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Superintendent's Message Regarding Public Day School 

Dear Valued Stakeholder,

I would like to thank the Governing Board and community for its patience as we reexamine our efforts to move the district forward, meeting student, parent and community needs, while keeping in mind the best interest of the entire district.

In February, I decided it was best to take a step back and restructure the conversation regarding the Public Day School initiative – especially since the work and recommendation from the previous months were described as biased and not inclusive. DVUSD is forming an Alternative Public Day School Input Committee to ensure stakeholder involvement as we move forward with the process.

The committee will be responsible for reviewing the utilization of our facilities and making a recommendation during a May Governing Board meeting to repurpose one elementary school into an Alternative Public Day School beginning in the 2014-15 school year.

Be assured, the committee structure and process will demonstrate our commitment to transparency, openness and inclusivity. Members will be comprised of the following:

• Two teachers;
• Two principals;
• District Support Services Parent Liaison;
• One parent and one business partner from each of the District’s five high school regions;
• The PTSA president from each of the eight impacted schools (Desert Sage, Desert Winds, Esperanza, Greenbrier, Mirage, Mountain Shadows, New River and Sunrise), or a designee chosen by the PTSA president.

The committee will be facilitated by former Governing Board member Rob Edmund. No district administrators previously involved in the proposal will serve, including myself, but we will serve as resources to the committee. To facilitate clear and consistent communication of the committee’s efforts, an Internal and External Communication will be created and posted to the District website and employee Portal after each committee event.

The communication effort will originate from within the committee and will be distributed with the support of the District’s Public Relations Department. The committee’s first meeting will take place March, 18, 2013.

A second committee, the Transition Committee, will be formed to review, revise and implement a plan for the students, parents, community and buildings impacted by the committee’s recommendation. The District faces many obstacles as we address the $6 million projected M&O dollar deficit, significantly impacted by the failure of Proposition 204 and the loss of the District's $7.5 million Capital Override election this past November. In addition to budgetary decisions, there is a large number of DVUSD students in need of services we don’t currently provide within our District. Those students are currently being sent to a Private Day School and are not receiving the quality education we want for all our students.

Deer Valley remains committed to inclusivity, openness and transparency. Throughout this planning process, we will work together as a community to address repurposing and to provide all students with the best educational experience.

Sincerely,

Dr. James R. Veitenheimer
Superintendent

Open Enrollment 

Click here for information on Open Enrollment for the next school year. Application forms are now available.

Superintendent's  Video Message

You are invited to view the Superintendent's latest video message by clicking here: Video Message

Accountability Achievement Profile 

The Arizona Department of Education reported school achievement profiles for districts and schools throughout Arizona. Last year the Arizona Department of Education added the A-F Accountability Achievement Profiles, a new profile lettering system using “A” through “F” to rate school performance. Although ADE reported both the Legacy labels and Letter Grades last year, this year only A-F Letter Grades are being reported.  The Legacy labels have been phased out.

The A-F Letter Grades are weighted 50% on student proficiency and 50% on student learning growth for students attending your school.

This year, Sunrise Elementary School received a “B” Accountability Achievement Profile. In general, the “B” Achievement Profile designates an above average level of performance for student achievement and learning growth.

Additional information on profile letter grades is posted on the Arizona Department of Education’s website, www.ade.az.gov.

AdvancEd District-Wide Accreditation

Deer Valley Unified School District is proud to announce its participation in a district-wide accreditation process.  In the past, only high schools received accreditation.  For the 2012-2013 school year and beyond, ALL Deer Valley K-12 schools will receive accreditation, and the district will be recognized for System Accreditation based on a more stringent set of standards.

What is Accreditation?

Accreditation is a national protocol for school districts committed to systematic and sustainable improvement.  The accreditation process effectively drives student performance and continuous improvement in education as it builds capacity to increase student learning and organizational effectiveness. 

How do we do it?

We begin with a commitment to a continuous process of improvement, meet strict quality standards, and demonstrate quality assurance.   The accreditation process is collaborative and comprehensive uniting community stakeholders. By bringing together all those who are invested in Deer Valley’s success, we will build support for our vision and goals.  

Why do it?

Educational institutions that engage in AdvancED accreditation will:

• Unite with a global network committed to standards of educational excellence.
• Earn the distinction of quality through the recognized seal of AdvancED accreditation.

• Improve the quality of student learning by examining and reflecting on our practices.
• Have outside eyes review and provide areas of improvement and areas of celebration as part of a systems review.

Students and their parents will:

• Benefit from their school’s commitment to raising student performance and accountability
• Experience ease in transferring credits from one school to another.
• Gain greater access to federal loans, scholarships, postsecondary education, and military programs that require students attend an accredited institution.

Volunteers Needed 

Volunteers are needed to help with MicroSociety Ventures and Agencies. If you have participated in the District's Volunteer Training Program and have 45-minutes,  one to four days a week (Mondays through Thursdays) to help out, we would love for you to get involved! Just stop by the front office for more information.