ASBA Board of Directors Pass Vaping Resolution

Written by Steven Chapman, ASBA President
There is a new health epidemic developing for students across Arizona and the United States. This problem has been developed and manufactured by Juul and companies that create vaping products. These products have been marketed to our children as safe and cool. Quite the opposite in fact, as these devices and their chemicals, are not only illegal for minors to consume, they are causing faster rates of addiction through heavier rates of consumption which is impacting the safety of our students on and off campuses.
These companies knew and disregarded the risks of their product, and still have not even been reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration. They went to market as quickly as they could to corner the market on youth and young adults.
Because of this, I am proud to announce that the Arizona School Boards Association Board of Directors has unanimously passed a resolution supporting a recently filed lawsuit against Juul, and others who have similar vaping products.
Several school districts in Arizona have or are considering joining this lawsuit as plaintiffs including Tolleson Union High School District and Alhambra Elementary School District. I want to thank the law office of Wagstaff & Cartmell LLP for pursuing this case to help students and schools across the United States.
Click here to view our resolution in support of this lawsuit, and if you would like more information, please reach out to the following attorney leading this lawsuit:
Jon Kiefer – Phone: (816) 701-1103 or jpkieffer@wcllp.com
Angela Priest – Phone: (816)701-1166 or apriest@wcllp.com
Advancing Equity Through Deeper Learning: Refugee/Immigrant

Wednesday, October 23, 12-1 p.m.
While there have been many conversations around immigrants and refugees taking place on the national stage, there are conversations happening more locally. What are some of the challenges our refugee and immigrant students and families face in Arizona and how can we better meet our responsibility to serve this vulnerable population. Join us as we speak with the International Rescue Committee and Aliento on what districts can do to support immigrant and refugee students.
ASBA Forms a Rural Alliance, a Commitment to Rural and Remote Districts
Did you know more than half of all Arizona school districts are in rural or remote areas of the state? ASBA has formed a Rural Alliance to better understand and identify unique challenges these districts face. The purpose of the Rural Alliance will be to strategically enhance the work of ASBA and its member boards in cultivating excellence in locally governed rural and remote school districts, with a focus on:
- Networking opportunities to encourage positive, effective relationships and collaborative efforts among leaders of rural and remote school districts.
- Collective and strategic advocacy and member education to improve opportunities and outcomes for students in rural Arizona.
- Ensuring representation by rural and remote leaders within the governance of the ASBA.
If you are interested in joining the ASBA Rural Alliance, please click here. A kick-off event will be happening at the 2019 ASBA-ASA Annual Conference.
Congrats to Glendale ESD for Passing Census Model Resolution

Thank you to Glendale ESD for being the first district to pass the Census resolution. You can find the model school district resolution on the 2020 U.S. Census now available on ASBA’s new webpage dedicated to information and resources for members to use to keep their local community informed on the importance of participating in the upcoming Census in 2020. The new webpage includes quick facts, key dates, graphics, articles and other external resources.
Please email Heidi Otero, ASBA’s director of communications at hvega@azsba.org, if your board passes a resolution to celebrate your district on ASBA’s Facebook and Twitter pages.
ASBA’S Inspiring Youth Contest – Deadline Is Oct. 25!

Win an exclusive presentation for 50 of your district’s students with Shane Feldman, media sensation, motivational speaker, producer, social entrepreneur and “undercover teen” and ASBA’s Annual Conference keynote speaker at Grand Canyon University on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019! A private campus tour will be included. Also, transportation and lunch are provided.
Criteria:
In 300 words, tell us about a program or initiative in your district that is engaging and inspiring youth to be change agents in their communities.
A photo reflecting the program or initiative must also be submitted with the entry.
Entry must be completed by the superintendent or an authorized representative.
Participating students must be in fifth grade or higher and attend a Title I school.
Deadline to submit is Oct. 25, 2019. Only online entries will be accepted.
GCU & ASBA Present… Making Ties: Handling School Trauma Webinar Series

Grand Canyon University has partnered with the Arizona School Boards Association to offer this free, can’t-miss opportunity for anyone involved in K12 education. Participants will analyze what school trauma really means and dive deeper into how to deal with trauma in K12 schools.
Register for just one or all of the following web seminars:
01/29/2020 | Understanding Trauma in Our Schools | 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Register here |
02/12/2020 | Making the Case for Trauma-Informed Education Supports | 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Register here |
03/04/2020 | Systematic Approaches to Trauma-Informed Education Supports | 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Register here |
05/06/2020 | Trauma-Informed Education Supports: A Legal Perspective | 3:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Register here |
Arizona K-12 Center Promotes “Leading With Intention: A School Administrators Series”

Wednesday, November 20, 2019, and Wednesday, January 22, 2020
Arizona K12 Center’s Professional Learning Center, Phoenix, Arizona
Instructional leadership is a vital component to successful schools and districts and it’s pertinent to come into community with other leaders to learn, reflect, and plan for the next steps that will impact the culture of teaching and learning in your space.
Leading with Intention, you’ll join Frederick Brown, the Deputy Executive Director of Learning Forward, and together explore the multiple aspects of instructional leadership that impact culture and teacher and student success. This learning opportunity will place a focus on instructional leadership and creating a system in which all stakeholders are elevating instructional excellence for all.
Each day of the two-day series also includes breakfast, lunch, and materials.
ABEC Annual Conference Focuses on Student Achievement Testing, Oct. 18

Attend the ABEC Annual Conference, Oct. 18. The focus will be on student achievement testing.
Keynote Speakers:
James Ogsbury, Executive Director, Western Governors’ Association
David C. Berliner, Regents’ Professor Emeritus and former Dean, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University
Stephen Murphy, Chief Assessment Officer, Cognia (formerly Measured Progress/AdvancED)
Rose Owens-West, Equity Project Director, WestED
Also featuring:
John Arnold, Executive Director, Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR)
Toni Badone, Regional Director, Cognia (formerly Measured Progress/AdvancED)
Carole Basile, Professor and Dean, Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College, Arizona State University
Tim Carter, Superintendent, Yavapai County Schools and former President, Arizona State Board of Education
David S. Clukey, Lieutenant Colonel (Retired), U.S. Army Special Forces and former U.S. Army Recruiting Battalion Commander
Karla Fisher, Provost, Maricopa County Community Colleges
Scott Griego, NWEA
Randy Kimmens, Futures, Inc.
Joe O’Reilly, Director, Decision Center for Educational Excellence, Arizona State University
Joe Thomas, President, Arizona Education Association
Manuel Valenzuela, Superintendent, Sahuarita Unified School District
ASBA Events
Legislative Workshop, Nov. 15, 2019
Deadline to register is Nov. 2, 2019
Find your voice and advocate for issues that will impact our K-12 school districts during the 2020 Legislative Session. More information to follow.
Don’t miss out these updates:
- Data on Arizona’s changing demographics and funding disparities
- State budget forecast
- Legislative preview panel
- Lessons learned from bonds/overrides for 2020
- Information to sharpen your advocacy efforts for the 2020 session

ASBA-ASA Annual Conference – Registration closes Dec. 6, 2019
Come early and attend our Pre-Conference on “Supporting the Whole Child,” learn more about our AMAZING keynote speakers, 24 breakout sessions, annual awards program, Corn Hole Tournament PLUS more!