Dear Canutillo Community,
Canutillo ISD this week welcomed back our students for the 2022-23 academic year and I am delighted to inform you that everything went great. I was able to visit all of our campuses on Monday and was happy to shake hands and pump fists with hundreds of students and parents who were as excited to be back as I was to see them. We have a great school year ahead of us planned with tons of innovative learning and successful ventures in our classrooms and on our fields and stages. Let’s tackle this school year with grit and determination … the Canutillo way!
The first day of school was also marked by a public meeting of the Board of Trustees where several important discussions took place. The administration was able to present to the Board some preliminary information about a potential bond election that could be called for November. As you know, voters last fall turned down a bond election in Canutillo. The District has spent the year assessing the election and determining next steps. We know that we need to do a better job of engaging our community in order to address the still eminent needs in our schools, including issues with growth, safety, equity and academic programming. I invite you to stay abreast of our discussions so that you’re fully informed about what the plans are. Canutillo intends to keep you aware of all decisions made regarding this issue.
Speaking of safety and security, I met with a group of parents from Garcia Elementary School on Thursday morning to address their concerns about this topic. The conversation was sincere and focused on their feelings about what the school needs in order to create a sense of safety at the school. Ultimately, the parents suggested placing an armed Canutillo ISD police officer at the school in place of the trained security officer that is assigned to Garcia right now. I am not a proponent of the idea that an armed officer at our school is the answer to our security concerns, but I understand the feelings from this community. The District is currently studying options for alternative funding that could let us hire additional certified police officers to add to our team. I will keep you updated on how this develops.
Lastly, I want to invite you to listen to “Canutillo Convos,” the new weekly podcast with news and tidbits from throughout the District. You can listen to it by visiting our YouTube channel or by clicking on the links shared on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram accounts.
Thank you, Canutillo, for a great first week of school. Let’s have a wonderful year!
Pedro Galaviz
Superintendent of Schools