AD ©
EDUCATIONAL  PHILOSOPHY /
SCHOOL  DISTRICT  MISSION

The District was established by the state legislature, under the authority contained in the Arizona State Constitution, for the sole purpose of providing an education to the students of the District.  While the establishment of the District also provides other services, such as caring for students during the school day, providing employment to the school staff, and providing facilities for the use of the community, all of these services are necessarily subordinate to the District's prime function of providing an education to students. The Governing Board of the District is selected by the citizens of the community to ensure that this responsibility is accomplished.  However, the Board recognizes that it cannot accomplish this objective unless all of the sectors of the school community also accept and perform their responsibilities.  The Board considers the responsibilities of these elements of the school community to be as follows:

Staff

The Board fulfills its responsibility for the education of students by employing first a competent Superintendent, on whose recommendation it also employs a competent staff.  As a condition of this employment, the Board expects each member's best efforts to be exerted toward the accomplishment of the educational objectives of the District.  Because education is imparted primarily by teachers, the Board specifically places responsibility for maintaining and expanding educational ability on each teacher, to the end that each student may reach maximum potential and develop a sense of dignity and self-worth.

Parents

The Board recognizes that the ultimate responsibility for the well-being of all children rest with their parents.  All parents are expected to cooperate in the District's educational effort by ensuring maximum attendance of their children, by requiring that their children cooperate in the educational endeavor of the District, and by fostering an attitude in their children that recognizes the importance of education.

Community

The resources necessary to provide education for students are provided by members of the community through their taxes and other supporting services.  The Board's goal is that all members of the community, both individually and through their governmental, civic, and social organizations, will continue to support the educational activities of the District.

Students

Education is an opportunity provided to the children of the District by their community.  The Board expects that all students will learn to recognize the value of this opportunity, and will therefore work diligently to help ensure that their maximum potentials are realized.  The Board further expects that all students will recognize that their fellow students have the right to be educated, and will avoid any action that may interfere with their ability to exercise that right.

The Board believes that education should develop habits, attitudes, understanding, and skills necessary for a productive, satisfying life in our society.  Students should be taught to understand the duties and privileges of responsible citizenship as such duties and privileges relate to themselves as individuals and to the whole community.  The vast changes brought about by increasing technology, population, and urbanization must also be taught.  The input and support of the citizens of the community, and especially the professional staff, are solicited as the school community endeavors to develop the attitudes and abilities demanded in this age of rapid change.

Elementary, middle, and high schools all shall be organized around the unifying principle that each student is worthy of education commensurate with such student's abilities and the concerns of society.

Elementary school:  The major responsibility of the elementary school shall include providing opportunity for a strong foundation in academics and healthy social, physical, and emotional development for each student.  Emphasis at this level should be placed upon an effective education in the basic skills of communication, computation, and citizenship.  Organized learning experiences in the arts, social and natural sciences, and health and physical education also are integral to the elementary program.  The fact that students vary greatly in their maturing rates necessitates consideration of each student's individuality in development and implementation of the elementary school program.

Middle school:  The major responsibility of the middle school shall be to meet the identified needs of the early adolescent.  The middle school program shall build upon the strong academic foundation provided at the elementary level.  The program should be organized in a way that helps students to make a smooth transition into and then out of this phase of their education.  The program should be distinctive, not dominated by either the elementary or high school levels, providing a program of general education rather than a specialized one for specific academic or vocational goals.  The middle school program should form the base for a four-year high school educational plan.

High school:  The major responsibility of the high school shall be the preparation of students for participation as responsible and educated young adults.  In the high school, instruction should build upon the intellectual base and the social and physical foundations established at earlier levels.  Both course work and an educational environment that prepare students to enter the world of work or to enable them to pursue advanced education are particularly crucial to the high school program.  Individual abilities, needs, and interests should be the guidelines for assisting high school students during this final phase of their public school education.

In consideration of the accomplishment of these responsibilities by each sector of the school community listed above, the Governing Board, with the concurrence of each individual Board member, pledges its best efforts to ensure that the District is governed effectively and efficiently so that the goal of an appropriate and outstanding educational experience is available for all students of the District.

Adopted:  date of manual adoption

LEGAL REF.: 
Arizona State Constitution, Article XI, Section 1