by Gilbert resident Susan Hicks Editor’s Note; a Letter to the Editor submitted by Susan Hicks was recently published in the hard copy version of the Gilbert Republic newspaper. Her letter was a response to Mr. Don Skousen’s letter, published
Read moreSchool Board
Colvin: Confidence in Gilbert Schools is Rising
Gilbert Schools Governing Board Member Daryl Colvin recently wrote an opinion piece that was published in the East Valley Tribune. He cites some major accomplishments of the conservative board. I use the word "conservative," because these particular board members have been under a sustained attack by a small group of agitators. This group has been supported by both the Gilbert Education Association and Arizona Education Association (teachers’ unions). They have been cheered on by the leftist media, a a media whose bias is so well established in America that it is measured by how much the American people distrust it.
Gilbert Watch published an article some time ago that listed the conservative board’s accomplishments. See The Accomplishments of the Gilbert Schools Governing Board.
Mr. Colvin has added some more.
Please take the time to read them. Many of these were very hard fought over a period of years! Then, judge for yourself. The school board sets the standard for your district. Every school district, like a business, embodies a culture. That culture starts at the top.
Click HERE for the link to Mr. Colvin’s article. Here are the highlights:
Read moreGilbert Mayor John Lewis Gives Invocation at Gilbert Schools Board Meeting
This is the first time in 14 years that the Invocation was allowed to open Gilbert School Board meetings.
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Gilbert Schools Board Meeting Tonight: Invocation Returns After 14 Years of Being Silenced!
Please attend tonight’s Gilbert Public Schools District Governing Board meeting tonight at 6:50 pm. Tonight, Tuesday, July 8, will be the first time that the Invocation will be heard, since it was abolished by a previous board 14 years ago. The Invocation will be given by Gilbert Mayor John Lewis.
While you are giving thanks, please also include in your prayer the three GPS Board members who made it possible. These three refused to give up on the fight to return God to the meetings: President Staci Burk, Clerk Julie Smith, and Board Member Daryl Colvin.
Another reason to attend tonight’s meeting is that the new Superintendent of Gilbert Schools Dr. Christina Kishimoto will be assuming her responsibilities for the first time. We all wish Dr. Kishimoto the very best, and please take a moment to ask the Lord to bless her and guide her. She is a competent and talented young woman who wants to do the best job possible for Gilbert’s children.
The meeting begins with the Invocation at 6:50 pm. The regular meeting begins at 7:00 pm.
Location: Governing Board Room, Gilbert Public Schools, Building B, 140 S. Gilbert Road, Gilbert, AZ.
Click HERE for the link to the Agenda.
Read moreRon Bellus for Gilbert Schools Governing Board
Ron Bellus, candidate for the Gilbert School Board, has received the endorsements of Arizona Corporation Commissioner Gary Pierce, Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery, and Maricopa County Treasurer Charles "Hos" Hoskins.
"I have known and worked with Ron Bellus at the Legislature and now at the Corporation Commission for many years," said Commissioner Pierce. "Ron is a knowledgeable and hardworking leader who knows how to accomplish great things. His ability to work with people from diverse backgrounds is critical in bringing a consensus on important issues and will serve Gilbert Schools well. He knows how to compromise on issues but not on principles – and he knows the difference. I trust Ron to do the right thing and I fully endorse him for the Gilbert School Board."
County Attorney Bill Montgomery said:
"Ron Bellus is an exceptional leader. He demonstrates this with his willingness to be an active part of our Gilbert community for more than 20 years. Ron is a problem solver. He’s able to with people from diverse backgrounds and help bring consensus on important issues. Ron will be a great addition to our Gilbert School Board. And he does portray a great George Washington, doesn’t he?’
According to County Treasurer Hos Hoskins:
Read moreGilbert Public Schools – Another Property Tax Override?
by Patrick O’Malley
Precinct Committeeman LD12
Gilbert Public Schools (GPS) finished their zero based budgeting process some time ago and were given several budget options from which to choose. They could have gone for steeper cuts in the budget immediately (option C), but chose less cuts this year and are now discussing asking the voters for an override to avoid the additional cuts that will come up next year. A 10% override has been mentioned, but there are no specific proposals yet.
Almost every school district has one or more property tax overrides in place. It’s the new normal. Capital improvement overrides provide additional money for a specific purpose, like a major upgrade of a school district’s computer system. Maintenance and Operation (M&O) overrides provide schools with additional money for everyday expenses. Theoretically they are used to get past a financial rough patch, but there aren’t any examples of that happening. Instead, the school spends the money like it will be there forever, and as the time approaches for the override to expire, they begin the process of asking the voters for another override to keep the money coming. That’s what is being talked about at GPS.
What Happened to the Technology Override Money?
Another issue with overrides is that the additional money doesn’t always get used the way it was sold to voters. In 2007 GPS voters passed a $57.4 million dollar capital override for computers and internet access. That’s a lot of technology, $1400 per student, but where are the results? There are a few technology bright spots within GPS, but overall the capability is fair to poor.
Read moreGilbert School Board Meeting Tonight, May 27 at 7:00 pm
Governing Board Room, 7:00 p.m.
Gilbert Public Schools
Building B
140 S. Gilbert Road
Gilbert, AZ 85296
HERE is the link to the agenda.
This week the board will be addressing, among other things, solar panels, selection of textbooks, and yet another budget override election.
Regarding the textbook choices, please read the concerns expressed by Gilbert resident Harry Mathews, in his May 13 comments to the board relating to the Carnegie Algebra I textbook:
President Burk and members of the Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board my name is Harry Mathews and I am a resident and taxpayer in Gilbert. I recently reviewed the math textbooks on display in the curriculum office. There were 2 books that caught my attention: The Carnegie Algebra I and II books. I will address here Volume I.
Read moreGilbert School Board: Thanks for Standing up for Transparency and Accountability
Gilbert resident Susan Hicks has been attending Gilbert School Board meetings for years. After attending the May 13 meeting, she sent the following letter to the School Board and the Superintendent, Dr. Rice. Gilbert Watch is publishing the letter, edited slightly, with permission from Ms. Hicks.
Dear School Board Members and Dr. Rice,
I am writing to congratulate board member Mrs. Julie Smith on her review and study of the Zero based budgeting process, and the accountable "numbers" in the various categories of spending, or lack thereof. I was impressed with her expressing a need for more visual accountability in all categories of spending to see where the dollars are going and how much.
This is necessary, in order that the superintendency and board members be excellent stewards of the educational dollars they are given. If you don’t know "for what" and "how much" is being spent, there is no way to calculate waste and abuse. We have seen enough of that in the Gilbert Public School system. When the "spenders" are not spending their own money, they tend to not care about the "how much" or "for what."
Accountability, transparency, fiduciary responsibility, and, far too often, integrity get lost in the process.
In contrast, board member Mrs. Humpherys appears to believe that the oversight should be entirely and solely left in the hands of the Superintendent. I disagree!
Read moreThe Case Against EJ Anderson for School Board
Ms. Carol Emmett wrote the following letter to the Gilbert School Board, to which incumbent Board President EJ Anderson responded with smug indifference. For additional information regarding this issue, please see Gilbert School District Officials to Displace 645 GJHS Students. The bottom line is that EJ Anderson’s mind was made up to close Gilbert Jr. High School, and it didn’t matter to her how the critical stakeholders felt about it. Blake Sacha and Helen Hollands voted right along with her. Lily Tram was not present, but she expressed the same sentiment. Staci Burk, who has always asked the most questions and pressed for answers, was the lone dissenter.
The Board and the District Officials who created the "mess" to which Ms. Emmett refers ignored their own Strategic Plan, which clearly stated that the community should have been involved in the decision making process. This Board, incompetently led by President Anderson, shoved their decision down the stakeholders’ throats.
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