WWW.PEORIATIMES.COM
JULY 18, 2019
Paramount Academy improvements continue BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor
Paramount Academy is nearing completion of its redesigned playground area that added blue rubber mulch to create an equipment safety zone. This marks the fifth year of new construction and improvements for one of Arizona’s longest-running charter schools. Paramount Academy has also added an indoor auditorium and offices, along with a soccer field, solar, a fresh coat of paint and a resurfaced parking lot. Paramount Academy parents and families aided in the school’s new electric scoreboard, marquee entry sign
and now sand removal and the playground’s redesign. Paramount Academy was established in 1996 by retired teachers who wanted more freedom as well as change in the public school system. The school’s improvements were made as its phenomenal teachers continued to provide a quality education. The community has provided outstanding support over the years and has made the improvements possible. Paramount continues to be a top-rated charter school with a private school feel. Paramount Academy is located at 11039 W. Olive Avenue, Peoria. For more information, call 623-977-0614 or visit paramountacademy.com.
Parents of Paramount Academy students recently helped make improvements to the building and the surrounding area. (Photo courtesy Paramount Academy)
HopSkipDrive makes transportation easier for parents BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Peoria Times Executive Editor
Joanna McFarland and her neighbors were busy parents in Los Angeles who needed help shuffling their eight children to their six different schools and extracurricular activities. Four and a half years ago, they founded HopSkipDrive, which expands to the Valley on July 30. HopSkipDrive is similar to other ride-share companies, except it only services kids ages 6 and older. The drivers (called “CareDrivers”) have extensive background checks and are required to have at least five years of caregiving experience. “Phoenix metro has a lot of congestion,” McFarland said. “Phoenix metro also has school of choice and open enrollment, which makes transportation to and from the school really hard. This is a problem we can help solve.” Rides may be reserved as little as
HopSkipDrive takes its services to Phoenix on July 30. (Photo courtesy Zion & Zion)
eight hours in advance or by 7 p.m. the night before for morning rides. Families book rides through the app or online at hopskipdrive.com, then HopSkipDrive matches ride requests to a CareDriver and sends parents a picture and CareDriver profile to share with their children before the ride. Par-
ents receive progress alerts at pickup and drop-off for added peace of mind. “You can customize the ride notes, too,” McFarland said. “You can put in instructions like go in and sign my child out of school. You’ll get a picture and profile of the driver, and you can show that to the school to authorize
school sign-outs. Parents can track everything in their app. We also have a safe ride support team, live and in real time.” She said the price is “roughly the same cost of a babysitter who drives.” The service is available already in California, Colorado, Virginia and Washington, D.C. “Nearly 1 in 2 parents say they feel they put their jobs at risk to meet their children’s transportation needs,” McFarland said. “Parents shouldn’t have to choose between their careers and their children’s education and activities, but that tough choice is very real for countless families. HopSkipDrive wants parSEE HOPSKIPDRIVE PAGE 3