Despite numerous questions by the Dysart Unified School District governing board, members approved an intergovernmental agreement and resolution with the Greater Phoenix Educational Management Council and AZ Education Management Council allowing the district to have more of a voice in discussions they were not included in before.
During the Sept. 21 meeting, board members approved a motion to enter the agreement and resolution, which will provide educational management services, programs and activities to those participating in the agreement in a cost-effective and educationally-sound manner, from Oct. 1 through June 30, 2028.
The council will be governed by the participating district superintendents. According to a staff report, each participating district is entitled to one vote, which may be cast by the superintendent or designee. Other educational and government agencies may be represented at the meetings but without voting rights.
The district will enter the agreement with the organization known as the Greater Phoenix Educational Management Council/AZ Educational Management Council, which will plan and carry out a range of activities to further the goal of improving educational programs offered.
Participating school districts will benefit from improving elementary through high school educational programs to undertaking cooperative programs including cost-effective staff development and computer services.
A participating district may terminate membership in the council by submitting a written notice at least 90 days before the end of each fiscal year, the report noted. Likewise, membership dues are paid by the districts on July 1 on each fiscal year.
“This is the strongest professional development group we can belong to in the Valley,” said Superintendent John Croteau, adding how the agreement will allow the district to have a voice, be privvy to legislation, collective problem solving and more.
He described how the collaborative effort between the district and the council will allow them to have more input on decisions.
“This resource is much needed,” he added.
Board President Stephen Skvara recommended a quarterly update to the board to keep them informed about the council’s decisions and topics.
Board member Dawn Densmore said she was “part of the decision to end” the agreement with that council in the past. She wanted to know if the superintendent was aware of some of the things the council promoted, and if the district could abstain from voting in matters that do not align with the district’s mission and goals.
“They were advocating to things that did not go along with our schools,” Densmore said.
Densmore later asked the superintendent if he knew what the council’s stance was on Prop 320, which he replied he did not.
Delarita Ford can be reached at dford@iniusa.org. Submit comments at yourvalley.net/letters or email them to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
Meet Delarita Delarita Ford originally joined Independent Newspapers Incorporated, now Independent Newsmedia, Inc. USA in 1997, as a general assignment reporter for the Delaware State News daily paper after starting her journalism career in Maryland in 1994, where she honed her skills by writing obituaries, covering community news from births to deaths, education to legislation and more. As a reporter, she has had the opportunity to cover sitting and former U.S. presidential visits in Baltimore, Delaware, and Arizona.
Community: One of the few seasoned journalists who still enjoys covering community events, she can be found with a reporter’s pad taking notes, her phone taking pictures while capturing life’s moments to memorialize them in print for the local newspapers and for the active-adult community where she lives. She maintains a presence with the Black media and the National Association of Black Journalists to encourage peers, socialize, and mentor younger writers.
Education: Life learner who learns from life. Aside from the collegiate education received, she got the best training from on-the-job experience with former editors who went through copy with a red pen and demanded the best writing for hard news and feature stories.
Random Fact: While a Delaware State News reporter, she could call then Sen. Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden, usually late at night if a quote or input was needed for varying topics, including legislation and education.
Hobbies: Adopt rescue dogs and give them a nice home. Continuously read and critique news stories from various platforms.
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