Jaeger updates Council
Todd Jaeger, Superintendent of the Amphi School District ("Amphi"), updated the Oro Valley town Council last Wednesday. His message was three-fold: First thank you so much, Oro Valley, for providing the School Resource Officers to our schools. Second: Amphi doesn't have enough money. Third: Student academic performance is better than the State of Arizona average. Jaeger concluded remarks by saying “…how proud we are of serving the community of Oro Valley.”
SRO program is a shining light
LOVE has written about the school resource officer program. It is a shining light in our community. It is most certainly something that the Town of Oro Valley will continue to provide. Amphi can not get independent funding for school resource officers so the fact that Oro Valley is providing is that great bonus.
Pressure to spend spend where there are few added funds
Pressure to spend spend where there are few added funds
The Amphi School gets half of its funding from the local property tax assessment. That assessment has been greater than allowed by the State because local taxpayers have voted to override the State aggregate expenditure limit. That override must be voter approved every five years.
According to Jaeger, the biggest problem caused by lack of funding is the inability to fill open positions. Most of these positions are for support personnel. Attracting employees, as Jaeger noted, is a general problem that’s happening today’s economy, whether in the public or private sector.
Spending has also increased because the District provides all day kindergarten programs and preschool programs. These programs require funding and essentially result in the District raising our children. This is a daunting challenge.
The District has a budget of approximately $106 million. This is $9,200 per year per student. 35% of these students receive free or reduced lunch cost.
Student academic performance better than State average... but that standard is very low
Student academic performance better than State average... but that standard is very low
The Superintendent espoused the fact that District students test scores are better than some other school districts and better than the state average when it comes to academic performance.
Whether it be in math or English, that performance is below any reasonable standard. Less than of half the students can profess proficiency at grade level in math or english. Jaeger refereed to political signs that have been posted regarding the inability of Amphi students to read at grade level. Those signs say that only 40% of students can read at their grade level. The number Jaeger reported was 46%. Not much difference.
Jaeger attributes the low scores to his contention that the District has a diverse population. For example, it has 741 english learners of its more than 11,500 student body. Of these, 2,166 are gifted enrollment. Total enrollment is declining as parents find other options using Charter Schools. Oro Valley has several of these options. Jaegar also noted that the District has the capacity for enrollment growth.
Oro Valley is a major funding source for the District
Oro Valley is a major funding source for the District
The Amphi School District is in accident of history. It was established years ago before Oro Valley was truly the kind of community it is today. Oro Valley is the bulwark of funding for the Amphi School District. Oro Valley taxpayers pay a large cost of the District because Oro Valley property values are higher than in the rest of the District. In addition, Oro Valley has a very high proportion of retired people who do not burden the system with students.
Two of the five Amphi Governing Board Seats are on the ballot
The Amphi Governing Board has five seats. Two on the ballot. Mona Gibson and Jeff Utsch are challenging two incumbents. Both Gibson and Utsch are focussed on bringing greater parental input into the school system. According to Utsch: "We need to put the children first and help elevate the teachers."
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About Todd Jaeger
Todd Jaeger joined is now in his sixth year as Superintendent of the the Amphi School District. He was the TUSD legal council prior to that.
