Glendale’s Community Newspaper
Vol. 79 No. 36
www.glendalestar.com
Inside This Week
BY JOE McHUGH
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BUSINESS ....... 12
Night market brings community together
September 7, 2023
College district receives $6.8M in federal funding Glendale Star Staff Writer
THE VOICE OF BUSINESS
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he Maricopa County Community College District recently received a twoyear funding stipend from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System for $6.8 million to help address behavioral workforce shortages within the district. The funding agreement could add a third year worth $3.4 million — contingent on legislative approval. The money will help Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) schools expand on its behavioral health programs, even allowing the district to offer bachelor’s degrees in the field, as well as allowing the schools to “break barriers” for enrollment through nearly $4 million being dedicated to student scholarships. “There’s a shortage of behavioral health professionals, and the hope is not only to re-
cruit new individuals into these professions but also to retain the individuals that are currently in these professions,” said Rochelle Rivas, director of health care education for the Maricopa County Community College District. “So, we are working with Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) to develop curriculum for additional training and additional pathways for current professionals The Maricopa County Community College District received so they can stay in the behavior- nearly $7 million in funding from the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System for behavioral health expansion. al health field.” (Maricopa County Community College District/Submitted) According to Rivas, MCCCD is the largest community college the funding is geared toward expanding and system in the state. As such, it also houses supporting the potential growth in the bethe largest workforce provider in the state. With an abundance of students and staff, SEE FUNDING PAGE 4
DVUSD prepares for M&O override, bond elections BY JOE McHUGH
YOUTH ............ 28
Ironwood student earns perfect ACT score
OPINION ......................8 BUSINESS ...................12 SPORTS ..................... 16 CALENDAR................. 20 FEATURES.................. 22 RELIGION ................... 26 YOUTH ....................... 28 CLASSIFIEDS .............30
Glendale Star Staff Writer
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he Deer Valley Unified School District is preparing for its upcoming bond and override elections on Tuesday, Nov. 7. With potentially millions of dollars in funds to gain, the district is urging the public to participate in the elections in an effort to keep its schools up to the high standards it has set. “It just reinforces the commitment from our community that public education is really the fabric of our democracy,” said Dr.
Dude, it’s free!
Curtis Finch, the Deer Valley Unified School District (DVUSD) superintendent. “It’s important that all students have access to quality opportunity. So, both the bond and the override are a continuation of our current taxes that we pay today.” The first of the two elections is the override of the maintenance and operation fund allocated by the state. The override is authorization from the voter to exceed the preset budget. This extra funding is created from local taxpayer dollars — from property tax — to help support programs, salaries and benefits dealt out by the district.
“We actually are ranked second in the state for the percentage of dollars that we spend on instruction, so our instruction is really the heart of why we are here,” Finch said. “And if you don’t do that, your extra programs don’t mean anything. Parents won’t show up at your front door, so you have to perform. “Our core mission of educating students, that we do well. So anytime we can add extras to our machine that makes us more competitive to our neighbors and against SEE DVUSD PAGE 5
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