Some ideas that I think should be considered by upcoming boards:

• Recently the board voted to replace math requirements with the Engineering 102 course and Computer Science classes.  We shouldn't be substituting math credits with non math classes.  For every year of math a student progresses in school that is at least one fewer semesters students will need in college to graduate, especially in STEM degrees (Science Technology Engineering and Math).  One reason the district was willing to allow substituting math credits is because only 6 subjects are offered per semester.  It seems like offering 7 periods a day would increase opportunities to learn different subjects, increase electives, and not do it by eliminating the requirement for math every year.  Adding one period to the schedule adds 8 new possible classes in high school.  Splitting classes every other day, limits number of breaks and can make room for another class (4 on even days, 4 on odd days), that is 16 electives slots currently not available.

• Every year there is student knowledge regression due to the long summer gap that require reteaching material.  If we switched to a reduced summer break model (like Vail School District), students would forget less over the break.  Other benefits include opportunities to be out of school longer when the weather is better for outdoor play.  In Southern Arizona it is regularly too hot for extended outdoor play during the summer, last summer Rancho Sahuarita, the town of Sahuarita, and SUSD#30 partnered to provide indoor activities for students at Anza Trail School because it is known that the summer heat prevents healthy outdoor play.  But if there were extended breaks in fall and spring they would be more amiable for children to participate in out door activities.

• Emphasis replacing HVAC and upgrading buildings to be more efficient.  Also consider alternate energy plans to reduce our dependents on high priced utilities for many district schools.  Currently SUSD#30 spends over 15.5% of is budget maintaining its buildings and grounds, if the school invested in programs that reduced utility costs and maintenance, the saved money could go be shifted into the classroom.

• Consider monitor programs, or parent volunteer programs to help monitor students riding the buses.  Bus drivers are responsible for driving students safely on the road, they have limited capabilities to monitor or intervene with inappropriate behavior on the buses.  Organizing parent volunteers or monitors to ride buses occasionally would reduce the number of negative incidents that occur on our buses and would allow the driver to focus on safely navigating the streets.

• Expanding the dress code to include red shirts and any shade of blue shirt was so well received, but many parents requested teals, and pinks.  Because the community embraced the new dress code and desired even less restrictive color choices, I believe the district should accommodate the community and continue to broaden what colors a collared solid shirt could be and still be acceptable.

• To better accommodate the increased demands on high school students because of their extra curricular activities and opportunities, the district should consider starting high school first, then middle school, then elementary.  That way students aren't on buses headed home after six pm in Sahuarita - much later for students who live in Arivaca.