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Purple for Parents becoming school board force in EV BY KEN SAIN Tribune Staff Writer
NEWS..................... 3 Mesa Police ramp up DUI enforcement for the holidays.
COMMUNITY...... 21 'Big train' operators open their homes to ogglers.
SPORTS................ 29 Eastmark football grabs school's first state title. COMMUNITY .............................. 21 BUSINESS ................................... 24 OPINION ..................................... 26 SPORTS ...................................... 29 GET OUT ...................................... 32 CLASSIFIED ............................... 35 ZONE 2
Sunday, December 4, 2022
P
arental rights advocates in Arizona are celebrating huge gains, both in the Legislature and at the ballot box. Purple for Parents, a parental rights organization, endorsed 38 candidates in November’s school board elections across Arizona and unofficial results show that 20 of them won seats – including two in Scottsdale, one each in Gilbert’s two main districts, one in Chandler and
one in Mesa. “We’re very happy,” said Michelle Dillard, the president of Purple for Parents. “It’s great to have school board members elected that support parents’ rights and will promote academics in the classroom.” The electoral victories follow success last spring, when the state Legislature passed and Gov. Doug Ducey signed the Parental Rights Bill. It further enhances the Parental Bill of Rights passed in 2010. The newer legislation gives parents the
rights to all written and electronic records from a school about their child. That includes any counseling records, even notes taken during a conversation. Parents can sue school districts if a teacher does not comply. “I think that enforcement is going to be something that all parents are going to have to be keeping an eye out, we’re going to have to be very diligent and making sure that they actually follow the laws,” Dillard said.
see PURPLE page 13
Mesa couple in 'Light Fight' of their lives BY JOSH ORTEGA Tribune Staff Writer
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t started with a single strand of Christmas lights 24 years ago, and now a Mesa couple’s holiday spirit will shine extra bright this year. Tomorrow, Dec. 5, Mesa natives Michael and Shelley Pelky will appear on season 10 of ABC’s hit decorating competition series “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” competing against three other families from across the country that have festooned their houses with holiday lights displays. But the Pelkys want their display to
see LIGHT FIGHT page 6
Michael and Shelley Pelky’s Mesa home will be starring in a featured role tomorrow, Dec. 5, on ABCTV’s popular competition series, “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” but they say the prizes pale in comparison to the joy they have sharing the brilliant display with the world. (David Minton/Tribune Staff Photographer)
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