Jennifer Jimenez

Independent Newsmedia

It’s right back to work for the Deer Valley Unified School District Governing Board. First on the agenda Jan. 9 was to select a new president, vice president and legislative delegate for the Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) during the first board meeting of 2018.

Former vice president Jenny Frank was voted in as the new president by the board. Darcy Tweedy, after some debate, was voted vice president, and outgoing president Kim Fisher was voted the ASBA legislative delegate.

Jenny Frank

After being voted president, Ms. Frank opened nominations to fill the open vice president position and member Ann O’Brien nominated Ann Ordway.

“I think it is meaningful to have a broader perspective since we are so divided on many issues, and I would disagree that all perspectives are seen are seen on the agenda or during agenda reviews,” Ms. O’Brien explained. “I would appeal to my fellow board members to please consider Ann Ordway as she has many years of experience. And there are times board members who have people who come to them and they support their view points and I think we all have those people and not all choices are represented, so I think it would be a good sign to this community and students and staff that we are working to represent everyone.”

Ms. Fisher said it was unusual to ever see something like this, saying everyone’s voices have been heard and included and asked for.

“I am amazed any board member would publicly try to force their agenda when they have already been heard throughout three years and the greater question is what is her financial background,” Ms. Fisher said of Ms. O’Brien’s comments. “The majority of what a vice president does is viewing financials and to know the background and to pressure or guilt, as if you want to be a good member. I am kind of appalled at that type of manipulation.”

Ms. Ordway and Ms. O’Brien voted in favor, while Ms. Fisher, Ms. Tweedy and Ms. Frank voted against. The 3-2 vote struck down the nomination. Ms. Frankthen nominated Ms. Tweedy for vice president, which which led Ms. O’Brien to question her financial

background and her ability to attend agenda reviews as a teacher.

“It will have to be after school and as to my background, I was a securities broker and accountant at a law office before I was a teacher,” Ms. Tweedy rebutted.

Ms. Tweedy’s nomination was successful with a 3-2 vote — Ms. Fisher, Ms. Frank and Ms. Tweedy in favor; Ms. Ordway and Ms. O’Brien opposed. The vote for Ms. Frank for president succeeded with an identical 3-2 vote.

Superintendent Dr. Curtis Finch said after listening to Governor Doug Ducey’s State of the State address Tuesday, Jan. 10, that it’s “better to be in the sand box then outside.”

“The sandbox is not the best deal, but it’s a deal, and I like the pressure from parents and even the media and think it’s paying off. (Mr. Ducey) recognized education has to be a priority,” Mr. Finchexplained. “We are at the table, and I am looking forward to working with the governor to make recommendations come to life, and it’s really the legislature who has to do the heavy lifting.”

In the area of business services deputy superintendent of fiscal and business services Jim Migliorino reported a 105-student decline compared to one year ago. But said they are seeing improvement at threetenths of a percent of reduction, noting it has been as high as seven-tenths in the past. DVUSD graduated 2,800 seniors and brought in 2,300 kindergarten students.

Included in his summary were the financials for December. Mr. Migliorino said the district is about $50,000 better than this time last year and have a projected carry forward in this current year of $540,000 thousand.