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ENGINEERING MARVEL
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
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State gives high grades to most Ahwatukee schools BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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ost schools in Ahwatukee scored an “A”in the 2019 round of grading by the state Department of Education. And among the others, one Ahwatukee middle school went up a notch while another dropped a grade, according to data released last week. An “A” grade reflects overall excellent per-
formance by the school, and includes distinguished performance on assessment tests, significant student growth over the previous year, high four-year graduation rates for high schools, and an overall performance that is significantly higher than the state average. However, the department notes that all “A” schools don’t necessarily meet all those categories. “B” reflects ”highly performing schools” in at least one of those categories while a “C”
reflects “adequate performance but needs improvement on some indicators, including proficiency, growth or graduation rate,” the Education Department explained. Earning an A for a second consecutive year among Kyrene schools in Ahwatukee were Altadena Middle School, Colina, Cerritos, Esperanza, Estrella, Lagos, Monte Vista and Sierra.
see GRADES page 7
WWII veteran, 98, gets a warm welcome BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
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His parents didn’t want him to sign up. But there was no stopping Kenneth Kerr shortly after America was jolted out of its remaining isolationist doldrums Dec. 7, 1941. So, five months after Pearl Harbor was attacked, Kerr and two guys he went to high school with drove 2,100 miles to San Diego to sign up with the U.S. Navy and serve his country. He became a medical corpsman, serving in battles in the Philippines, New Guinea and, finally, Okinawa – the largest land-sea-air battle in history and the bloodiest of the Pacific War. On Oct. 29, a small but grateful group of Americans gathered at Zzeeks Pizza and Wings on Warner Road at 48th Street to thank Kerr for his service. They also wished him a belated happy birthday – two days after he turned 98. The guests – including his daughter Penny Gipson, granddaughter Cassandra Gipson-Reichardt and 3-year-old great granddaughter Laura Gipson-Reichardt – had gathered largely as a result of Zzeeks co-owner Jody Pectol’s social media invitation to the community. Even a 92-year-old World War II veteran, Bob Metzner of Ahwatukee, showed up in
Kenneth Kerr flashes a victory sign while celebrating at Zzeeks Pizza in Ahwatukee with his daughter Penny Gipson. Zzeeks owners Mark and Jody Pectol organized a ccelebration honoring him for his service as a Navy corpsman during WWII and wishing him well two days after he turned 98. Pablo Robles/AFN Staff Photographer)
his wheelchair to greet a onetime comrade in arms. Widower Kerr only arrived in Ahwatukee in mid-September to live with daughter Penny, a three-year Ahwatukee resident.
Pectol and her husband Mark thought a little party welcoming him to the community and honoring his birthday and his service
see VETERAN page 14