Construction at Arcadia and Coronado high schools is on schedule with Phase I scheduled to be complete by June.

Phase I of construction at Arcadia includes the auditorium, performing arts and science buildings. The main academic and administration buildings will be completed at Coronado.

Phase II of construction at the schools will begin after graduation. Phase II work at Arcadia includes the main academic and administration buildings. The gymnasium, food service, auditorium and performing arts building will be constructed at Coronado.

Construction at both schools should be completed by summer 2008.

Additionally, phase I of construction at Chaparral and Saguaro high schools will begin this summer.

On January 24, 2006, the Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board approved an attendance boundary change. Currently, students who live in the McDowell Mountain Ranch area and attend Desert Canyon Elementary School are assigned to Copper Ridge Middle School. Beginning with incoming sixth graders this fall, Desert Canyon Elementary School students will be assigned to Desert Canyon Middle School. Busing will be provided to Copper Ridge Middle School for two years to allow current sixth and seventh grade students to finish at Copper Ridge.

Additionally, The Board approved the district's Technology Plan. Total funding for the Technology Plan would be $89,479,590. The presentation is available on the district's Web site at http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings.htm. Watch for future updates on this topic.

At the March 7th meeting, the Governing Board was updated on the proposed High School/Specialized Program for the Developing Area for implementation in August 2006. The presentation included information regarding Copper Ridge Math and Science Academy, including proposed curriculum, facility requirements/restraints, feeder pattern alignment recommendation, enrollment projections and the results of the community surveys. Both presentations are available on the district’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings.htm. The item will brought back at the March 28th meeting. The meeting is at 5 p.m., at the Education Center, 3811 N. 44th St., Phoenix.

The Scottsdale Unified School District is enhancing student safety thanks to new digital video technology aboard its buses. National Scientific Corporation recently installed a digital video recording system which replaced the standard VCR recording equipment. Now, in the case of an emergency situation, district officials can immediately download video from a school bus without waiting for the bus and its videotape to return to the yard. Read more...

Would you like to be a guest columnist for an upcoming issue of Scottsdale Living & Learning? If so, please submit a column no longer than 300 words and a photo to Becky Kelbaugh. Columns should focus on topics related to Scottsdale Unified School District and/or education.

Did you pass along Scottsdale Living & LEARNING to other REALTORS in your office, clients, prospects or neighbors? If you did, thank you! If you received this newsletter from someone, it’s very easy to subscribe to the e-newsletter and receive it directly. To subscribe:

1. http://www.susd.org/district/communications/emss.cfm
2. Choose the e-newsletter you would like to subscribe to
3. Type in your e-mail address
4. Click the subscribe button

It's that easy and only takes a moment!

Remind prospective buyers who are parents that despite the rising home costs in Scottsdale, their children can receive a "private education" at a public school price! After all, Scottsdale Unified School District is Arizona's Most Excelling School District! SUSD has 20 elementary schools, 7 middle schools, 5 high schools and 1 alternative school. For more information about SUSD, please call 480-484-6100 or visit our Web site at: http://www.susd.org.