The Story of Mountainside High School By Dr. Aspasia Angelou, Superintendent Nadaburg Unified School District The journey to build a high school in the Wittmann community has been a long and unpredictable one, to say the least. It is important to understand the historical context that shaped this story for one to truly appreciate the significance of a high school for this rural/suburban community northwest of Phoenix. Historical Background Until August 17, 2020, Nadaburg was the only Unified School District in Arizona that did not have its own traditional high school. In November 2006, district voters approved the unification of the district pursuant to ARS 15-449 (becoming a K-12 district rather than K-8). The unification to a K-12 district became effective July 1, 2007. However, multiple attempts to pass a bond failed over the course of thirteen years, during which time, the district fell under A.R.S. 15-824 (2), and paid for high school students to attend neighboring districts. In 2019, we attempted again to pass the bond and reiterated the repercussions of not passing the bond to the constituents, as follows: • Consolidation with another school district o Community must vote to join another district o Other district must vote to allow consolidation o Community inherits new district’s tax rate o Example: neighboring district has 85,000 registered voters, Nadaburg has about 5,000 • School District is unable to operate/function • State seeks receivership of district • Push for legislation to revert to a K8 district because unification was decided by the 2006 election The bond was passed successfully on November 5th of 2019, with the tireless work of the board, community supporters, teachers, staff, students and families! However, legislation related to the unique circumstances of this situation included HB2287, Page 5 the “Nadaburg Bill” of 2019, pertaining only to NUSD, regarding the sole status as a unified school district without a high school. Prior to COVID-19, the HB2287 passed successfully through the AZ House of Representatives and to the Senate with the support of Representative Joanne Osborne and Senator Sine Kerr. Unfortunately, with the closure of schools and governmental agencies in March of 2020, the bill stalled. We are once again planning to present the “Nadaburg Bill” to legislators in January of 2021, if all goes well. The School Facilities Board (SFB) reviewed the issues and projected a timeline indicating the District would be ready for a high school once a program was started in current facilities and moved beyond capacity. Our plan began with design teams meeting to discuss all aspects of school life: curriculum, programming, athletics, technology integration, student experience and blended learning models. We are developing a robust model for our high school programming in preparation for those students who would choose our dual opportunities of a 2-year Associate’s degree or an industry certification, with the support of West-Mec and ASU prep online. Planning for the HS model Mountainside High School (MHS), home of the Wolves, was named by the students, with the guidance of principal, Dr. Kathryn Strevell. The school was designed to create opportunities for student choice, focus on relationships, connectedness and skills development. More choices mean students will better balance outside work and family responsibilities, while also preparing for college, work, and life. Meaningful relationships that connect students more deeply to their school and community. They will be heard, known, understood, and supported. Our culture reflects rising pride in being a Nadaburg student. (continued on page 20) “Stronger Together!”
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