Deseg master dislikes 7-12 plan at Sabino

A TUSD plan to convert Sabino High School into a campus that serves seventh- through 12th-graders would cater primarily to white, middle-class families, a desegregation expert contends.

Willis Hawley, the special master assigned to oversee desegregation efforts at Tucson Unified School District, says U.S. District Court Judge David Bury should deny TUSD’s request for the grade reconfiguration.

He said the creation of a pipeline that would allow students at two northeast-side elementary schools to feed into Sabino would negatively affect nearby Magee Middle School.

Hawley has filed his recommendation to deny the Sabino 7-12 proposal and approve grade reconfigurations at four other schools in federal court for Bury to consider.

Hawley has given his blessing to other changes TUSD seeks. They are for Collier and Fruchthendler elementary schools to add a sixth grade to feed into a 7th- through 12th-grade Sabino, and for Borman and Drachman elementary schools to be converted into schools that serve kindergarten to eighth grade.

The proposals were developed in an effort to reduce student flight from the Tucson Unified School District to neighboring districts and charter schools.

Though Hawley is opposed to TUSD’s plan as presented, he asked Bury to let the district revise it to consider capping Sabino’s Anglo enrollment at 50 percent to give minority students preference in enrollment and to developing a plan to make Magee more attractive to students.

TUSD Superintendent H.T. Sanchez says the district is willing to entertain Hawley’s recommendations for a shot at making the Sabino student pipeline a reality.

“We’ll do what we need to do to meet him halfway to provide a further mechanism to integrate schools and provide stability to the district in terms of enrollment loss and provide other opportunities for families,” Sanchez said.

The district also plans to provide data to show how Sabino’s demographics have changed over the last 15 years, Sanchez said.

In 2000, the school was 83 percent white and 10 percent Hispanic.

The 1,600-plus Anglo student body from 15 years ago has dwindled to fewer than 600, and there are about 100 more Hispanic students. Its population is now 57 percent Anglo and 31 percent Hispanic.

The decision ultimately rests with Bury, who has often followed Hawley’s recommendations.

Less than a year ago, Bury rejected the Sabino plan, citing the same concerns Hawley is now raising, along with some procedural issues.

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

The desegregation plaintiffs also oppose the Sabino pipeline proposal.

Under the decades-old desegregation case, TUSD is charged with making its schools more racially integrated.

While TUSD initially argued that the grade reconfigurations would have virtually no impact on integration, it has since revised its findings based on a survey that found a large number of parents would be interested in sending their children from the west side to Sabino or Magee if TUSD provided an express bus option.

Hawley, however, was not swayed by the revised analysis.

He told Bury that the questions posed to parents to elicit those responses were suspect. For example, Hawley says the survey characterized Magee Middle School as a high-achieving school, when its most recent state grade was a “C.”

Where Hawley and TUSD are in agreement is that the creation of a middle school on the Sabino campus would increase the number of students attending TUSD by both retaining existing students and attracting new ones. However, Hawley says it would be at Magee’s expense.

“Those leaving Magee are likely to be among the (school’s) higher achievers,” Hawley said. “The loss of students will affect perceptions of the school.”

The proposed Sabino pipeline is not a source of consternation for Magee Principal Daniel Erickson, at least not anymore.

“When the plan was initially proposed, we were a little nervous about maybe losing some of our students who are currently enrolled,” said Erickson, whose mind has been changed thanks to commitments from TUSD to carry out two initiatives.

The first is the expansion of an existing dual-credit option, which Magee intends to market as an honors pipeline of its own. Magee students will have the opportunity to earn high school credit while in middle school that can be transferred to Sahuaro High School.

The district has also committed to maintaining the school’s staffing and funding for the next two years to make the school more robust, Erickson said.

As it stands, Magee already has programming for gifted students, a highly recognized Odyssey of the Mind team and accomplishments in band. And while Magee is a C-rated school, it was only one point away from earning a B.

Despite the opportunities being offered to Magee, for Erickson, the big picture is what’s important.

“The reward will outweigh the risk when we see an increase in enrollment in TUSD in general,” Erickson said. “A rising tide floats all boats.”