Superintendent’s Corner

The Flagstaff Unified School District No. 1 is fortunate to have successful partnerships with  businesses, institutions of higher education, organizations, city and county government, and community members to provide wonderful opportunities for students.  A well used African saying is appropriate for our community, “It takes a whole village to raise a child.” 

The FUSD community has provided generous support for school renovations with the November 2006 Bond/Capital Override election.  Interested parties can see montly reports of the work being done here.

Another great example of community support was a recent election allowing FUSD to join the Coconino Association for Vocational, Industrial and Technical Education (CAVIAT).  Local and state funds boost career and technical education course offerings for FUSD students through CAVIAT.

Listed below are examples of  partnerships that benefit FUSD students.

• Members of the Alliance are the City of Flagstaff, Coconino County, FUSD, Coconino Community College, and Northern Arizona University.  The Alliance was founded in the 1990s to, among other things,  increase collaboration among the greater Flagstaff public entities, work together to leverage resources, eliminate waste, and maximize the return on investment of taxpayer dollars.  For example, joint purchasing initiatives are implemented to save tax payer dollars in areas such as materials, supplies, employee health insurance, and printing. 

• The Arizona Daily Sun provides students with daily newspapers through the Newspapers in Schools program throughout the school year.
• Yearly, calendars are provided to every school in the district free of charge that are sold by schools, clubs and teams as fundraisers.

The City of Flagstaff and FUSD have numerous partnerships on behalf of the entire community.  Here are some examples:

• Mayor Presler and the City Council provide generous support for the FACTS before and after school program.  The City Council provides more than $360,000 annually to help support scholarships to families so that children can have a safe, healthy and educationally supportive environment in the morning before school begins and after school until parents get off work.
• The City Parks and Recreation Department work with FUSD to provide fields, pools and gymnasiums for many youth and adult recreation opportunities.  The City grounds crews work with FUSD maintainance and grounds personnel to keep the fields and facilities in the best shape possible.
• Every fifth grade student in FUSD benefits from the DARE program that is taught be specially trained officers from the Flagstaff Police Department.  The Drug and Alcohol Resistance Education program teaches youth how to say no to drugs, alcohol and violence.  Parents and family members are invited to continue to assist our youth make good decisions at the DARE graduations.
• FUSD works with the City of Flagstaff, along with local and regional business representatives, to address local business retention, development and the workforce.  Economic and workforce development are being addressed through the City’s Northern Arizona Economic Development Advisory Committee.  You can learn more about what is going on at the City of Innovation web site.

• FUSD and CCC have worked hard over the last several years to create and expand dual credit opportunities for students.  Dual credit means that the student earns credit for both FUSD and CCC.  Thus, a student graduating from FUSD will have already earned college credit.  Many of the dual credit courses developed so far are in career and technical education and coordinated with CAVIAT.  FUSD also works with CCC and CAVIAT to provide career and technical education summer school courses.

• POWER Program

               POWER stands for Partnership on Workforce Education & Readiness.  To better help prepare students for the world of work, the Chamber of Commerce organized this partnership program matching businesses with middle and high school classrooms to discuss workplace ethics, soft skills and career opportunities in the greater Flagstaff area.  POWER continues to expand each year since its inception in 2005.  The Six Pillars of Character in the Character Counts program reinforce for students that soft skills are necessary for success in school and the workforce.  -see the POWER Program Brochure .  You can see a power point presentation created by CHS Culinary Arts teacher Eric Ashcroft here:  CHS and Radisson Woodlands Partnership 

• Arizona Academic Scholars Program

                The Arizona Academic Scholars program encourages high school students to take a more academically rigorous program of study during high school.  Wells Fargo Bank contributes medals for those students who have completed the rigorous course of study that are given to and worn by CHS, FHS, and SHS seniors at gradution ceremonies . 

• FUSD’s partnership with NAU continues to grow.  There have been numerous efforts over the years to enhance education in our community.  Some recent examples include assistance from the College of Education to create the TELC Program at Flagstaff Middle School; the PEP grant that has revolutionized the physical education program at all levels; and Speech and Language interns assisting language and literacy development with youngsters at Thomas Elementary School.

• The Keeping Score program is fantastic!  Partners include the San Francisco and Flagstaff Symphony Orchestras and the Coconino County Schools office.
• The Keeping Score education program emphasizes music as a vital component of the broader human experience. The unique qualities of classical music—its ability to express the grandest ideas as well as the most subtle emotions—offer teachers a powerful tool with which to enhance student learning throughout the curriculum. Teachers at all levels provide students with opportunities to learn about classical music while integrating it into core curriculum for a more enriching educational experience.

• Early Childhood Initiative in progress facilited by the United Way