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Math, Science Favored for Proposed School: Parents Are Polled in Scottsdale District Survey

Posted on: Tuesday, 7 March 2006, 15:01 CST

By Andrea Falkenhagen, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

Mar. 7--Results of a phone survey of 200 Scottsdale parents show more interest in a new high school for advanced math and science than for other specialties like engineering or humanities.

The survey, conducted by the Phoenix-based Behavior Research Center, was commissioned by the Scottsdale Unified S chool District for approximately $7,500, said spokesman Keith Sterling.

Officials wanted to study attitudes among parents toward a new high school, as well as the district's image, student satisfaction and possible changes in grade configuration.

Sixty-nine percent of parents said they were "very interested" in programs in advanced math and science, as opposed to 51 percent who showed high interest in engineering and technology.

Governing Board member Christine Schild said she was not surprised by the outcome, because there is no advanced math and science program in the school district.

"Right now we've got one magnet program, the International Baccalaureate, which is basically humanities-based," she said. "They would be really interested in math and science because of the career pathways that students tend to take."

Board members will discuss the survey results and plans for creating the new school during today's meeting.

Last month, Superintendent John Baracy unveiled two possible plans for a sixth high school in the northern part of the city.

The new school, which would start as a small, specialized program in 2008, would be located in or adjacent to Copper Ridge Elementary School, 10101 E. Thompson Peak Pkwy.

Construction would be funded by a bond issue that could go before voters in November.

The phone survey found that by a margin of 6-to-1, parents supported a bond issue to build a sixth high school and to renovate existing facilities.

But 62 percent of parents said if the bond does not pass, they would support a specialized high school program to be put in the existing Copper Ridge elementary and middle schools.

Board meeting What: Scottsdale Unified School District Governing Board meeting

When: 5 p.m. today

Where: Mountainside Middle School, 11256 N. 128th Street, Scottsdale

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Copyright (c) 2006, The Tribune, Mesa, Ariz.

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Source: The Tribune

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