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Upcoming TUSD Board candidates’ forums

by on Sep. 26, 2012, under Life, Politics

Reminder: TUSD candidates’ forum tonight at Drinking Liberally, The Shanty, 401 E. 9th St. (NE corner of E. 9th St. and 4th Avenue), at 6 p.m. Seven of the 12 candidates
(all Democrats) have confirmed attendance: Don Cotton, Miguel Cuevas, Ralph Ellinwood, Kristel Foster, Camy Juarez, “Betts” Putnam-Hidalgo, Dr.Mark Stegeman. The event will be moderated by Blog for Arizona blogger/former educator David Safier.

And three other upcoming forums listed below in October:

A free forum for the Board candidates for the Tucson Unified School District will be presented from 6:30 to 8:30 PM on Monday, October 1, at the YWCA building, 525 Bonita Ave. Sponsors of the forum are the Tucson YWCA, the League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson, the Metropolitan Education Association, and Voices for Education. The moderator will be Greg Hart, formerly head of Pima County’s Adult Education (1982-2007) and currently Founder and President of The School, Inc. for struggling youth. All candidates for the three open positions in this non-partisan election have been invited.

12 candidates (including the 3 incumbent board members) are seeking these 3 positions. Click here for earlier post about the 12 official candidates, and another blog post about who’s run for TUSD governing board in the last 10 years (click here).

Other forums on October 4th and 10th:

Save TUSD’s Neighborhood Schools will host a forum at El Casino Ballroom, 437 East 26th St., Thursday, Oct. 4, from 6:00-8:30 p.m. More info on this group on their Facebook page.

A Candidate Forum for TUSD Governing Board will be held on October 10, 7 pm at the Multi-Purpose Hall of Tucson Estates, 5900 W. Western Way Circle, Tucson, AZ 85713. It is sponsored by the Education Watch Committee of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom.

Vote wisely on or before Nov. 6.



  • Carolyn_Classen

    About 30 people there at Drinking Liberally to hear these 7 candidates speak and answer 11 questions: how to address school closings, the Mexican American Studies program, the projected $17 M deficit, Proposition 204 (all said they would vote for it), the Grand Canyon diploma, increasing instructional time, charter schools, recess breaks for K-6, standardized testing, and how to improve the District (achievement/graduation rates). TUSD board member Adelita Grijalva was also present.

  • Carolyn_Classen

    Blog for AZ David Safier’s take on Drinking Liberally’s debate last night:
    http://www.blogforarizona.com/blog/2012/09/observation-and-recommendations-from-last-nights-tusd-candidate-forum.html

  • Carolyn_Classen

    About 160 people listening to this TUSD debate tonight at YWCA. 11 of the 12 candidates participated (except Bakari). Two prepared questions were 1) how perceive role of Board collectively and individually, and 2) what are your TUSD budget priorities? Audience questions were how to advocate for better educational funds from State, how address issue of student poverty & free lunches, and how support parents in measuring student success? Video tape of entire debate will be available tomorrow on http://www.tucsonsentinel.com website. Also attending tonight were Pima County recorder F. Ann Rodriguez, Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik, and former House Rep. Marion Pickens.