The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson is hosting a public forum on March 19 focusing on Proposition 123.
Campaigners for and against the education funding initiative will explain their positions and answer questions, and Richard Gilman of Bringing Up Arizona — a research-based web publication focused on public education — will be the featured speaker.
The event will be held on the lower level of the Joel D. Valdez Main Library, 101 N. Stone Ave., at 10 a.m. Parking is free in the library garage.
For more information, visit www.lwvgt.org
Charity to distribute free backpacks, snacks
More than 2,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies and snacks are being donated to Tucson-area schoolchildren.
The Feed the Children charity is donating the backpacks to the Marana Unified, Amphitheater, Tucson Unified and Sunnyside Unified school districts on Wednesday.
They will be distributed throughout the school year to students experiencing hardship.
Students to compete
in auto-repair contest
Students from four Southern Arizona schools will compete in the 2016 Arizona High School Auto Challenge next month.
Juniors and seniors from Flowing Wells, Marana, Mountain View and Safford high schools qualified for the contest, which will be held at Mesa Community College on April 22, by completing an online written test.
At the state competition, the students will be charged with fixing a bugged vehicle.
Marana High School is fresh off a first-place win at the Arizona High School Pit Crew Challenge on Feb. 19.
The team went up against students from seven Arizona high school automotive programs.
The timed challenge included teams of students performing tasks on vehicles and engines.
Sunnyside teacher finalist for $20K prize
A Sunnyside School District teacher is in the running for a $20,000 science lab makeover.
Rene Corrales, a science teacher at STAR Academic Center, was named a district winner in the Shell Science Lab Challenge.
The contest is open to middle and high school science teachers and seeks to reward educators who have found innovative ways to deliver quality lab experiences with limited resources.
As a district winner, Corrales and the STAR Academic Center will receive a $1,000 grant to purchase lab equipment and other science resources, $1,000 in donated science lab equipment and a $300 gift certificate to the National Science Teachers Association, along with other prizes.
Corrales is one of 18 district winners. Five national finalists will be chosen, and a grand-prize winner will be selected from among them.
Steele Elementary
to hold rummage sale
Steele Elementary School will hold its 10th annual rummage sale Saturday.
The event will be on campus, 700 S. Sarnoff Drive, from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Proceeds from the sale will go toward a shade structure on the playground.
The sale will feature furniture, household goods, clothing, toys and seasonal decorations.
County schools chief Arzoumanian honored
Pima County Schools Superintendent Linda Arzoumanian is being awarded the Southern Arizona Association for Education of Young Children Board Award.
The honor recognizes Arzoumanian’s devotion to public service, support of children’s issues and political advocacy on behalf of young children as she prepares to retire at the end of 2016 after 16 years holding the seat.
