Inside Mesa

A correction has been made to Grieving Respectfully…. Councilmember Rex Griswold’s mother was 85 when she passed away, not 80 as I had reported.

I recently learned that sadly, Councilmember Rex Griswold’s mother passed away without pain on Friday, July 28, at the age of 85 in Palm Springs, CA - he was by her side.Out of respect to him and his family I waited to post this blog - giving this family and loved ones an opportunity to grieve privately; with all the respect, dignity, and honor this mother and family deserves.I did not know her. I do know Mesa’s beloved Councilmember Griswold and have met family members. Knowing him - tells me much more about the mother that raised and loved her children. She must have had the love of God in her heart, as I see those qualities and characteristics of a Christian in her son. She must have been kind, gentle, understanding, truthful, full of grace, merciful, humble, willing to serve those around her while abiding in hope, faith, and love - found in the public servant we know as her son. There are many that knew her, those that did not, that will grieve with this family. I along with many are in sorrow for the loss of this precious mother - a mother who filled the lives of many - who has been a daughter, wife, grandmother, aunt, sister, companion, friend….and more. My prayers and thoughts to the family in this time… -may her love and life remembered help those she left behind to soothe these days ahead -may her memories and goodness sustain family and friends always-may her spirit and cherished life be seen in the lives of her loved ones-may everlasting peace remain, knowing she has reached her perfect place and destination, that heavenly home our hope and glory.Respectfully and prayerfully, with deepest sympathies to Councilman Rex Griswold and family.Sharon Corea

Are you ready? The Kingdom - at Loop 202, northeast Mesa.The movie "The Kingdom" has arrived and will be in production at Loop 202, northeast Mesa for this weekend and the next two, according to the Arizona Department of Transportation - ADOT. . The area affected is the Loop 202 freeway - between Higley and Power Roads - No traffic in both directions. ALL traffic will enter and exit Loop 202 at Higley Road. Alternatives for east-west bound traffic are Thomas, McDowell, Higley, and Power Roads. The schedule:10:30 p.m. Thursday, July 27 - to 5:00 a.m. Monday, July 3110:30 p.m. Friday, August 4 - to - 5:00 a.m. Monday, August 710:30 p.m. Thursday, August 10 - to - 5:00 a.m. Monday, August 14 To avoid the traffic exiting at Higley, it is recommended to exit beforehand. Another website to check out for Loop 202 known as The Red Mountain Freeway.I received my information from the City of Mesa website under engineering and roads - a complete list of road closures are available.

The Nesbitt family made a great investment in Mesa….As the Mesa Art Center became a reality, one of the theaters made possible by the Nesbitt family has and will contribute many good times to our citizenry for years to come.A large city like Mesa has the opportunity to encourage, support, and frequent one of the best cultural facilities nation-wide, and to thank a Mesa family for making a portion of that possible. The Nesbitt’s, contributing beyond what many of us are unable to do - I’m a thankful resident that enjoys and appreciates those motivated to sew lasting seeds for the arts.

We all have heard how real estate is currently on a down note, but after talking with some buiders in Gilbert and finding out that a couple of resale homes I showed to clients this weekend have competing offers, I’m geting the feeling that the market is turning around!One builder is currently offering $50k-$60k in incentives, but after talking with the salesperson there on how busy they’ve been, the feeling is that these incentives will certainly be reduced and sales prices adjusted accordingly. Another builder offering "spec" homes seem to be raising the price of each subsequent spec home as the one before it sells. It may be too early to tell, but if interest rates remain stable and as more people move here, I do expect the current real estate down turn to change very soon.

All-day kindergarten for the business community is a high priority according to the Arizona Department of Education, and no wonder. Studies show $1 spent on academic oriented all-day kindergarten can equal over $7 or $8 spent later in grades trying to produce the same academic progress; a cost-effective method increasing academic performance in students. With English immersion, all-day kindergarten also gives five year olds an edge for those learning languages quickly, enabling them to function in English for all of their school years.One of Arizona’s budget highlights was the Governor approving the single most education funding according to Kirk Adams, House of Representatives, Legislative District 19, who worked diligently for the education budget. Mesa Public Schools will receive 7.7 million additional funds for all day kindergarten. Out of the 58 public schools in Mesa, more than 60 all-day classes will be added to 44 schools. Teachers are needed….new applicants or retired kindergarten teachers are encouraged to apply.About 17 schools are fully staffed, currently 33 schools are getting one new all-day class; 8 with 2 sections, 3 with 3 new sections. Dr. Debra Duvall, Superintendent, MPS is looking to solve one problem - space. Possibilities - buy portable classrooms or move some programs off elementary campuses to other facilities.How many are expected this year in all-day kindergarten? A projected 6,679 - school offices are open if you need to enroll your child.

You may be like me, your children are adults but you still have a vested interest in education.Afterall, those in school now will soon be making decisions for us!Mesa Public Schools are excellent, the teachers, staff, and programs that make it all happen under the leadership of Superintendent Debra Duvall.For instance: I learned 35 languages are available to help English Language Students through a colleague of mine, Irene Frklich, Director of E.L.A.D. - English Language Acquisition Department. I was amazed to learn the extent MPS help their students.There is also a Native American Education Program - Theresa Price, Director. Another worthy effort where we can see the strides they are making.Educational Television is overseen by David Luna, Director who made a film about Mesa and it’s rich cultural history. I worked with David as members of the City of Mesa Human Relations Advisory Board.Career and Technical Education, Tony Maldonado, Director - has lots of educational opportunities for Juniors and Seniors which includes a wonderful mission statement.David Schuff, MPS administrative staff, who puts together a Youth Summit each year to educate teens on acceptance of others through cultural diversity awareness - a great program! Serving as a judge for their poster contest a few years ago was fun and rewarding.EVIT East Valley Institute of Technology - is so practical and noteworthy for high schoolers, skills learned for their future in a variety of areas. I was able to tour this facility through Mesa Leadership, Training and Development - Sponsored by the Mesa Chamber.There is so much to know. We also have a nice variety of higher education institutions, colleges and universities like:MCC and their plans for a downtown academic library, Dr. Larry Christianson, President is very invested in Mesa and our public schools. As a member of the City of Mesa Library Advisory Board and past Executive Coordinator of ASU West’s Fletcher Library - I think this will be a great venture! ASU Polytechnic - their new programs, changes in focus, an incredible institution - I have several colleagues there like David Schwalm, Vice Provost Academic Programs - always on the cutting edge of higher education like bio-technology, creating methods such as medicine in plants as an answer to impoverished nations - to name one. A.T. Still and their various health and medical professions where my daughter Kelly will attend to become a Physicians Assistant. Sonya Splane, on staff and another colleague of mine through the City of Mesa HRAB.Distance Learning with NAU, ASU, all of this - what a springboard into the coming years of fast change and technological advances - investing in our children, grandchildren, and ourselves.The governing board members are important in that they make decisions I feel we must be aware of - their background and where they stand on issues are important to me. A colleague from Mesa LTD and Legislative District 19 - Rich Crandall, MPS Board member, has an eye for education, values, and excellence.

Great news on global demand and language classes in Mesa Public Schools.Michael Cowan, Associate Superintendent, Mesa Public Schools returned from China with ideas on teaching Mesa students about the Chinese language and their culture. Do you wonder why? A push is coming to learn world languages - a result of mounting global influence from China; and U.S. government encouraging more people to speak key foreign languages - Mandarin, Arabic, Farsi, Hindi, and Russian. MPS’s Community Education Department offered Mandarin this last year - 17 completed the course, mostly high school students. MPS is definately on top of education and world trends.Wow!! - this fits in with what I learned November 30, 2005. The East Valley Partnership presented: 2005 Cox Communications - East Valley Economic Forum - A Futurist Perspective, held at the ASU Ploytechnic campus, Student Union Ballroom. Dr. Ioanna Morfessis, President & CEO, IO, INC. shared that in 5 years China will be the "leading computer child".Moderated by Education Futurist Dr. Michael Crow, President, ASU shared about excellence, access, impact. It’s all about competitiveness - in 40 years China will match us. Our challenge…continue to be the brightest, cleverest, light for the world.Others: Technology Futurist Richard Fennessy, CEO, Insight Enterprises - Transportation Futurist Mary Peters, Former Administrator, FHWA - Economic Forecasting Futurist Dr. Lee McPheters, Director, Bank One Economic Outlook Center who shared that in 25 years the state will double, growth is unstoppable and Arizona has been underestimated!Other key comments to show Mesa Public Schools are listening….- WWII to 2005, Singapore has been motivated to excel.- The easiest way to predict the future is to invent it.- Global sequencing: ~ every 15 seconds a new web site ~ every 15 days a new product through innovation, invention.Dobson Principal, Matt Gehrman indicates his students have expressed an interest in Chinese or Japanese. A new school, K-8 will have an international perspective, emphasis on foreign languages says Cowan, now in the "planning-design-proposal stage" - location: next to the football field, Fremont Junior High, Power and Brown. A curriculum paralleling Westwood High’s International Baccalaureate Programme. In January, Sunridge Learning Center close to Dobson High, could be a first in the district teaching elementary students Chinese depending on available federal funds - $23 million in federal grant money for elementary schools toward learning difficult languages early has been allotted.Cowan tells us Chinese students are expected to learn English beginning in third grade, through high school; an expected part of the curriculum. The challenge as Cowan describes, is qualified people to teach as they must meet state and federal requirements for certification in public schools. Also, the partnership with Chinese government and the College Board is figuring out an international teacher exchange program.This is exciting for Mesa and our public schools system - the attendance rates will surely rise!