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No dice, mayor tells Rio Verde Foothills Valiant effort BY J. GRABER Progress Staff Writer
BEST OF SCOTTSDALE
ARTS ............................. 30 McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park triumphed over staff shortages.
FOOD ............................. 33 YC’s Mongolian Grill owner opens Scottsdale eatery.
NEIGHBORS ..........................................25 BUSINESS .............................................. 26 SPORTS .................................................. 28 ARTS ........................................................30 FOOD & DRINK .................................. 33 CLASSIFIEDS ....................................... 34
Sunday, DECEMBER 18, 2022
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cottsdale Mayor David Ortega said he will not be ruled by compassion for approximately 700 Rio Verde Foothills households that are likely to lose their water source Jan. 1, when the city shuts the stand pipe servicing the community. “There is no Santa Claus,” Ortega said in a written statement released Dec. 9. “The mega-drought tells us all – water is not a compassion game.”
He also admonished Councilwoman Linda Milhaven and Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin for trying to keep the stand pipe open, claiming they are working with “special interests.” Milhaven had tried to call a special council meeting for Dec. 13 to consider a plan by private utility EPCOR. EPCOR proposed paying the city to treat water it provides and allow it to be distributed through the stand pipe. When Milhaven informally approached
see RVF page 6
SUSD schools score high in state grades BY J. GRABER Progress Staff Writer
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cottsdale’s district and charter schools for the most part are thriving, according to letter grades handed out by the Arizona Department of Education. The Scottsdale Unified School District had 17 schools earn an “A,” 10 schools earned a “B” and two schools got a “C.” No district schools got a “D” or an “F.” Of the city’s two charter schools, Scottsdale Country Day School got an “A” and BASIS Scottsdale earned a “B.” While federal and state law requires the grades be assigned, they haven’t been for
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the last two years because of pandemic disruptions to school schedules. But the new round of results is nearly identical to the grades handed out for the 2018-19 school year. That year, SUSD schools scored 16 “A,” 11 “B,” one "C” and one “D.” Scottsdale Country Day School and Scottsdale-Basis both earned "As.” Of the more than 1,700 public district and charter schools across Arizona that received preliminary grades, about 27% were given “A;” 42% got “B;” 23% C; 5% D and 2% failed. Statewide, public school districts outper-
see GRADES page 10
Saguaro Quarterback Devon Dampler led a valiant effort at a comeback against Basha Dec. 10 against Basha for the Open Division state crown, but fell short when the Bears stopped the Sabercats on the fourth down with seconds remaining. Dampier ran for two touchdowns in the loss. Meanwhile, Saguaro head coach Jason Mohns, who led the team to seven state championship victories in 11 years, stepped down to take a position with the Arizona State University football team. See the story on page 28. (David Minton/Progress Staff Photographer)
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