Peoria Times Peoria’s Hometown Newspaper
50¢
www.peoriatimes.com
Vol. 64 - No. 40
October 5, 2018
Governing Board candidates agree on most issues By CAROLYN DRYER EDITOR Peoria United Parent Council hosted a forum Oct. 2 for candidates seeking election to the Peoria Unified School District Governing Board. Lois Brechner, former president of League of Women Voters Northwest Valley, served as moderator, and the four candidates for two seats on the Governing Board answered her questions without hesitation. Brechner asked the candidates to give their backgrounds and explain why they felt they were
Michael Gard
Beverly Pingerelli
Davita Solter
Cory Underhill
qualified to serve on the Governing Board. Dr. Michael Gard said first, he was a parent of a child in second grade. He has been an educator 13 years, seven of those years as a science teacher. He is
now working as an assistant in registration for an inner-city school district in the Valley. He said he understands the inner workings of finance and budget, salary and benefits. He has a masters and doctorate degree in educational leadership from Arizona State University. Beverly Pingerelli said it has been an honor to serve four years on the Governing Board, and if she wasn’t qualified four years ago, ‘I am today.” Pingerelli said she has the important qualities of temperament, leadership with conviction and the ability to make decisions based on data. Davita Solter said she worked in the PUSD 31
years, and during that time taught in elementary and high schools, and she also served as an elementary and high school principal. She then retired and worked in the Glendale Elementary School District in the human resources area at Melvin E. Sine Elementary School. Solter said she is the only candidate who lives in Glendale, where she is active in the community, has the experience and “passion for service and education.” Cory Underhill said in the last four years, she was a third-grade teacher, and has a “developed in the trenches perspective.” She worked in a nonprofit for a number of years and holds a master’s degree in
nonprofit management. She said she has a wealth of experience as a teacher and parent. Brechner asked the candidates to describe what they see as educational gaps in strengths and weaknesses in the district. Pingerelli said, for Peoria, a strong turnover of teachers was a weakness, and to counter that, for the past four years, the Governing Board has tried to give teachers a reason to stay in the district. Solter said she agreed that retention was a weakness and it has put a strain on administrators. As a strength, she said the district shows support for teachers and one of its
Seed Library ribbon-cutting Oct. 6 at both libraries Everyone’s invited to join Mayor Cathy Carlat and Mayor Pro Tem Vicki Hunt for the new Seed Library opening Oct. 6. The mayor will be at Sunrise Mountain Library, 21109 N. 98th Ave., to celebrate a ribbon-cutting ceremony, while Hunt will be at the Peoria Main Library, 8463 W. Monroe St. Both ceremonies begin at 10 a.m. Free gardening gloves will be given to the first 25 people who check out a seed packet, as well as a gardening pot decoration for children younger than 12. Participants may also register to win a $25 Lowes gift card. For more information, call 623-773-7555.
Peoria Progress
MORE BOARD ON 7
Living Room • Bedroom • Children’s Furniture Dining Room • Electronics Outdoor Furniture • Office/Entertainment
OCTOBER BUSINESS PULLOUT INSIDE
Sofa
598
$
Community meeting set for MIHS’s West Valley Primary and Specialty Care Center Maricopa Integrated Health System (MIHS) and the city of Peoria will conduct a community meeting Oct. 17 to update residents about progress on the West Valley Primary and Specialty Care Center. The 120,000-square-foot center is under construction at a 20-acre site at Grand Avenue and Cotton Crossing. When the West Valley Primary and Specialty Care Center opens in 2020, approximately 320 staff will be dedicated to the site, treating an expected daily volume of about 255 patients and visitors. The community meeting will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 17 at Peoria Community Center, 8335 W. Jefferson St., Peoria. Peoria Mayor Pro Tem Vicki Hunt, MIHS President and CEO Steve Purves, MIHS Chief Operating Officer Kris Gaw and other MIHS leadership and city planners will be present. To stay up to date on MIHS’s Care Reimagined project, visit https://mihs.org/care-reimagined/. To watch the MIHS West Valley Primary and Specialty Care construction cam, visit https://public.earthcam.net/ Okland_MIHS_WVSC#/MIHS/Camera/View%201.
efforts has been the Modified Mondays program. That is to support ongoing professional development for district employees. On Mondays this school year, students are being released two hours early. Underhill said the weakness gap is the leadership changes and curriculum direction and challenges at the state level. The strength is the district’s higher than average SAT scores and graduation rate. Gard said retention and teacher satisfaction are weaknesses and the strength is the educational programs offered in the district. But even that came with a caveat. “We offer these great programs, but some students do not have the opportunity to take advantage of those programs,” Gard said. Brechner asked the candidates if they could change one thing in how PUSD educates their children, what would it be? Solter said, “Every student given the opportunity
Feature ne ho Tablet/P Ports g Chargin
^Available in-Store Only
Sofa with Accent Pillows and USB Charging Ports $598 (D-4498S)
Loveseat with USB Charging Ports $578 • Oversized Chair with USB Charging Ports $488 Ottoman $218 • Cocktail Table $159 (GN323C) • End Table $119 (GN323E) • 8’ x 10’ Area Rug $289 (164-AL7065-81) 29” Table Lamp^ $62 Each (109-90404B) • Seagrass Basket^ $38 (173-49044)
GLENDALE, AZ (602) 422-8800
101 & Bethany Home Rd. across from University of Phoenix Stadium 5801 N. 99th Ave., Glendale, AZ 85305
GILBERT, AZ (480) 500-4121
202 Santan Freeway & S. Power Rd. 4700 S. Power Rd., Gilbert, AZ 85296
WE DELIVER ALMOST ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.
AFW.com
Your LIFESTYLE FURNITURE Store CW18430 4x6 10_4-5 American Furniture Warehouse.indd 1
9/25/18 7:55 AM