THE VOICE OF THE EAST VALLEY SINCE 1891 AND WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE FOR LOCAL REPORTING
Chandler, Red Mt. take aim at state crowns
Holiday stage treats star EV youngsters
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Chandler/Tempe Edition
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS ......................12 Superintendent’s leave still a mystery.
COMMUNITY ........ 12 EV woman helps moms of special kids.
Oversight of 6K noncerti�ied school workers sought BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
A
rizona education officials are sponsoring a bill improving oversight of “non-certified educators,’’ plugging loopholes some accused sex offenders, and others with questionable backgrounds, have used to slip through in the past. “Uncertified educators’’ represent a broad category of school professionals, which includes about 6,000 people working in both school districts and charter schools. They would include coaches, student teachers and some administrators who have regular or occasional interaction with students. “There are gaps where fingerprint identification cards aren’t necessary for people working with kids,’’ said Alicia Williams, executive
A good skate
director of the Arizona Board of Education. If it becomes law, the bill could impact about 2,000 uncertified school district employees throughout the state and 4,000 charter school employees. Williams said about 60 percent of charter school teachers are certified, while 40 percent are non-certified. Williams said the bill is in draft form and will be introduced in the legislative session beginning next month. The bill essentially would extend the rules already applied to certified educators to uncertified teachers as well. School districts and charter schools would be required to submit a list of all educators working with children to the state Board of Education, a practice already followed by the vast majority of districts and charter schools. “We’re trying to have oversight of unprofes-
M
Mesa dispensary markets marijuana bridal bouquets.
FOOD ....................... 26 Try these dainty treats for holiday entertaining.
Omar Guerrero, manager of the Crackers Restaurant in northeast Mesa, isn’t just an ace on skateboards but also a Santa to kids at Sunshine Acres, to whom he donated skateboards. For details, see page 3. (Pablo
Robles/Tribune Staff Photographer)
sional and immoral conduct,’’ Williams said. The board currently has authority to investigate certified educators and to take action against them. During the 2018-19 school year, the board disciplined 131 educators throughout the state. The variety of disciplines included revocation of certification, surrender, suspension, and a letter of censure, Williams said. So far, 74 educators have been disciplined during the 2019-2020 school year, with another 21 are scheduled to come before the board at the Dec. 13 meeting. Williams stressed she is not attempting to expand certification, but the bill would subject non-certified educators to the same sort of discipline as certified educators.
see OVERSIGHT page 4
Mesa plans tougher vaping restructions BY JIM WALSH Tribune Staff Writer
BUSINESS ................ 16
COMMUNITY ............... 12 BUSINESS ...................... 16 OPINION ....................... 18 SPORTS ........................ 20 GETOUT.........................23 CLASSIFIED....................28
Sunday, December 1, 2019
ore than a decade after Arizona voters approved an initiative placing restrictions on smoking in public places, Mesa plans to apply the same restrictions to vaping. The motivations for the proposed new ordinance – scheduled to be introduced at a City Council meeting on Monday – also seem similar: to protect public health and to eliminate an unnecessary nuisance. The proposed Mesa ordinance is consistent with other local regulations passed by Tempe, Tucson and Flagstaff to place restrictions on vaping. Not surprisingly, the same cities triggered the first wave of restrictions on smoking in 1996 before voters passed the initiative in 2006 creating the state law. “When I saw other cities doing it, I
spoke with the superintendents. I was anxious to move forward,’’ Mesa Mayor John Giles said. He said a group of superintendents of school districts serving Mesa all backed the idea of adding vaping to the city’s smoking ordinance. “This vaping issue has hit the schools in a big way,’’ Giles said. He said the vaping law should help school resource officers – police officers who assist with security and other functions – to help school districts fight the vaping epidemic among teenagers. “This will give them another tool on campus,’’ Giles said. He cited news reports from throughout the nation linking vaping with thousands of serious lung illnesses and dozens of deaths. The federal Centers for Disease Control is investigating the causes associated with vaping, serious illnesses and
see VAPING page 6