Board ReportFlorence Unified School District #1

May 2013Board Report

Ginni Shuss, Director of Exceptional Student Services

Special Events for Special Education Students

  • Summit students graduated in a wonderful ceremony. Markeitha Coleman (Summit student) beautifully sang The National Anthem. Teachers spoke about each student’s accomplishments.
  • Christie Conlee treated all of her families in her Apollo class to a Polynesian feast. The room was festively decorated and music was lively. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the day.
  • Michelle Fogarty, resource teacher, from F K-8, had her 5th grade students shadow 6th grade students for a day so they could experience changing classes.
  • The life skills students from FHS put on a play called the “Talking Eggs”. Students memorized lines and it was a well done production that included costumes and sets.
  • There was a Unified Basketball Tournament on May 18th. Seven teams competed from the Coolidge, Florence, and Chandler school districts. It was a great success. On Thursday, May 25 we had our last basketball game of the year, Florence vs. Poston Butte. The Unified Sports program has grown this past year and we are looking to expand to other sports beginning in the 13-14 school year.
  • The Pathways students from Anthem all enjoyed swimming.
  • Mr. Bermier’s Pathways class earned a lunch at Serrano’s however they had the challenge of figuring out to order a meal within a ten dollar budget.

New Positions

  • A new speech language pathologist was hired.

Project Bridge

  • One family was helped with an SRP bill as well as supplied with food and hygiene products.
  • A child with CPS was provided clothing.
  • Two families were given food boxes.
  • Applications for several large grants have been submitted. Two events at Copper Basin raised $225.
  • Preparation is underway for 70 students to receive new back to school clothing.

MEDICAID

  • We have collected $76,158.18 up to this point. We have determined that there is a significant amount of additional billing that we can do which should increase our income for the up-coming year. The files are being audited.

New Position

  • Adam Leckie was selected to be the new Exceptional Student Services Director. He and I will be working closely together over the next few weeks to assure a smooth transition.