Houston school changes likely
Homeowners rip Gilbert Council
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
INSIDE
This Week
NEWS................................ 6 GPS planning for in-person graduations, proms.
COMMUNITY..........21 Gilbert’s annual quilt show beginning.
BUSINESS................ 24 Realtor couple venture into bar business.
COMMUNITY........................................21 BUSINESS.............................................24 OPINION.....................................28 SPORTS.......................................30 GETOUT......................................33 PUZZLE....................................... 35 CLASSIFIED.......................................... 35
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
Sunday, March 7, 2021
Classrooms get most of district dollars in Gilbert BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
G
ilbert Public Schools saw its cost to bus students creep back up last academic year to where it was deemed “very high” – meaning less money for instructional spending, according to a state Auditor General’s annual report on Arizona districts’ spending released last week. That may be so but GPS’ instruction spending has been going up each year, according to Bonnie Betz, assistant superin-
tendent of business services. “We did increase our dollars in the classroom you know by 0.4 percent year over year, which is a positive result,” Betz told the Governing Board last week. “So, we’re up to 61.6 percent on instruction, which is really good.” Betz also informed the board that she will share the report’s findings at the March 30 meeting. The report covers spending in the 2019-20 school year. The report released showed both Higley Unified and GPS devote the lion’s share
Police protest duty cost Gilbert taxpayers $850K
of their money to student learning – well above most districts in the state. Districts that operate efficiently allocate more of their resources to instruction, the report said. GPS’ transportation costs were higher than in 2018-19 despite the district’s effort to rein in the expenses. “Transportation costs were higher for the 2019-20 school year due to a number of one-time costs incurred as part of a planned
see SPEND page 4
Taking the reins
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
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ilbert Police response to protests mostly at Gilbert and Warner roads last year cost taxpayers well over $800,000. After George Floyd, a Black man, died May 31 while in custody in Minnesota, protests against police brutality ignited across the country and Gilbert was no exception as racial justice and procop supporters squared off from opposite corners at the busy intersection. “From May 29 to Nov. 5, we responded to protests and rallies related to police reform, social justice issues, COVID-related issues and election-related issues,” said Brenda Carrasco, police spokeswoman in response to Gilbert Sun News’ requests for the protest duty
see PROTEST page 17
Denise Lopez has been named the new CEO/President of HD SOUTH, Home of the Gilbert Historical Museum. If she looks familiar, it’s because she has been an active assistant administrator of the revered institution for several years. She is looking forward to a role she actually has been filling on an interim basis since the year began, as you’ll read on page 3. (Pablo Robles/GSN Staff Photographer)
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