Citizen Staff Writer
IN BRIEF

GARRY DUFFY

gduffy@tucsoncitizen.com

Remains exhumed from the site of the County-City Joint Courts Complex downtown were escorted by a large motorcycle escort of veterans Friday from Tucson to Sierra Vista.

The remains of soldiers – both cavalry and infantry – will be reburied Saturday with full military honors at a new cemetery inside the Southern Arizona Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery.

More than 60 small coffins draped in American flags with 34 stars were loaded carefully onto U.S. Army transport trucks at All Faiths Cemeteries on the East Side around 11:30 a.m.

“This is the biggest operation to date for a military reinterment in Arizona,” Dan Ferguson, state captain of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Riders, said as the caskets were carried one by one to waiting five-ton transport vehicles.

The soldiers had served at Fort Lowell in the 1860s through the 1880s, a remote, harsh territorial outpost where disease and accidents were as likely to prove as fatal as encounters with Apache warriors.

Among the caskets were those of three infants and youngsters and a civilian who also will be reburied in Sierra Vista.

More than 6,000 getting degrees from UA

LAURA MARBLE

news@tucsoncitizen.com

The University of Arizona planned to award 4,895 undergraduate degrees during its 140th commencement Saturday.

Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway Human Transporter, was to give the keynote address at the 8 a.m. ceremony at McKale Memorial Center. About 1,300 master’s, specialist and doctoral degrees were to be awarded Friday evening.

Kamen, who in 2001 announced the arrival of the self-balancing, zero-emissions personal transportation vehicle that now is a common sight on the UA campus, was to receive an honorary degree from UA.

Citizen Staff Writer

ALAN FISCHER

afischer@tucsoncitizen.com

Stargazers will gather Saturday at the University of Arizona Mall to search the skies and raise money for youth astronomy education efforts.

The fourth annual Sharing the Sky Foundation star party and fundraiser will feature up to 40 telescopes available for public viewing from 3:30 to 10 p.m., said Liz Kalas, an event coordinator.

Six to eight scopes fitted with special solar filters will allow daytime viewers to safely see flares coming off the sun’s surface, Kalas said.

As it gets darker, lighting on the UA Mall will be darkened to allow better viewing of the night sky, she said.

Saturn viewing will be good Saturday night, with the planet’s rings appearing more flat and head-on than normal, she said.

First-quarter moon viewing also will be good, she said.

Attendees also will be able to see a wide variety of galaxies and nebulas.

The event is free, but donations will be accepted to fund the efforts of Vail-based Sharing the Sky Foundation, Kalas said.

The nonprofit foundation, started four years ago by famed astronomer and comet discoverer David Levy and his wife, Wendee Levy. The foundations runs programs locally and nationally that offer children motivation and inspiration to learn about astronomy, Wendee Levy said.

Saturday’s UA event will feature a “kids corner” area where children – and adults – can participate in hands-on activities that will let them better experience skygazing, Levy said.

The telescopes will be manned by members of the Tucson Amateur Astronomy Association.

“These astronomers are some of the most enthusiastic people I have ever met. They just can’t wait to show off the sky,” Levy said. “These people just love what they do.

“This is the event to test drive a telescope – you’ll see all shapes, sizes and kinds,” she said.

The event is free and open to the public, and donations to the foundation are encouraged, she said.

“But we’re just hoping this will be a great event,” Levy said. “To raise awareness and get people excited, that is our primary goal.”

IF YOU GO

What: Sharing the Sky Foundation sky party and fundraiser

When: 3:30-10 p.m. Saturday

Where: University of Mall near the Flandrau Science Center, 1601 E. University Blvd.

Cost: free, with tax-deductible donations accepted for the nonprofit foundation.

Citizen Staff Writer

TY BOWERS

tybowers@tucsoncitizen.com

Feel free to take a deep breath of fresh air.

Tucson again ranks among the best in the nation when it comes to air quality, according to the American Lung Association’s “State of the Air: 2009″ report.

The report, released Wednesday, ranks the best and worst cities and counties based on ozone and particle pollution.

Tucson ranks sixth best in the nation based on levels of long-term particle pollution, the amount of dust, soot and other matter found in the air annually. The city ranks among the top 24 nationwide based on a measure of particle pollution over a 24-hour period.

By contrast, the air quality in Phoenix ranks among the nation’s worst – ninth out of the top 25 for ozone pollution.

For the last several years, Tucson routinely has ranked near the top of the Lung Association’s clean-cities list.

But ozone levels throughout Pima County could pose a greater risk in the years to come, the report cautions.

From 2005 to 2007, county ozone monitors reported above-normal levels on 17 days.

In March 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency increased its standards for ozone pollution, reflected in Pima County’s failing grade in the report. “It’s a pretty strict grading scale,” Pima County Department Environmental Quality Director Ursula Kramer said.

Five of 11 Arizona counties monitored for air pollution received failing grades for ozone levels.

Ozone molecules consist of three oxygen atoms that irritate the lungs when inhaled.

“Oxidants (like ozone) are bad for the body,” said Keith Kaback, chairman of the American Lung Association of Arizona board and a doctor at Tucson Medical Center.

High-ozone days can exacerbate respiratory conditions as well as harm those who work or exercise outdoors.

While the region meets EPA standards for clean air, Kramer said, residents could reduce pollution by taking mass transit, driving less and decreasing energy use.

READ THE REPORT

• For the full air quality report, go to www.lungusa.org.

• PDEQ posts hourly pollution measurements online at www.airinfonow.org.

Citizen Staff Writer

ALAN FISCHER

afischer@tucsoncitizen.com

Proper protection and detection can allow you – and your skin – to live in harmony with the sun.

The Arizona Cancer Center’s Skin Cancer Institute will show you how this weekend.

Events to promote sun safety, awareness and skin cancer prevention will take place from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, said Robin Harris, deputy director at the institute.

“Southeast Arizona has some of the highest skin cancer rates, other than Australia,” Harris said.

“Skin cancer is a treatable disease if found early,” she said. “Our goal is to make changes in the community.”

Arizona in 2008 had 1,380 new cases of melanoma, a skin cancer that can quickly spread to other parts of the body.

“Melanoma is deadly. If you have a more advanced case, the survival rate is not good,” said Heather Hiscox, a cancer research specialist.

The event will feature skin cancer screenings days, Harris said.

Eight volunteer dermatologists will do full-body exams, and advise people with suspicious skin features to seek further medical attention, she said.

The skin exams can accommodate about 100 people per day on a first-come, first-served basis, she said.

Attendees also can get an ultraviolet photo of their face taken, Hiscox said. The UV photo can show underlying skin damage that is not visible to the human eye, she said.

A device will be available to determine the level of UV protection different items of clothing offer.

A number of activities are aimed at youngsters, including educational puppet shows.

Protection from the sun can come in many forms, said Lisa Quale, health educator at the cancer center.

Clothing can protect the skin from the sun, she said. Long sleeves and hats are important, and she said many people forget about covering their feet for protection, she said.

Umbrellas are also an effective way to stay in the shade wherever you go, she said.

Exercising outdoors early or late in the day will avoid the worst of the sun’s damaging rays, she said.

And sunblock is a must, she said.

Effective sunblocks and sunscreens should have an SPF – sun protection factor – of at least 15 and contain one of the following ingredients: zinc oxide, titanium oxide, avobenzone or mexoryl.

Sun protection should be applied 30 minutes before going out, and reapplied every two hours, or more frequently if sweat or swimming dictate, she said.

A critical factor in preventing skin cancer is performing regular self exams looking for suspicious growths, Harris said.

Factors to look for include moles with asymmetrical shapes, irregular borders, varying color, large diameter and changes in shape or color, she said.

A partner can help check moles and growths in areas where you cannot see, she said, or you can use a mirror for areas that are difficult to view.

The Desert Museum event helps kick off May’s national Melanoma and Skin Cancer Detection and Prevention Month, Hiscox said.

Arizona Cancer Center to promote sun safety Saturday-Sunday at Desert Museum events

IF YOU GO

What: “Living in Harmony with the Sun” events promoting sun safety, awareness and skin cancer prevention

When: 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Where: Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum, 2021 N. Kinney Road

Cost: Free with regular admission to museum: $13 for ages 13 and older, $4.25 for ages 6-12 and free for 5 and younger.

Citizen Staff Report

Bill Holmes, Wells Fargo community relations Manager for greater Arizona, was elected chairman of the 2009-10 board of directors of the Girl Scouts Sahuaro Council. Other elected board members are: Betsy Green, first vice chair; Thomas Sayler-Brown, second vice chair; Dr. Mary Cochran Wolk, secretary; and Anna Nygren, treasurer.

Members at large include: Tamara Jones, Karen Mathey, Cynthia Steen Petti, Cindy Regens, Cheryl Horvath and Pat Sturmon.

John Murphy, associate dean for academic and professional affairs at the University of Arizona College of Pharmacy, has been elected to the National Academies of Practice as a distinguished practitioner of pharmacy. NAP is a nonprofit professional organization that advises public policymakers on health-care issues. Murphy is president of the American College of Clinical Pharmacy and has served as president and member of the board of directors of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. He also is a professor of pharmacy practice and science at the UA College of Pharmacy.

The A List gives props to the Tucson business community’s movers and shakers. Send information to alist@tucsoncitizen.com.

Citizen Staff Writer

DAVID L. TEIBEL

dteibel@tucsoncitizen.com

A broken two-inch natural gas main forced the evacuation of a dozen people in midtown Wednesday morning and disrupted traffic, authorities said.

A construction crew installing a storm drain at East Prince Road and North Mountain Avenue broke the line about 9:35 a.m., said Libby Howell, a spokeswoman for Southwest Gas Corp.

Westbound Prince was closed until about 9:50 a.m., Howell said.

People were evacuated from buildings on the intersection’s northeast corner, said Capt. Tricia Tracy, a Tucson Fire Department spokeswoman.

The leak was shut off at 9:45 a.m. and by shortly before 10 a.m. Prince was open and people were allowed to return to the buildings.

Holaway K-5 school, at 3500 North Cherry Ave., about three blocks from the leak, was not evacuated.

No injuries were reported during the incident.

People return to midtown buildings after gas line break forces evacuation

Citizen Staff Writer

RYN GARGULINSKI

rynski@tucsoncitizen.com

Tucson is getting $5.1 million to make itself “greener.”

The money, a grant from the U.S. Energy Department, will go to projects that create jobs and a more energy-efficient community.

“It’s part of the recovery package,” said David Schaller, administrator for the city’s Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development.

“It gives us a chance to put resources towards something that we never had the opportunity to do before,” he said, “to make a transition from the carbon economy to a low-carbon, green economy.”

Funds may be used for weatherizing homes, performing energy audits of public buildings, replacing traffic lights, landfill updates and a host of other projects in 14 categories of eligible activities.

“We can’t (yet) tell people how we’re going to use the funds,” Schaller said.

The city has until June 25 to submit a proposal to the federal agency outlining how the money will be used.

Public meetings will be held before the proposal is submitted, Schaller said.

He will discuss the grant in more detail at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. It starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Council Chambers, 255 W. Alameda St.

Anyone interested should attend the meetings, he said, and regularly check the city’s Office of Conservation and Sustainable Development site at www.tucsonaz.gov/ocsd.

Schaller said the city will gather information and go forward from there.

“We’ll decide on a mix of activities that best uses the money and produces the most savings,” he said.

City getting $5.1M to create jobs and do ‘green’ projects

Citizen Staff Report

Dr. James E. Dalen, former dean of the University of Arizona College of Medicine, is the new executive director of the Weil Foundation. Dalen has been a member of the UA faculty since 1988. He served as dean of the College of Medicine from 1988 to 2001 and vice president for Health Sciences from 1995 to 2001. In 1999, he co-founded the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine and serves today as its senior advisor. He is a professor emeritus of Medicine and Public Health, and teaches in the Colleges of Medicine and Public Health.

Founded in 2002, the Weil Foundation supports the advancement of integrative medicine through research, education, training and policy reform.

The A List gives props to the Tucson business community’s movers and shakers. Send information to alist@tucsoncitizen.com

Citizen Staff Writer

HEIDI ROWLEY

hrowley@tucsoncitizen.com

When 74-year-old Catherine Wood got the call that her 19-year-old grandson Brandon had been arrested, she panicked.

He needed $5,000 to avoid being put in a Canadian jail or else he would be considered absent without leave from the ship where he was stationed with the U.S. Marine Corps.

The problem – Brandon was safe and sound on his ship and Wood was becoming a victim of the “grandparent scam.”

According to the Pima County Sheriff’s Department at least five elderly people in the county, including Wood and 90-year-old Leslie Lawrence, have been victimized by the scam in the past three months.

The pretend Brandon used Wood’s fears and love for her grandson, while playing off of information she unwittingly fed him, to talk her into sending money to Canada, where he said he had been arrested for a hit- and-run accident.

It was the money-transfer employee at Wal-Mart who told Wood’s husband that she didn’t feel right about sending the money, as the situation felt like a scam.

After some calls to police in Ontario, to the Marines and to her daughter, Wood was able to determine that her grandson wasn’t in Canada, although because of his deployment she couldn’t contact him directly.

Lawrence said the scammer who called him actually used his grandson’s name, Eric, when he started the phone call, which confused him.

“This kid, young fellow, was desperate,” Lawrence said. “I said your voice don’t sound right and he said ‘Well I’ve been drinking and I’m stressed.’ ”

Lawrence’s grandson works at the University of Phoenix in Maricopa County and Lawrence said he didn’t think he could be in Canada, but the desperation in the caller’s voice kept him on the line.

A “corrections officer” also got on the line and told Lawrence that his grandson had failed a sobriety test and drugs were found in the car. If the grandfather sent $2,000, the grandson wouldn’t have to stay in jail and could go home.

“He really played up ‘Don’t tell mom because I’m so embarrassed,’ ” Lawrence said. “He put it over pretty good.”

When Lawrence got off the phone, he called the real Eric’s office number and was able to track Eric down at his desk.

He said there were signs during the conversation that something was amiss, such as the caller calling him “grandfather” instead of “poppa” and not sounding like his grandson.

The scammers called Lawrence and Wood several times. One time to say they were in trouble, another time so the grandparent could talk to a corrections officer or lawyer and a third time to give an address where money needed to be sent.

When the third call came, Wood was ready. She told the scammer that the Marines were going to pay his fine and that she had a number for him to call.

“I said they are going to send the money and he hung up,” she said.

Anne Hilby, spokeswoman for the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, said the grandparent scam has been around for about five years, but has recently resurfaced in Arizona.

She advised seniors to joke around with someone who says, “It’s your favorite grandson” by asking, “Which one?” or to establish a secret code with family members that can help the victim from being scammed.

Those who believe they have been a victim of such a scam are encouraged to call the Attorney General’s Office in Tucson at 628-6504.

Canadian phone scam targeting Pima County elderly again

Citizen Staff Writer

ALAN FISCHER

afischer@tucsoncitizen.com

You are invited to make your mark on a new map project pointing out local “green” and sustainable highlights in the community.

The Green Pueblo Map will allow participants to show others what is going on locally in the sustainability arena, said Beth Gorman, program manager at the Pima County Department of Environmental Quality.

“From now on people can make their mark,” Gorman said. “The whole purpose is to educate each other on what is available in our community to sustain it into the future.”

Highlighted sites will not be limited to just the typical ones that come to mind when thinking green or environmental, she said. Included will be things like food banks, farmers’ markets, recycling facilities and second-hand stores, she said.

Participants can go to the Web site, www.greenpueblomap.org, and nominate a building, home, recreation site, store or other site that showcases Tucson’s environmentally sustainable, cultural and social features, Gorman said.

The map, which was launched Thursday, will be officially introduced Friday at the Pima Association of Governments’ Sustainability and Energy Expo at the Tucson Convention Center, she said.

Attendees are invited to mark their favorite green and sustainable sites in person at the expo, which runs from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, she said.

Sites can be nominated at any time using the Web site. There is a delay while nominations are reviewed and placed on the map, she said.

The project also has a Green Explorers education component for schools and after-school programs, said Lori White, co-founder of The Inner Connection, a nonprofit organization that creates programs in health, education and the environment.

“You don’t see a lot of conservation with kids on green,” White said. “This is an interactive, fun way of bringing kids into the equation. We’re getting kids involved in green.”

In addition to participating on the online map project, students will also be encouraged to do their own creative green mapping, White said.

Pima County, Tucson and The Inner Connection collaborated on the project.

Tucson joins more than 500 cities around the world with green map programs in place, Gorman said.

Freelance
TECH TALK

QUINCEY HOBBS

Tucson Citizen

When do you have something without having anything? This is the riddled response that is often offered to explain the practice of cloud computing.

The name suggests some ethereal technological junket, but it is a practice that many businesses and individuals are finding practical.

Cloud computing is when you store information or use applications over a network. Some large companies that are spread around the nation and across the globe use a form of internal cloud computing. One of the most common types of cloud computing is to have a technology infrastructure that is maintained online by an outside vendor.

This entails using the Internet to access your applications and manage a product or service that is sold commercially. It is not a good fit for some companies, but others find that it is a way to lower operating costs and increase revenue.

Some of the pros of cloud computing for businesses are that they can offer services without having to invest heavily into equipment. Also, since cloud computing relies on offsite vendors to maintain the hardware, a business is spared the expenses of electricity, manpower and other costs associated with maintaining equipment in-house.

Another advantage of cloud computing is its innate portability. From a business perspective, this is a huge asset. If your business finds itself in a situation such as those in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina or in New York after September 11th, 2001, there is the peace of mind that your business should not be severely set back.

The primary downside to cloud computing is that you are at the mercy of the vendor. If that vendor goes out of business or has an interruption in service, it will have a direct and immediate impact on your business and customers.

You could find yourself in a similar situation if you maintained your own equipment, but having to rely on another company may be a little unnerving.

Cloud computing for individuals is slightly different than for businesses. Individuals can normally find enough freebies to make cloud computing worth their while. Free is usually good, but add portability to it and it becomes very good. Being able to access your e-mails, documents, pictures, video and music from any computer with an Internet connection is a benefit to students and professionals alike.

At a minimum, individual cloud computing would not be complete without a plan to back up all of your information online and offline.

Whether cloud computing is right for you largely depends on your situation, whether as an individual or a business.

Potential users should understand the inherent risks and benefits associated with relying on an online entity to maintain their information.

Quincey Hobbs is a team member at the University of Arizona’s Center for Computing and Information Technology and an instructor at Pima Community College. Send questions to quinceyresponds@yahoo.com.

Citizen Staff Report

CB Richard Ellis’ Tucson office recognized its top performers and rookie of the year for 2008.

Nancy McClure, first vice president – retail specialist, took the top spot. She is the first woman in the 46-year history of CBRE’s Tucson office to be No. 1.

The other top performers, in alphabetical order, were: Tim Healy, vice president – industrial specialist; Bruce Suppes, vice president – office specialist; W. Michael Sandahl, senior vice president – investment specialist; and Pete Villaescusa, first vice president – retail specialist. The rookie of the year was Tim Minnehan, associate – industrial specialist.

The A List gives props to the Tucson business community’s movers and shakers. Send information to alist@tucsoncitizen.com.

Freelance
Business Edge

ROMI CARRELL WITTMAN

Tucson Citizen

I made an ugly discovery the other day: my husband and I will owe taxes this year.

It’s not a huge amount. Still, it took me by surprise. I thought I had planned our taxes well and had the appropriate amount taken out of our paychecks. My husband earned more last year than he had in years’ past. I wondered if that contributed to the higher tax bill.

This situation got me to thinking about another ugly reality: the Alternative Minimum Tax.

When it was created by Congress in 1969, the AMT, which has also been nicknamed “The Stealth Tax,” was designed to nab wealthy people that used extensive deductions to get out of paying their share of taxes. However, the AMT has never been adjusted for inflation and now affects the middle class, too.

The AMT severely limits deductions such as children, state and local taxes. That translates to a drastically higher tax bill.

There is some good news. Congress passed a patch for 2008 that raised the AMT exemption for married couples filing jointly to $69,950, for single filers or heads of households to $46,200, and for married couples filing separately to $34,975. Without the patch, the exemption for taxpayers would have reverted to pre-2001 rates: $45,000 for married couples filing jointly and $33,750 in 2009 for individual filers.

While this patch will certainly help a lot of families, there are still a fair number of middle class families that could feel the pinch. To find out if you’ll be one of them, go to the Internal Revenue Service’s Web site. Its features include an online worksheet to help you determine if you’re going to owe (http://www.irs.gov/businesses/small/article/0,,id=150703,00.html). You’ll need a copy of your draft Form 1040 (filled out at least through line 44). Then the “Assistant” asks you a series of questions, which takes about 5 to 10 minutes. The more accurate data you provide, the more accurate answer you’ll receive.

If you want to learn more about the AMT, check out the Web site for a great overview as well as links to other AMT resources:

http://www.smartmoney.com/personal-finance/taxes/the-alternative-minimum-tax-9540/

Romi Carrell Wittman is a writer and the communication services director for Trico Electric Cooperative. E-mail: romi.wittman@comcast.net.

Cronkite News Service

ALYSON ZEPEDA

Cronkite News Service

PHOENIX – A $2 million grant announced Thursday will help the University of Arizona fulfill its promise to help high-performing graduates from lower-income families graduate on time and free of debt, the school’s president said.

The Helios Education Foundation, a nonprofit based in Arizona and Florida, pledged the money to the Arizona Assurance scholarship program, which last fall provided nearly 600 UA freshmen with free tuition, books and living expenses.

“This is one more statement that the program is real, and whatever your age, if you are a 10th-grader or a 10-year-old, you should prepare for college because it is available to you,” UA President Robert Shelton said.

The scholarship combines federal Pell Grants and private funding. Recipients must be Arizona residents, eligible for Pell Grants and from families with incomes of less than $42,400 per year.

Arizona Assurance participants earn part of the scholarships by working 10 to 12 hours per week in on-campus jobs. They are required to take part in programs aimed at retaining students.

Vince Roig, chairman of the Helios Education Foundation, said the investment is especially important as the U.S. is mired in recession.

“When you talk about where you can make the best investment in the economy, you have to really start at the grass roots, and that’s providing postsecondary education for people,” he said.

Though not part of the eligibility requirements, the scholarship is targeted at those who could become the first in their families to attend a four-year college.

“There is no ability to dream when no one else has gone before you, so it is that much harder to get excited about going to college,” Roig said.

Shelton, the first in his family to attend college, said he hopes the scholarship will not only make attending college possible but expected for future generations.

“This is going to transform this generation when they start to have children,” he said. “It’ll just be the norm in their families that you’re going to go to college.”

Shelton and Roig announced the grant before a group of students at Camelback High School, joined by Elisa Meza, a UA freshman who is benefitting from Arizona Assurance.

Meza said she probably wouldn’t have been able to attend college without the scholarship.

Citizen Staff Writer

MARY BUSTAMANTE

mbustamante@tucsoncitizen.com

When Judy Burns was on the outs with the majority of the TUSD school board six years ago, it found a way to keep her from getting many items she wanted on the agenda.

The others formed an agenda committee of the board president, clerk and superintendent, and Burns said she often didn’t get her issues heard.

The Tucson Unified School District board agenda committee finally changed to include each board member having a three-month rotation.

Tuesday night, the board majority, now including President Burns, switched to the old format.

Burns voted with newcomers Miguel Cuevas, who sought the change, and Clerk Mark Stegeman. Board members Bruce Burke and Adelita Grijalva were opposed.

The 3-2 vote followed a nearly half-hour discussion which was the culmination of a meeting fraught with innuendo and frosty tension between the two sides.

While there were 5-0 votes throughout the meeting, the same 3-2 split occurred when there was any disagreement.

Before the change, the agenda committee included Burns because she is board president, Superintendent Elizabeth Celania-Fagen and a rotating board member.

Under the new policy, the committee will be comprised of Fagen, the board president and the clerk (Burns and Stegeman).

Grijalva said the new policy was like one set up in 2003 “to isolate the minority.”

Cuevas, however, said the policy states “any board member may put an item on the agenda by submitting it to the director of staff services.”

It can’t be rejected by the agenda committee, board president or superintendent and may only be removed from an agenda if the board member who sought it withdraws it, he said.

Still, Burke said it was “a power play” that was the subject of discussion among Burns and Stegeman and Cuevas before they took office in January.

Burns said Cuevas came to her and said he wanted to see the change. “And I asked the board in December if it could be placed on the January agenda.”

Cuevas took issue with Burke’s accusations. “There was no corruption, no coercion,” he said, adding that training for new members advised them to meet with current members.

“I didn’t say you violated open meeting law,” Burke said, “but you met as a group of three on more than one occasion and I think that’s poor judgment. It excluded two board members and is setting a tone here that, frankly, is disappointing.”

Burns said, “I don’t think this is trying to shut out anybody.”

Stegeman said he knows of no large board that rotates like TUSD. He said some board members have had to wait up to nine months to get on the committee.

TUSD board member claims ‘power play’ occurring on agendas