Area farm ready for peachy time
Gilbert athlete stranded in Italy
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
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NEWS............................. 14 Gilbert Council fills final vacancy.
COMMUNITY..........15 Pandemic inspires Gilbert artists.
COMMUNITY........................................15 BUSINESS..............................................17 OPINION................................................20 SPORTS...................................................21 PUZZLE.................................................. 22 CLASSIFIED..........................................24
FREE ($1 OUTSIDE OF GILBERT) | GilbertSunNews.com
Sunday, April 26, 2020
Remote learning has drawbacks for Gilbert kids BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
H
ighland High School sophomore Gage Dayley says he’s seen a few snags with distance learning – especially when it comes to his honors chemistry class. “It’s not really lab work anymore,” said the Gilbert teen. “It’s lot of watching videos and learning off that way. She’s still teaching but we don’t get to play with fire.” Gilbert Public Schools officially rolled out online lessons March 23 after the governor closed campuses statewide due to COVID-19. With over eight in 10 parents in the country reporting their children are learning remotely, 49 percent of them worry the pan-
demic will affect their children’s education, according to a Gallup Poll conducted April 3-5. That percentage increased from 42 percent when the poll was conducted March 24-29. GPS, the fifth largest school district in the state, acknowledged limitations with remote learning. The district, like virtually all in Arizona, is following the state Board of Education’s advice that bad grades not be given to junior high and high school students during their last quarter of the year. Elementary school students aren’t even receiving grades; their assignments are solely to enhance their learning. “It’s really important for us to remember
Money flowing into Gilbert mayoral race
lots of these things that have been happening are out of the control of our students and families,” said Barbara Newman, GPS executive director of teaching and learning. “And so, we don’t want anything that we’ve implemented to negatively impact our students in any way,” she said. Newman, who gave an overview of virtual learning to the Governing Board in early April, said that because younger students don’t have as much experience with independent learning their assignments are “more of enhancement and enrichment.” “So, we’re not going to start the new year expecting that our kids already have mastered all these standards,” she said.
Wonder boy
see REMOTE page 10
BY CECILIA CHAN GSN Managing Editor
T
wo mayoral hopefuls who may lack in name recognition more than made up for it with hefty campaign war chests. Four candidates are vying for mayor in the Gilbert Town Council primary in August – Lynne King Smith, Matt Nielsen, Brigette Peterson and Gary Livacari. Mayor Jenn Daniels is not running for re-election. King Smith, who owns and operates several businesses in Gilbert, led the field with $52,000 raised, according to recently filed campaign finance reports. The political newcomer loaned herself $50,000 and $2,000 was donated by businessman Jim Hayden, who is her campaign strategist. King Smith’s team also includes Howard Morrison, a partner at Morrison Ranch who serves as treasurer, and Michelle Kauk,
see CAMPAIGN page 4
To look at that smile on 4-year-old Cruz Mendonca of Gilbert, you wouldn’t know he had a brain tumor removed this month and faces possible chemotherapy and radiation treatment. There’s a reason he’s smiling and you’ll read why on page 3. (Facebook)