TUSD ups spending to get needed cafeteria workers

Tucson Unified School District, facing a significant shortage of food service workers, will increase funding for temporary staffing in that department to as much as $1.35 million per year, up from $850,000 per year.

There’s a 20% vacancy rate in district food service workers, the TUSD Governing Board was told Tuesday before approving the funding increase, which is aimed especially at hiring cafeteria workers.

The increase of up to $500,000 per year is for the rest of this fiscal year and each of the next four years, for a total of up to $6.75 million.

Board officers elected

Tucson Unified School District’s Governing Board elected its 2024 officers on Tuesday.

Natalie Luna Rose was elected president of the board. Outgoing board president Ravi Shah nominated Rose, seconded by board member Jennifer Eckstrom. Outgoing board clerk Val Romero nominated Sadie Shaw, seconded by Shaw.

Rose received three votes: Shah, Eckstrom and herself. Shaw received two votes: Romero and herself.

Eckstrom is the new board clerk on a unanimous vote.

Grant semifinalist

Arizona Autism Charter Schools, Inc., which has a campus in Tucson, is a semifinalist for a Building Hope IMPACT grant.

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Arizona Autism Charter Schools is among five finalists for the S. Joseph Bruno Charter Leadership Award, selected from nearly 200 applications nationwide.

A total of $160,000 in grants will be awarded across four categories: community engagement, educational innovation, student empowerment and school leadership.

Building Hope is a nonprofit organization specializing in charter school facilities, financing and services.

College fair

The Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling will hold a college fair on Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9-11:30 a.m. at The Gregory School, 3231 N. Craycroft Road.

Students and families will meet admissions representatives from colleges, universities and post-secondary programs. The event is free and open to the public. More information and registration are available at rmacac.org/tucson. Pre-registration is advised but not required.

Scholarships awarded

Gregory School senior Mackenzie McCormick has been awarded a full four-year scholarship to attend Boston College through the QuestBridge National College Match.

Senior James Labukas received the Western Golf Association’s Evans Scholarship, a full four-year college scholarship awarded to high school golf caddies to attend a partner university.