Laveen Schools Set to Kick Off New Academic Year
Students throughout Laveen return to school this month with classes resuming Aug. 8 for the Laveen Elementary School district and high schoolers in the Phoenix Unified School. Classes at most of the charter schools also are underway or preparing to start.
Meet the Teacher Night for the elementary district takes place Aug. 4 from 5-7 p.m. and school officials encourage parents to ensure their children are familiar with their school, its campus and the start times before classes resume.
“Learning begins the first day,” said spokeswoman Kristen Landry. “It’s really important for parents to have the children on time the first day.”
Landry also notes that with the return of nearly 4,500 high schoolers and about 10,000 elementary students, drivers need to be patient and courteous to ensure safety of all students when dropping off and picking up children from schools and bus stops.
Laveen also is opening another brand-new school. Paseo Pointe, the district’s eighth K-12 school, opens with a Spanish-immersion program available for kindergarten and first grades. Each year an additional class will be introduced to the program until eventually dual language is offered to all the expected 1,200 students.
At press time about 750 students were enrolled in the new school, on 55th Avenue between South Mountain Avenue and Dobbins Road. Wheelbarrows and workers were still finishing last-minute jobs prior to the doors opening on Aug. 8. Kristi Pashley, who for the past several years led the accelerated program at Vista Del Sur where she was principal, is now principal at Paseo Pointe.
Also, with the passage in May of Proposition 123 by Arizona voters, the Laveen district was able to restore about $1.2 million. Dr. William Johnson, superintendent, sent a letter in May to parents detailing what the funding means for the district.
In summary, the money is being used in Laveen to provide pay increases for employees. The district employs about 750 teachers, administrators, bus drivers, and maintenance and office workers, making it one of Laveen’s largest employers.
“The Laveen Elementary School District used funds from Prop. 123 to support competitive salary and benefit packages for all Laveen staff,” Johnson said this month. “This allows us to recruit and, more importantly, retain high quality staff. Because we are able to fill positions quickly, we are better prepared to start the new school year.”
Johnson noted in his May letter that while the Prop. 123 money is welcome, it only restores about 48 percent of the funding that has been withheld from schools and it doesn’t assist districts with any money for capital spending. Districts continue to rely on community support and voter-approved budget overrides to complete upgrades and expansions at existing schools, as well as for programs such as art, music and PE.
“These are items essential to the success and quality of our schools. Your continued support confirms the investment we are making in our children, their future, and our community. We recognize the important role that our schools play in the quality of life in Laveen and will continue to strive to ensure a high quality school system and the success of every child,” Johnson concluded in the letter.
Laveen Elementary District Schools:
Cheatham Elementary School
4725 W. South Mountain Avenue
Laveen, Arizona 85339-9805
School times: 7:30-2:30
Office: 602-237-7040
Principal Andrew Wait, Await@laveeneld.org
PTO: Shauna Hanawalt, shanawalt@cox.net
Desert Meadows School
6855 W. Meadows Loop East
Laveen, Arizona 85339-9805
Office: 602-304-2020
School times: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Principal Steve Preis, spreis@laveeneld.org
PTSA: Katherine Mingo, desertmeadowsPTSA@gmail.com
Laveen Elementary
4141 W. McNeil Street
Laveen, Arizona 85339-9805
School times: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Office: 602-237-9110
Principal Dr. Robert Caplinger, rcaplinger@laveeneld.org
PTO: Sandra Bautista, sbautista@laveeneld.org
Maurice C. Cash Elementary School
3851 W. Roeser Road
Phoenix, Arizona 85041-9805
School times: 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Office: 602-237-9120
Principal Lisa Sandomir, Lsandomir@laveeneld.org
PTO: Greg Carroll, gcarroll@laveeneld.org
Paseo Pointe Elementary School
8800 S. 55th Avenue
Laveen, Arizona 85339-9805
School times: 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Office: 602-304-2040
Principal Kristi Pashley, kpashley@laveeneld.org
PTO: Maggie Jolly, mjolly@laveeneld.org
Rogers Ranch School
6735 S. 47th Avenue
Laveen, Arizona 85339-9805
Office: 602-304-2030
School times: 8:30 – 3:30
Principal Tim Thomas, tthomas@laveeneld.org
PTO: Elizabeth Fritts, lfritts@laveeneld.org
Trailside Point School
7275 W. Vineyard Road
Laveen, Arizona 85339-9805
School times: 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Office: 602-605-8540
Principal Sarah Zembruski, szembruski@laveeneld.org
PTA: Shawna Huxel, lexuhs@gmail.com
Vista del Sur Accelerated Academy
3908 W. South Mountain Ave.
Laveen, Arizona 85339-9805
Office: 602-237-3046
School times: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Principal Jessica Epacs, jepacs@laveeneld.org
PTO: Jackie Alvarado, tigers@vistadelsurPTO.com
By Rose Hutchinson Tring
Rose Hutchinson Tring is a long-time journalist and owner of AZ Media Maven, a Laveen-based marketing and public relations company. She is also the founder of FinditinLaveen.com, a local business directory and free community calendar. Email her at rose@azmediamaven.com
