1 DEAD IN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING, PAGE 4
westvalleyview.com — the newspaper of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson, AZ 50¢ Wednesday, June 7, 2017 (623) 535-8439
Litchfield District taps new leader
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Julianne Lein to retire after 2017-18 school year by Kourtney Balsan special to the View
PUBLISHED! Tolleson author pens young adult book — Page 8.
RIDING FOR A CAUSE Avondale police officer rides in Police Unity Tour — Page 9.
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View photo by Jordan Christopher
AVA BRUCKER, left, and her mother, Buckeye Union High School English teacher Diana Brucker, work together to build raised beds for shelter dogs May 25 at the Maricopa County Animal Care & Control West Valley Care Center. To see all photos from this shoot, go to www.westvalleyview.com/pictures.
For the dogs West Valley volunteers assemble beds for animal shelter in Phoenix by Chris Caraveo staff writer
A few more dogs at a Maricopa County animal shelter have new beds to sleep on. Make that 65. Volunteers from the Buckeye Union High School District helped purchase, deliver and assemble beds for dogs last month at Maricopa County Animal Care & Control. “It was great to see the dogs excited about a new bed,” said Marie Buquicchio, a special education teacher at Youngker High School. “They know!”
Buquicchio organized the endeavor after she and her three sons hosted a “Mutt Strut” at the shelter. About 20 people from BUHSD joined them in walking about 60 dogs on a path around the shelter. The group noticed some of the dogs were laying on concrete inside their individual kennels. So they decided to take up a collection to buy beds for the dogs. Buquicchio mass emailed the school district, stating what she wanted to do. And people donated. With money in hand, (See Dogs on Page 5)
It’s time to get ready to say goodbye to Litchfield Elementary School District Superintendent Julianne Lein and welcome Jodi Gunning to fill her shoes. Lein, who led the district for more than a decade, will serve her last year as superintendent during the 2017-18 school year, which will mark her 11th year in that position. She will retire in the summer of 2018. “This role has undoubtedly been my most challenging and rewarding,” Lein said. “I am humbled to have been given such Julianne Lein a special opportunity. Whatever success I have achieved has been thanks to our passionate team of nearly 1,300 employees and the supportive community members who partner with us to build strong minds for a strong future.” According to the American Association of School Administrators, the average tenure for a Jodi Gunning superintendent is five to six years. The Litchfield Elementary School District has proven itself to be home to long-serving superintendents as Lein has served twice the average, and her predecessor, Tom Heck, served four times the average spending nearly 20 years in the position. “Dr. Heck and Dr. Lein devoted their professional lives to protecting the culture and achievement of [the district],” Gunning said. “I’m grateful for their leadership and am mindful that we are walking on the shoulders of giants as we pivot toward the next 100 years of excellence. It’s an honor to build on their impressive success.” If the pattern continues, Gunning will be another long-time serving superintendent. “All signs point toward continued success for Litchfield Elementary School District. Our ‘A’ rated district is celebrating its centennial anniversary with highly qualified teachers in a loyal and supportive community,” Lein said. “I am confident in the talent and commitment of our Governing Board, teachers, staff and community.” After an intricate process, the Governing Board selected Gunning to become superintendent. The Governing Board issued a survey to the staff and community to identify key traits and (See Leader on Page 5)