Letter to the Community - May 28, 2024

Dear Tolleson ESD Families & Community,

I hope you had a good holiday weekend as we honored our fallen heroes on Memorial Day.

I want to be sure everyone is aware of our Welcome Center summer hours. We are here to enroll your children and answer your questions regarding enrollment all summer long with a few exceptions. During the summer break the Welcome Center is open Monday–Thursday 7:45a.m.– 4:00 p.m. Then, it is open Monday–Friday again beginning July 12. It will be closed June 19 and July 4. Thank you for spreading the word far and wide about our four great schools and encouraging families to enroll.

I also need to make you aware of some unfortunate funding cuts to preschool. The state of Arizona does not fund preschool and does not allow school districts to use maintenance and operations funding for it. Yet, thanks to grants, we have great preschool programs in our district. They are rated 5 STAR by Quality First of Arizona which means our teams are delivering programs that far exceed the standards. Yet, funding cuts to grants at the state level and a sharp reduction to the tobacco tax funding mean a reduction in the number of students our schools can enroll for preschool.

We will continue to make every attempt possible to search for alternative funding as we know the importance of preschool for long-term academic success and for the future of our community and state. Please join us in advocating for preschool to be funded at every level possible. We work to make our voice heard at the city, state, and national level to look for alternatives and ask for funding.

Some other important dates to include on your calendar include:

• Summer Camp begins June 3.
• Meet the Teacher Night is Monday, July 29 from 4:30–6:30 p.m. at each of our four schools.
• The first day of school for the 2024–2025 school year is July 31.

I hope your summer is off to a great start!

Sincerely,
Dr. Lupita Hightower
Treasure Hunter & Superintendent
Tolleson Elementary School District