CUSD’s teacher program / P. 10
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An edition of the East Valley Tribune
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This Week
NEWS ........................ 4 QC woman’s foundation helps cancer victims.
SUNDAY, JANUARY 22, 2023
State OKs $70M for QCUSD school projects BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer
T
he state agency that oversees funding for land and construction of new school buildings in Arizona has approved over $70 million to Queen Creek Unified School District for land purchases and new school buildings.
The allocation exceeded the district’s requests by 7%. The School Facilities Oversight Board authorized $59.1-million dollars be allocated for new school buildings, expansions and additions, including the biggest ticket item – $27.8 million to build a new elementary school. Another $11.2 was approved to buy 11.4 acres for it.
“This is allowing our community to serve the growth in much needed classroom space and a new elementary on the north side of our district,” said school board member James Knox. The 90,000-square-foot school, thought to be the largest elementary in Arizona, will be see
SCHOOLS page 6
Town council Kitchen contestants newbies discuss COMMUNITY ......... 14 their position
QC police train to deal with special cases.
BY MARK MORAN Tribune Staff Writer
SPORTS .................. 19 QC school loses appeal to escape 6A football.
COMMUNITY ..........................14 BUSINESS................................17 SPORTS......................................19 GET OUT.................................... 22 CLASSIFIEDS............................ 27
F
or the first time in a dozen years, the Queen Creek Town Council has a new mayor and two new members. Julia Wheatley was sworn in Jan. 18 as mayor and takes the gavel from Vice Mayer Jeff Brown, who had the job temporarily following the death last June of Mayor Gail Barney. “When I started this 12 years ago, my kids were little,” Wheatley said. “Now my youngest is 6’6,’” she said as she reflected on the growth she has seen during her tenure on see
COUNCIL page 8
Chef Charleen Badman cooks with Queen Creek High School culinary arts students sophomore Isaiah Jensen and sophomore Jacob Curtis, as they prepare to compete with teams from nine other high schools, including Casteel in an unusual public contest. See Page 3. (David Minton/Tribune Photographer)