Dear FHUSD Families and Friends,
On Tuesday, April 30th, the FHUSD Governing Board and the Fountain Hills Town Council held a joint meeting at the Fountain Hills Town Council Chambers. The meeting was chaired by Mayor Ginny Dickey and FHUSD Board President Jill Reed. Included on the dais were the Vice Mayor, five members of the Town Council, four members of the FHUSD Governing Board with additional participation from administrative staff from both entities.
While the town and the district operate under separate governance structures, policies and laws, the meeting dialogue and discussion highlighted the numerous common initiatives and agreements between the town and the district. Agenda topics included Intergovernmental Agreements (IGAs), campus safety and security measures, the School Resource Officer and the EVIT-FH campus. Current IGAs allow for the joint use of town and school district facilities for recreational and athletic activities, public meetings, and other educational functions. In the area of safety and security, district staff reviewed ongoing student and staff training measures, school emergency plans and upgrades to campus security measures while Town Council members summarized their recent attendance at a school safety conference. The school district reiterated its appreciation for having the town provide for the School Resource Officer (SRO). This school-based Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office Deputy serves valuable functions as law enforcement officer, law-related counselor and law-related educator. In addition, the officer works in collaboration with the schools and community as a resource for safety and security issues. The utilization of the prior Four Peaks Elementary School site as the EVIT-FH campus was recognized as beneficial to both the town and district as a venture that targets both educational and business interests. New joint ideas were also introduced including pursuing a “Safe Route to Schools” measure to identify safe zones for students walking to school and a Teen Court program for working with the town judicial department to help resolve teen legal issues.
The meeting was very successful in identifying common interests between the town and district, fostering an effective communication plan for the safety of all patrons and a review of shared agreements that benefit both adults and children in the town. All parties believe in the mutually beneficial relationship between the town and schools and we hope to continue to grow this relationship in a collaborative process.
Regards,
Robert Allen, Ed.D.
Superintendent
