, mother and clown, flank their family: Elia Taylor, contortionist and juggler; Bruno Loyal, 16, the dancer; Liam Taylor, 13, rolling globe artist; Naomi Taylor, 12, trampolinist; Ozzy Taylor, 11, balancer; and Damian Taylor, 9, poi artist and trampolinist. (Pablo Robles/Staff Photographer)
Chandler teacher fired for religious, anti-gay actions BY KEVIN REAGAN Staff Writer
Chandler Unified School District fired an art teacher for allegedly discriminating against a transgender student and
bringing a box of Bibles to her classroom. Annella Krom’s conduct at Arizona College Preparatory-Erie was described as “objectionable, disrespectful, and unprofessional” in a report by district
staff to the governing board. Students accused Krom of freely discussing her Christian beliefs in class and expressing anti-gay viewpoints, including she thought homosexuals were “just confused.”
The allegations led to her termination earlier this month. The East Valley Tribune reached out to Krom, who had been teaching
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