Inside Tucson Business, March 26, 2021 by Times Media Group

Legal Perspective ‘But I Don’t Have Enough Money to Create a Trust’

Page 2 March 26, 2021

Volume 29 • Number 7

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TECH TALK

Roche Tissue Diagnostics announces new cancer detection kit Page 16

Class Report

BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

RENT ASSISTANCE Pima County approves $8M for new program

After a year of alternative schooling, Arizona’s education “progress meter” shows both good and bad trends

Page 12

Christina Duran

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Inside Tucson Business / Page 6

LUNAR ARK Scientists propose ‘global insurance policy’

Page 17 BOOK OF LISTS

THIS YEAR’S NUMBERS PEOPLE IN ACTION

REAL ESTATE

New awards, hires and promotions Page 3

Arizona Theatre Company Partners with Museum of Art for shared-space facility Page 4

Charter Schools, Private Schools and School Districts

Pages 18 & 19

MARCH 26, 2021

Inside Tucson Business is published 26 times per year (once every other week on Fridays) plus the Book of Lists in January. Cost is $1 per single issue, $50 for 26 issues, $85 for 52 issues and $105 for 78 issues. The Book of Lists is included in annual and multi-year paid subscriptions. Back issues from within the past 12 months are $1 each. Delivery is available by U.S. Postal Service.

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LEGALPERSPECTIVE BY ROBERT M. WAY AND JILL F. WEICKHARDT

MESCH CLARK ROTHSCHILD

‘Oh, But I Don’t Have Enough Money to Create a Trust’

his is a tale of two estates. The Estate of Lisa: Lisa was a well-respected estate planning attorney who knew the benefit of a trust-based estate plan, which includes a Revocable Living Trust “Trust.” Lisa left behind a very simple and very old Last Will and Testament because she thought revising her estate plan to adequately address her multiple properties in various states would upset her second husband. Her out-of-state and grieving family now must wrestle with the cost, hassle, time and uncertainty of multiple probates in various states, and her second husband is understandably upset. The Estate of Susan: In stark contrast, Susan had a very small estate; but she knew the importance of planning and easing the burden on her grieving family. Susan hired an attorney who created and funded her Trust. Susan’s devastated family was grateful to Susan and impressed by the ease with which her assets passed to her intended beneficiaries. Susan spent less on her Trust-based estate plan than her family would have on probate. There is a misunderstanding that people who “do not have enough money” do not need a Trust. This cannot be farther from the truth. Money is not the sole factor when determining the appropriateness of a Trust. Often clients express that they

costs (imagine that cabin property in Colorado or the time share in Hawaii). Establishing and funding a Trust allows transfer of assets to beneficiaries with much greater speed and ease. 2. Privacy The probate process is a public proceeding. Therefore, a person’s Will is available for review by anyone at the courthouse and, with some exceptions, can make your estate an open book since probate documents become public record. By contrast, Trusts are a good option for those concerned with the privacy of their records and asset information after death. Only qualified beneficiaries of a Trust are entitled to receive information regarding assets, values or ultimate disposition. 3. Continuity of Management During Disability Should you become physically or mentally incapable of managing your own affairs, having a properly prepared and funded Trust is likely the best way to ensure your property remains available to be used for your benefit. The person granted such control is a trusted individual or entity selected by you. Ultimately, a Trust will avoid a conservatorship (a type of probate that subjects you, while you are living, and your family to an expensive and lengthy court proceeding with annual requirements).

absolutely do not need a Trust because their estate is worth less than the amount they have determined would necessitate a Trust and, therefore, a Last Will and Testament will suffice. Not having the wealth of Jeffrey Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon, does not mean that you and your family would not benefit from a Trust as part of your estate plan. Here are a few reasons why even a small estate could benefit from a Trust: 1. Avoidance of Probate Probate is a costly, time consuming and uncertain process required to transfer your property to the extent it is in your name when you die. Probate can be required to determine an estate’s heirs, as opposed to those who you would like to receive inheritance, confirm that a Will is valid, or oversee its administration, among other things. Additionally, avoiding probate may be a significant benefit if you own real estate in multiple states, because you avoid multiple probate proceed- See LEGAL PERSPECTIVE, P5 ings and their associated

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WEEKLY TOP

BY LISA LOVALLO

Business lessons we learned from the pandemic

ooking back on the past year, no one could have predicted the significant impact that the pandemic has had on the way we live and work. But weathering it all together ultimately made us stronger, helped optimize processes and helped businesses become more human-centric. There are many important business lessons that came from these unprecedented times. Agility. The uncertainty during the pandemic illustrated how important it is for companies to be comfortable with change and willing to shift gears when necessary. No longer are businesses able to stick to traditional ways, it’s imperative to be able to adapt and adjust on the fly. Technology. If it’s one thing that kept many businesses afloat during these unprecedented times, it’s modern technology. The past year has accelerated the adoption of online communication tools; making fast, reliable internet to power these tools a necessity. Crisis planning. It goes without saying that a crisis can hit at any time, so an important lesson is to be prepared for anything. Having a plan in place for potential crisis situations will ensure your company can adapt accordingly and respond correctly. Productivity. Finding ways to remain productive amidst a global crisis was a unique challenge this year. Setting routines helps employees continue to be productive when life gets chaotic.

Social interaction. Companies have implemented virtual meetups and social chat channels to ensure the workplace culture extends beyond the walls of the office. Workplace wellbeing. Things like encouraging mental health days or offering words of encouragement are examples of how business leaders can influence their employees’ wellbeing. Reinvention. Many businesses had to shift gears and step in to help during troubling times. We learned that with some ingenuity, businesses can reinvent themselves in order to provide essential items and services during crisis situations. Collaboration. Keeping a sense of community and collaboration while many companies worked remotely was a new challenge this year. Online meeting tools and clear and frequent internal communication were key to ensuring employees are on the same page and able to work together, even while apart. Transparency. Especially in times of crisis, transparency is key to establishing trust and addressing the concerns of employees and customers. Business leaders need to be transparent in their communications to ensure everyone is on the same page. Digital presence. Social media proved to be an excellent way to reach new customers, while having a digital storefront allowed businesses to continue servicing their community. Lisa Lovallo is the Southern Arizona market vice president for Cox Communications.

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PEOPLEINACTION

Dr. Heather Schneider

MARCH 26, 2021

EMAIL YOUR PEOPLE IN ACTION DETAILS TO AUSTIN@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM

Delta Dental of Arizona is pleased to announce Dr. Heather Schneider is the company’s new dental director, bringing a dentist’s perspective to the management team of the state’s top dental insurance carrier. Previously, Schneider served the organization assisting with dental claims reviews in a part-time consulting role. As the dental director, Schneider will be responsible for overseeing dental consultants and the utilization management program to help control the cost of dental benefits. She said she plans to focus on strengthening relationships with network dentists and assist with product development while working closely with the company’s board of directors. “Dr. Schneider brings a fresh perspective, energy and invaluable first-hand knowledge of patient care and dental practice management to our day-today business,” said company CEO Allan Allford. Schneider received her Doctor of Dental Medicine degree from the Arizona School of Dental and Oral Health at A.T. Still University.

Dr. Terry Badger

Victoria Rubio

Laurie Lundeen

Dr. Edward Petrow

Kelly McCarthy

CODAC Health, Recovery and Wellness has appointed Victoria Rubio to their board of directors. She is currently the human resources manager at Comcast NBC Universal in Tucson. “Joining the Board of such a caring and transformational organization like CODAC is an honor,” Rubio said. “I appreciate CODAC’s focus on caring for ‘the whole you’ and its person-centered programs. I look forward to seeing and contributing to the continued work and expansion of services offered, and the impact they will have in our community.” Rubio is also a member of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

Coldwell Banker Realty Arizona’s realtor extraordinaire, Laurie Lundeen, has received her sixth consecutive No. 1 ranking based on gross commission income for 2020 among sales associates/representatives throughout Arizona in the Coldwell Banker® system. “Laurie continues to provide outstanding service to her clients,” Coldwell Banker Realty Arizona president Greg Hollman said. “This recognition is a direct result of her commitment to excellence and devotion to her clients. She truly is the gold standard.” Lundeen also received the Customer Service Award from Coldwell Banker Realty for Arizona for the 11th year.

Dr. Edward Petrow and his surgical team from Tucson Orthopedic Institute’s Northwest office performed the very first robotically assisted, direct anterior hip replacement done in an ambulatory surgery center on February 23, 2021. Later in the week, Petrow performed the very first robotically assisted total knee replacement also done in a Southern Arizona ambulatory center. The doctor said the surgeries averaged about 4.5 hours each and his patients were able to walk out after the procedure. Petrow also said he credits his patient’s success to the “combination of robotic precision and surgical technique, all delivered in an environment strictly focused on musculoskeletal care.”

Coldwell Banker Realty is pleased to announce Kelly McCarthy is their Oro Valley/Marana office’s newest affiliate agent. She comes equipped with six years of real estate experience in Southern Arizona. “It is so rewarding to witness the joy on a first-time homebuyer’s face when they finally get their keys and helping people find a place to call home,” McCarthy said. “I decided to affiliate with Coldwell Banker because of its great national standing, educational tools and support teams.” Prior to joining Coldwell Banker Realty’s northside, she was an agent with Tierra Antigua Realty and Keller Williams Realty.

The American Psychosocial Oncology Society is honoring University of Arizona College of Nursing Professor Terry Badger, Ph.D., with the Jimmie Holland Lifetime Achievement Award for her ongoing work with cancer survivors and their caregivers. As a research member for the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at the UA Cancer Center, Badger is internationally recognized for her study of depression, symptom management and the quality of life of cancer patients. “I am humbled and honored to receive this award named after one of the pioneers in psycho-oncology,” Badger said. “It is especially an honor because I knew Jimmie Holland. She was always willing to talk about her research and supportive care for cancer survivors and their caregivers.” Badger is also an Eleanor Bauwens Endowed Chair at the UA College of Nursing. The Jimmie Holland Lifetime Achievement Award is the highest honor given by the American Psychosocial Oncology Society and recognizes those who have made outstanding contributions to the field. The Award is named after the society’s founder who was a leading figure in the world of psychosocial oncology.

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MARCH 26, 2021

REAL ESTATE & CONSTRUCTION

EMAIL YOUR REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS TO AUSTIN@TUCSONLOCALMEDIA.COM

Arizona Theatre Company Partners with Museum of Art for shared-space facility long-standing relationship with ATC, and a shared history in the Temple of ucson Museum of Music and Art where the Art and Historic museum’s first public Block has agreed to gallery was located,” TMA provide office space CEO Jeremy Mikolajczak to the Arizona Theatre said. “Arts organizations Company at the museum’s have been hard hit by the newly renovated Alameda COVID-19 pandemic, and Street property—the Alice when we work together, Chaiten Baker Center for we ensure the survival of Art Education. Southern Arizona’s vibrant Representatives from creative landscape.” the theatre company said they plan to lease offices Sales and share reception, education and meeting spaces Metro Tucson Living in the renovated property SPE, LLC purchased a starting in April. 129,389-square-foot, “We’re excited about multifamily complex located the synergy that we’ll have at 3985 N. Stone Ave. in at the Tucson Museum Tucson. The Villas at Roger of Art and look forward Road, a 232-unit apartment to using our spaces more property, was purchased effectively,” ATC managing from Equilibrium Villas, director Geri Wright said. LLC for $19,000,000. “With luck, support and Allan Mendelsberg, Princisome bold strategic moves, pal, and Conrad Martinez, ATC will come out of this Multifamily Specialists with pandemic stronger than Cushman & Wakefield | before.” PICOR, represented both For nearly 15 years, parties in this transaction. ATC staff have based their AZCOMS, LLC purbusiness operations out chased a 140,000-squareof the historic Glenwood foot industrial building Hotel near the Temple of located at 5120 S. Julian Dr. Music and Art. However, in Tucson. The industrial the company was forced to warehouse property, located reduce its staff while hav- on 12.71 acres near Palo ing others work from home Verde Rd. and Interstate due to the pandemic. To 10, was purchased from stay economically viable, Warehouseone, LLC for ATC sold the Glenwood $6,125,000. The buildbuilding and restructured ing will be occupied by the company. COMSovereign, a U.S.The theatre’s box office, based developer of 4G LTE costume shop and produc- Advanced and 5G Commution offices will be located nication Systems and Soluat the Temple and Scene tions. Stephen D. Cohen, Shop, while business, Principal, and Industrial development, marketing Specialist with Cushman & and education staff will be Wakefield | PICOR, repheadquartered at TMA. resented the seller in this “TMA has a transaction. Austin Counts

Inside Tucson Business

CRE Higley Park, LLC purchased 35,603 square feet of industrial space located in Gateway Industrial Park, 3690, 3710, 3720 S. Park Ave. in Tucson. The multi-tenant commercial buildings were purchased from William Lee, LLC for $2,745,000. Ron Zimmerman, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. TGOT Holdings Pima Campus, LLC purchased the 20,337-square-foot Pima Professional Plaza, 5700 E. Pima St., in Tucson. The professional office/medical complex was sold by the Christopher B. Heward and Pamela F. Heward Family Revocable Trust for $2,310,000. Richard M. Kleiner, MBA, Principal, and Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the buyer in this transaction. Andrew Ostrander with Keller Williams, Professional Partners, represented the seller. Bloomfield Capital LLC purchased the Roger at Oracle Business Center, a 20,198-square-foot, multi-tenant property located at 460-470 W. Roger Rd. in Tucson. The flex showroom property was purchased from Roger 14, LLC for $1,691,250. Robert C. Glaser, SIOR, CCIM, and Paul Hooker, Principals, and Industrial Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. 2152 Country Club, LLC purchased an 18,500-square-foot, multifamily property located at 2152 N. Country Club Rd.

in Tucson. Country Club Manor Apartments, a 25unit complex, was purchased from Country Club 25, LLC for $1,600,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Martinez, Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. Gateway Apartments, LP purchased 2.11 acres of commercial land located in Oracle Gateway Plaza, on the northeast corner of Oracle Rd. and Drachman St. in Tucson. The acreage was purchased from Oracle Gateway, LLC for $1,400,000. Ron Zimmerman, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. Jason Hisey with Stonecorner Real Estate and Development, Inc., represented the buyer. EMZ Equity Group, LLC purchased a 13,200-squarefoot multifamily property located at 2053 N. Alvernon Way in Tucson. North Alvernon Apartments, a 24-unit complex, was purchased from AZDA, LLC for $1,350,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Martinez, Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. CRE Higley Park purchased a 14,986-square-foot industrial building located in Butterfield Business Center, 4650 S. Butterfield Dr. in Tucson, from Brey Holdings for $1,250,000. Robert C. Glaser, SIOR, CCIM, and Ron Zimmerman, Principals, and Industrial Specialists with Cushman &

Wakefield | PICOR, handled this transaction. Robert Glaser represented the seller; Ron Zimmerman represented the buyer. Glenwood Gorgeous, LLC purchased a 10,954-squarefoot office building located at 343 S. Scott Ave. in Tucson. The redevelopment project was purchased from Arizona Theater Company for $1,151,000 and will be converted into a multifamily property. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Martinez, Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. BRInc Colonial, LLC purchased a 11,589-squarefoot multifamily property located at 301 E. Helen St. in Tucson. Colonial Villas Apartments, a 19-unit complex was purchased from Shakin Mendelsohn 2004 Trust for $1,100,000. Allan Mendelsberg, Principal, and Conrad Martinez, Multifamily Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction.

space in Nogales, AZ. Cintya Denisse Angulo Garcia, Commercial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Glenn3, LLC and ASD, LLC purchased a 10,410-square-foot medical office located in the Glenn Medical Center, 5150 E. Glenn St. in Tucson. The single-tenant, medical office building was purchased from Sunrise Properties Leasing, LLC for $3,250,000. Richard M. Kleiner, MBA, Principal, and Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the seller in this transaction. Jet Sports, LLC leased 6,301 square feet of industrial space located at 4221 S. Santa Rita Ave., Suite 103 in Tucson, from Ronald W. Brown Trust. Paul Hooker, Principal, and Industrial Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Chris Itule with NAI Horizon, represented the tenant. Miramonte Plaza, LLC purchased a 5,609-squarefoot office building, located at 3125-3131 E. 2nd Street in Tucson, from AGARE, LLC for $1,100,000. Brandon TMC Healthcare leased Rodgers, SIOR, CCIM, 82,058 square feet of medand Molly Mary Gilbert ical office space from HSwith Cushman & Wakefield RE-MPCCA Tucson MOB | PICOR, represented the II, LLC, in the El Dorado Health Campus, 1398-1400 seller in this transaction. Bruce Suppes and Ian Stuart N. Wilmot Rd. in Tucwith CBRE, represented the son. Richard M. Kleiner, MBA, Principal, and Office buyer. Pohle NV Center, Inc. Specialist with Cushman & leased 5,200 square feet of Wakefield | PICOR, repretail space from Sally T. resented the tenant in this Taylor located in Costco transaction. Mariposa Inspection Ter- Plaza, 3951 W. Costco Dr., Suite 101 in Marana. Dave minal, LLC leased 19,950 Hammack, Principal, and square feet of industrial

Leases

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Retail Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant in this transaction. Dave Carroll with Romano Real Estate Corporation, represented the landlord. Palo Verde Church of Christ Corporation leased 3,721 square feet of space from San Vincente Properties, LLC, in Eastside Research Commerce Center, 1551 S. Eastside Loop, Suite 121 in Tucson. Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR handled this transaction. Stephen D. Cohen, Principal, and Aubrey Finkelstein, Industrial Specialists, represented the landlord; Rob Tomlinson, Principal, and Retail Specialist, represented both parties in this transaction. Rachel S. Stover, M.D., renewed her lease with El Dorado Ventures, LLC, for 2,505 square feet of office space located in El Dorado Square, 1200 N. El Dorado

MARCH 26, 2021

Pl. Suite D-400 in Tucson. Thomas J. Nieman, Principal, and Molly Mary Gilbert, Office Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Tucson Bagel Company, LLC, d/b/a Brueggers Bagels, renewed their lease with ROK Colonia Verde, LLC. for 2,400 square feet of retail space located in Colonia Verde Shopping Center, at the northeast corner of Tanque Verde Rd. and Sabino Canyon Rd. in Tucson. Dave Hammack, Principal, and Retail Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Goodman & Goodman, PLC leased 1,940 square feet of office space from Issa Y. & Henrietta Z. Hallaq, located in the One W. Wetmore office complex, 1 W. Wetmore Rd., Suite 107 in Tucson. Ryan McGregor,

Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Vance, LLC leased 1,440 square feet of retail space from Tin Cup Properties, LLC, located in Regency Plaza, 4145 W. Ina Rd., Suite 161 in Tucson. Principals, Dave Hammack and Ron Zimmerman with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction. Robert Lamb with Long Realty Company, represented the tenant. Tomas Garakat leased 1,243 square feet of retail space from Kevin Kwan located in Kwan Center, 2509 N. Campbell Ave. in Tucson. Dave Hammack, Principal and Ramiro Scavo, Retail Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the landlord in this transaction.

Legal Perspective Continued from P2

Additionally, once the court appoints a conservator, continued court supervision over the management of investments and disbursements is usually required. This often includes annual bond fees, annual accounts and additional legal and accounting fees. Note that a guardian is responsible for the care of an incapacitated person’s health, personal care, and living arrangements while a conservator is responsible for the person’s money and property. 4. Step-Up in Tax Basis Property held between Continued on P15 spouses as joint tenants

will only qualify for half the “stepped-up” tax basis on the death of the first spouse. Couples can eliminate any tax on capital gains accruing between the original purchase of the assets and the death of the first spouse if their interests are held in Trust as community property. The fair market value of the assets on the date of death of the spouse is referred to as a “step up” in basis. 5. Estate Tax Minimization If you have a large estate that exceeds the combined estate tax exclusion amounts, provisions can be included in the Trust to transfer wealth that helps to reduce estate taxes.

6. Availability of Assets at Death Immediately after death of the grantor, assets in a Trust are available to pay estate taxes, administration expenses and debts, without waiting for a probate decree or issuance of preliminary letters. Further, such amounts can be immediately available for liquidation, should the need arise. ITB

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MARCH 26, 2021

After a year of alternative schooling, Arizona’s education ‘progress meter’ shows both good and bad trends Christina Duran Inside Tucson Business

fter a year of virtual learning and hybrid instruction, Arizona’s schools are returning to in-person instruction four to five days a week, although some students will continue learning online if parents are uncomfortable about sending their children back to school. While this year has been rough on students, teachers and administrators, the state is seeing improvements on some fronts, based on the Arizona Progress Meter developed by Expect More Arizona, Achieve60AZ and College Success Arizona. But there are troubling drops in other areas, such as teacher pay and preschool attendance. On March 9, the education advocacy groups released their latest version of the Progress Meter, scoring Arizona education based on eight goals and indicators. In order to provide a picture of where Arizona stands, the Arizona Progress Meter looks at quality early learning, 3rd grade reading, 8th grade math, high school graduation, opportunity youth (the percent of 16 to 24 year olds not going to school or working), post high school enrollment, attainment, and teacher pay.

Bigstock This year, 3rd grade reading and 8th grade math metrics were not updated as statewide assessments were not administered due to the pandemic. Senior Vice President of Expect More Arizona Erin Hart notes two metrics that showed a decline this year: quality early learning and teacher pay. The quality early learning metric measures the percent of 3-year-old and 4-year-old children that are in quality early learning settings, such as preschools. This year that metric dropped to 19 percent, while the goal is to reach 46 percent by 2030. Hart explains this drop is due to two things. The first is the pandemic, which Hart said had a devastating effect on childcare across the state with more than half of childcare programs shut-

ting their doors or closing for a period of time. The second was the loss of the Preschool Development Grant, which brought in $20 million a year for four years, giving over 3,000 students access to quality preschool education across the state, said Hart. For this reason, the groups are supporting bill HB 2015, which would appropriate $44 million in general fund dollars over the next three years for preschool development grants to fill the loss $20 million. The bill passed through the House and is awaiting a hearing in the Senate Appropriations. The other metric that showed a drop was teacher pay, even though Arizona made efforts to increase teacher pay with Gov. Doug Ducey’s 20x2020 plan, which would incrementally increase teacher

pay by 20 percent by 2020. But even as Arizona was raising teacher pay, other states were also increasing teacher salaries, meaning Arizona still lags behind, Hart said. “We can’t catch up, meaning that we can’t be competitive,” Hart said. She noted that there are teachers in Yuma who can make more than $15,000 more a year just by crossing the border every day to California. “We want our state to be a great place to attract and keep our teachers and we also want it to be competitive so that they’ll want to come to Arizona too,” said Hart. Last year, Arizona voters passed Proposition 208, which imposed a 3.5% tax surcharge on individuals earning more than $250,000 a year or couples earning more than $500,000.

But Prop 208 has to take effect, as the funding has to be collected before it can be dispersed, said Hart. And lawmakers are working on ways to undermine the surcharge or otherwise reduce taxes. One key bill is SB 1783, which would create an alternate small business income tax that diverts funding away from Prop 208 education revenues. According to a fiscal summary prepared by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC), the bill could reduce the impact of Prop 208 by as much as $527 million. On March 4, the bill passed out of the Senate and was scheduled for a hearing in the House Ways and Means Committee this week. But not all metrics went down. Arizona improved its opportunity youth metric that measures the percent of 16 to 24 year

olds not going to school or working. This is one of the metrics where a lower percentage is better. The goal is to have only 7 percent of residents aged 16 to 24 not going to school by 2030. Arizona is at 12 percent this year, an improvement from a few years ago, when the state was at 15 percent. As Arizona works to reopen schools, Hart, a mother of a 6-year-old herself, said this is a great opportunity for students and hopes to see improved attendance after schools reopen. “It’s a great opportunity for them to re-engage and to have that personal one-on-one support from their teachers, also the social-emotional support the teachers and other school staff can provide in-person,” said Hart. When students return to school they will have to take several tests, as part of the statewide assessment AzM2, the second version of the AzMerit. Hart said she does not expect to see improvement with a year of virtual learning, but the test will help educators move forward by setting a baseline. On Feb. 15, Gov. Doug Ducey signed House bill HB 2402, which would exempt Arizona schools from the grading system, which is used to allot funding to schools that performed better.

See SCHOOLING, P9

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MARCH 26, 2021

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MARCH 26, 2021

COVID delays opening of UA’s Downtown Gem & Mineral Museum Madison Beal Special to Inside Tucson Business

he University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum is almost ready to open its doors to the public at its new location in the historic Pima County Courthouse downtown, but the COVID outbreak means the exact opening date is still up in the air. The museum will showcase more than 2,200 gems and minerals from all over the world and take visitors on a geological walk through Earth’s history. “People think of Tucson as the center of the gem, mineral and fossil world during our gem shows in January and February,” said Eric Fritz, the manager of the museum. “But we’ve got 49 other weeks of the year. We want this to be a destination for tourists and the local community.” The museum staff origi-

nally planned to open their new space to the public during the 2021 Tucson Gem, Mineral and Fossil Showcase, but the grand opening was postponed due to the pandemic. They are still unsure of when they will be able to invite visitors into the museum, as they are waiting until the Pima County Health Department declares it is safe for the community. However, museum staff expect their exhibits to be ready next month. In the meantime, Fritz said they are using the extra time they have to prepare as an opportunity to “get it exactly right.” With renovations complete, the museum staff is now focused on completing the exhibits and displays. The museum was originally established at UA in the 1890s. Its collections were housed in cases that moved around campus until 1993 when the collection was moved into the basement of UA’s Flandrau

Science Center and Planetarium. Several years ago, County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry approached the UA about moving the collection into the Pima County Courthouse. After receiving an initial donation from Allan Norville on behalf of his late wife, Alfie, a co-founder of the Gem and Jewelry Exchange show, construction on the space began in 2018. The new and improved museum will have three main galleries focusing on mineral evolution, the minerals native to Arizona and Mexico, and gems and jewelry. Other exhibits will teach visitors about the importance of minerals to the human population and how those minerals are obtained through the process of mining. “It’s important that people know how we get certain materials and how things are possible in this world,” said Elizabeth Gass, the exhibit specialist

Madison Beal The Mineral Evolution Gallery at the University of Arizona Alfie Norville Gem & Mineral Museum located in the historic Pima County Courthouse in the heart of downtown Tucson. The Mineral Evolution Gallery will take visitors back 4.5 billion years to the origin of the solar system.

at the museum. The museum will encourage people to directly engage with many of the minerals and gems by allowing them to touch some of the items as well as through a variety of interactive areas scattered throughout the 12,000-square-foot space. Visitors will start in the Mineral Evolution Gallery that takes people back 4.5 billion years to the origin of the solar system when every planet and asteroid had the same 50 to 60 minerals. After taking visitors to space, the exhibit will focus on Earth’s unique minerals, including some that were discovered by UA scientists. Earth is the only solid planet in our universe that has grown beyond that iniMadison Beal tial amount to house about 5,600 minerals, Fritz A display case with a saber tooth tiger skull and various minerals. After taking visitors explained. These minerals to space, the exhibit will focus on the Earth’s unique minerals, including some that were evolved due to various geodiscovered by UA scientists.

logical processes alongside biodiversity over billions of years. After the Mineral Evolution Gallery, visitors can enjoy the Arizona and Mexico Gallery that showcases various minerals native to the Southwest. This section of the museum features a recreation of Arizona’s famous Copper Queen Mine in Bisbee. The Gemstone Gallery and Treasury section of the museum is a completely new component that will display how minerals are manipulated by humans. Many of the pieces in this gallery are on loan from the Somewhere in the Rainbow gem and jewelry collection. While the museum will have set exhibits, Fritz explained that they plan to repopulate about 20% of the museum every year. “We don’t want this to be a one and done,” Fritz said. “We want it to be

something that people can come back to and look for what’s new and exciting.” The fledgling museum recently worked with the UA Foundation to raise money to cover their opening costs through a crowdfund campaign that ended on Feb. 23. Their initial goal was to raise $5,000, but they raised their goal after an anonymous donor agreed to match the up to $5,000 of the funds made after the initial $5,000. In the end, they raised $16,750 for the museum. “We have a feeling that our museum will be not only a place for education, where people can come and learn something about minerals both on Earth and above, but it’s also really meant to inspire people,” said Fritz. “It’s about inspiring people and showing them how many facets there are to life.” ITB

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MARCH 26, 2021

Schooling: Return to class Continued from P6 Gov. Ducey also signed an executive order that directs the Arizona State Board of Education to use the 2020-2021 testing data to evaluate the learning loss caused by the pandemic. “This helps us know where we are, and it helps us then to direct resources, maybe it’s professional development, maybe it’s extra tutoring opportunities,” Hart said. “It helps us then support the schools and the students and the classrooms that need it the most.” Reflecting on the effects of the pandemic Hart looks at the positive

outcomes. “I think digital learning in one way or another is probably going to be part of our fabric going forward,” Hart said. “We’ve shown that it’s possible in Arizona.” Hart also thinks the pandemic offered parents more insights into the classroom and increased parent engagement. Over the past year, parents have been able to see how their children learn and how teachers discipline students, which gives parents a greater understanding of the work, said Hart. But as schools reopen, Hart said there are still many things to consider. “We’re on the other side of this pandemic,”

Hart said. “How do we continue to engage parents? They’ve had this great window into education in the classroom and how do we help support them in being their child’s best champion?” With incoming federal funding due to the pandemic, Hart thinks this is a great opportunity as a state to think about supporting equity and using money in innovative ways to support students. “How can we support all of our students, especially those who are students of color, students who are low income, maybe in new ways and make sure that we can direct the funding towards our students most in need?” Hart said.

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MARCH 26, 2021

Former Mayor Bob Walkup dies at 84 Jim Nintzel Inside Tucson Business

ormer Tucson Mayor Bob Walkup died from lung disease on Friday, March 12. He was 84. The retired Hughes/ Raytheon executive beat the odds to win three terms as a Republican in Democrat-dominated Tucson. A technocrat, Walkup worked to structurally stabilize the city’s budget but set the stage for downtown revitalization, although much of the development happened after he left office. Walkup loved the role of mayor, whether it was dressing in a three-piece suit for a State of the City address or wearing an turn-of-the-century get-up complete with a top hat for celebrations at the historic downtown train station. “The joy of the job,” he once said, “is being with people.” Walkup’s perpetual optimism sometimes drew jeers from his critics, but he was always able to deliver lines like “Tucson is the greatest city in the United States” with perfect sincerity. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero, who served with Walkup after her 2007

election to the Tucson City Council, called Walkup “a born statesman” who “always strived to create the best Tucson possible.” “His leadership on issues ranging from economic development, water security, and transportation positioned Tucson for a strong recovery out of the Great Recession,” Romero said. “He always had a vision to create a lively, bustling downtown for Tucsonans to eat, work, live, and play. His advocacy in helping secure a TIGER grant to build the modern streetcar laid the groundwork for the thriving downtown we see today.” Romero said she would “truly miss Bob for his kind demeanor, his friendship and advice, and his everlasting vision to create the best Tucson possible.” Ward 6 Councilman Steve Kozachik, who served with Walkup from 2009 to 2011, said Walkup was “a throwback to the days when we could actually sit together, talk about serious policy issues and look for common ground solutions that involved compromise from each side. It wasn’t a time of such divided hyper-partisanship. We could actually dialogue. He brought that

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character trait to the table because at the end of the day, Bob truly cared about the entire community. And at the end of the day, Bob Walkup was simply a good and honest person. I enjoyed working with him, and will forever value our friendship.” Steve Farley, who served as a Democrat in the Arizona Legislature, clashed with Walkup over two city transportation plans that were both rejected by voters, but he worked with Walkup on the Regional Transportation Authority transportation plan that was approved by voters in 2006. “People often thought of Bob as the mayor from central casting, but I always thought of him as one of the kindest people I’ve ever met,” Farley said. “I hope that someday, our politics can return to a place where kindness rules again— where we can genuinely respect even our rivals and work together for the good of the community. That was the way Bob Walkup operated, all the time. There were no problems for him, just solutions waiting to be figured out.” Under Walkup’s leadership, the city made major budget changes, includ-

ing the introduction of a trash-collection fee, the creation of impact fees for development and a transfer of the library system to Pima County. While he had opposed some of those proposals on the campaign trail, he once said he was willing to change his mind if presented with the right argument. “I think it’s bad political leadership to say, ‘Look, this was my position without the information, so therefore it’s my position today, even though I believe it’s the wrong thing to do,’” Walkup said when seeking reelection in 2003. Though he was an underdog in his first race against Democrat Molly McKasson, Walkup brought over enough moderate Democrats and independents to win the office. Four years later, he brought together the same coalition to defeat former mayor Tom Volgy. In his third and final run for office, the Democrats didn’t field a candidate against him. Over his tenure, Walkup led the city through the 2001 terrorist attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., the Great Recession that started in 2008 and the 2011 mass shooting at

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Gabby Giffords’ Congress on Your Corner with grace and calm. He met his second wife, Beth, at a fundraiser for Tucson Children’s Museum. Both were big supporters of the downtown playhouse for children as well as many other arts groups and nonprofit organizations. His son Jonathan said on Facebook he would “cherish the memories of an amazing childhood. He was everything a dad could be and more. I was/am so proud of him—he was

truly an inspiration and my hero. I will miss him greatly, but am so happy he is now able to reconnect and dance with Julia, my little sister and his beloved youngest daughter.” An Army veteran, Walkup had a career for more than three decades in the aerospace industry, beginning as an engineer and finishing as an executive with the Hughes Aircraft Company (now Raytheon). He was a tinkerer throughout his life and delighted especially in working on cars. ITB

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MARCH 26, 2021

Dickman’s Meat and Deli founder passes away Austin Counts

Dickman had butchering in her blood. She began learning about the trade early on at her ickman’s Meat grandfather’s butcher and Deli founder shop in Madison, WisJanice Dickman consin. While starting passed away due out with a family, she and to complications from her first husband owned COPD and asthma on a meat market in Mt. Thursday, March 4. She Horeb, Wisconsin. was 68. In 1986, Dickman The Midwestern meat moved her family to purveyor is best known Tucson after she and her for offering Tucson a husband divorced and taste of Wisconsin at she wanted to start fresh her multiple locations, in a warmer climate, said complete with homemade her son, Dan Dickman. brats of all varieties, As a Midwest transplant, Packers memorabilia on Dickman sought out any the walls and the best signs of home in East selection of rare meats in Tucson, which she found the Southwest. at Carl’s Meat Market.

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“She would go in there as a customer and became friends with the owner because they were both meat cutters. I guess he ended up wanting to sell the place and my mom was first in line.” Dan said. “She always wanted to own her own business as long as she could remember. That was her goal no matter what. My mom wanted to be her own boss.” By 1987, she and her sons Dan, Dave and Jeff and daughter Jill opened Dickman’s Meats and Deli on Broadway Boulevard. Her market quickly became a staple of meat-lovers, grillmasters

and hunters who failed to bag a deer during the season. Customers especially liked her sarcastic, dry humor while waiting to be served at the store’s meat counter. “It was a fun, family atmosphere all the time. Customers come in and ask how we’re doing, how my mom’s doing and we was about their families,” Dan said. “My brothers and sisters and I all grew up in this place and we’re still here with our kids. Sometimes some of the older customers can’t believe how we’ve grown and how the place has changed over the years.” Dickman and her fam-

ily opened their second location on Oracle Road in 2003 due to the eastside location busting at the seams with business, said Dan. It didn’t take long before the market became a hit on Tucson’s westside. “Customer service was my mom’s big thing. She would always say to treat the customer like they’re your best friend or a family member,” Dan said. “We’ve had customers for 30 years that still come in regularly and it’s because of what she taught us.” Dan said he’ll miss the fun interactions he and his mom would have behind the counter, serving

customers and razzing each other. “Customers would ask how many steaks they should get for two people and I would always say, ‘If it was my mom was eating with you then get three or four steaks because she eats a lot.’

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MARCH 26, 2021

Pima County approves $8 million for rental and utility assistance program Christina Duran Inside Tucson Business

he Pima County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved $8 million dollars for a rental and utility assistance program for those impacted by the pandemic at a March 16th board meeting. The City of Tucson and Pima County partnered together for the Eviction Prevention/Emergency Rent and Utility Relief Program with funds administered by the Community Investment Corporation (CIC). Through the program, both tenants and landlords or property managers (acting on behalf of tenants) impacted by the pandemic can receive up to 15 months of rental and utility assistance–12 months in arrears in 3 months in advance to ensure housing stability. “I’m glad to see that the board understands the importance of keeping our community members in homes. We have opportunities to assist financially and ensure that our landlords are also able to meet their obligations,” said District 5 Supervisor Adelita Grijalva. “The priority now is to ensure that the funds get out as soon as possible.” The $8 million is part of the $15,188,622.60 the county received in Emer-

gency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding from the U.S. Department of the Treasury. The other $7 million would be used by the Community Action Agency (CAA) to process claims. The City of Tucson approved $19.1 million for a total of $27.1 for this program. According to the Community Action Agency case processing has begun, with a backlog of more than 4,500 applicants. They anticipate it would take two to three months to complete the backlog of claims. Pima County has also partnered with Tucson Electric Power (TEP) to inform tenants and landlords on how to contact the county to receive help if eviction is imminent, said Chair Sharon Bronson. Those who need assistance should await their April TEP (and sister company, UniSource Energy Services) bill, where the information will be provided, or visit Tucson and Pima County Eviction Prevention Program. For those without internet access, call (831) 292-4308. Courtney Gilstrap LeVinus, president and CEO of The Arizona Multihousing Association (AMA), a statewide trade association for the apartment industry, is heartened by Pima County’s effort to provide rental assistance, but thinks the county has not provided enough funds and assis-

tance should have come sooner. LeVinus believes the federal funds Pima County received in January should have been deployed in January or early February at the latest and said the delays and government red tape left many property owners facing foreclosure and the potential for bankruptcy. “It’s pretty simple—immediately deploy more aid. A backlog of more than 4,000 residents waiting for assistance is simply unacceptable,” said LeVinus. “Again, the most effective and surefire way to prevent evictions is to deploy rental assistance.” She noted the city of San Antonio’s efforts, having provided over $76.8 million in COVID-19 emergency housing assistance as of March 17. “The County should also dedicate more funds for emergency rental assistance, as other counties and cities throughout the nation have done,” said LeVinus. She also criticized the county for allocating $2 million of federal coronavirus relief funds for eviction defense services, when legal defense may be a futile effort. LeVinus said in Arizona, there is no legal defense for nonpayment of rent, so while legal assistance may delay an eviction action for a few days, perhaps due to a legal defect in the filing, the eviction will likely

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resume once the rental owner corrects it. “On the other hand, expedient delivery of rental assistance will, with certainty, not only prevent the eviction, but will also prevent mounting debt for many Pima County renters,” said LeVinus. “Given the average monthly rent in Arizona, that $2 million redirected to legal aid could have satisfied about 363 months of rent that will continue to be owed.” AMA also opposes the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eviction moratorium, which protects tenants impacted by the pandemic from eviction, deeming it unconstitutional and costly. The eviction moratorium ends March 31, 2021, but is expected to be renewed. In July 2020, AMA requested economist Elliot Pollack conduct an economic impact analysis of

the eviction moratorium on rental property owners. With renters making up 35% of the Arizona households and a median rent of $1,036 per month, Pollack estimates $1 billion in rent is paid every month in Arizona. Using this data, Pollack then analyzed what would happen if 1% of renters cannot pay or decide not to pay due to the moratorium. Over seven months that would result in a loss of about $67.8 million, and adding in the two-month eviction process and turnover, it would amount for a total loss of about $87 million for landlords. He said the loss would cause a ripple effect for all those involved in the industry from contractors to suppliers, as well as the workers in the apartment industry. In his report, Pollack wrote, “The apartment industry alone employs

over 21,900 workers both directly and through their ripple effect. This will impact their estimated $695.9 million in wages and the $3.8 billion economic activity that is generated annually.” LeVinus implores the county to be more transparent with its citizens by quickly and publicly reporting deployment of all emergency rental assistance and other federal funds. “Property owners are frustrated. For more than a year, our members have worked with residents to keep people in their homes,” LeVinus said. “The eviction moratorium has been passed at various levels of government without appropriate eviction relief resources attached, leaving property owners to pay their own bills—like mortgages, property taxes, maintenance costs and payroll— while not receiving rent for months.” ITB

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MARCH 26, 2021

Dickman’s Continued from P11 Then my mom would come up and make fun of me to the customer. It was just so much fun,” Dan said. “And the last few months of her life we were talking about that.

She loved that time she got to spend with all of us, working next to each other and talking trash.” Dickman is survived by her sons Dan Dickman and Jeff Dickman, as well as daughters Jill Dickman, Neda Mahdi and

Jenna Mahdi. She also had a son, Dave Dickman, who passed away years ago. “My mom and Dave are together now,” Dan said. “She’s happy being with him, I can guarantee you that.”

Local small business mentor Ellen Kirton passes away Austin Counts Inside Tucson Business

hampion of small business and all-around good person Ellen Kirton passed away on Sunday, March 14. After spending 35 years in the banking industry, Kirton dedicated her later life to helping entrepreneurs across Southern Arizona prosper through her experience. She was the director of Pima Community College’s Small Business Development Center and owner of a business-to-business human resources site called EffortlessHR. Kirton also served as the president of the National Association of Women Business Owners and was the first female president for the Catalina Council of Boy Scouts. Never one to shy away from volunteer work, Kirton served as

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an ambassador for the Make a Wish Foundation and as vice president of the Board for the Southern Arizona Children’s Advocacy Center. Her tireless dedication to helping local small business owners earned her several accolades including the Arizona Small Business Development Center’s 2015 State

Star and the organization’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2017. She’s been recognized by the Small Business Administration as an SBDC Center of Excellence and Innovation in 2014 and was named a Community Champion by Tucson Local Media’s 2020 Women of Influence awards.

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Growing impatience and repealed mandates: Where do we go from here? Jeff Gardner

demic began, Gerald has managed a weekly report modeling COVID cases within the state. But even ith 2020 in hindsight, gov- with his experience, he admits it’s not possible to ernments are make an accurate forecast loosening regfor this upcoming summer ulations and distributing or beyond. In fact, COVID vaccines as COVID cases continue their decline. In modeling groups are hesthe week of March 1 alone, itant to go more than four to six weeks in the future the states of Texas and because the pandemic inMississippi ended their cludes so many unknowns. mask mandates, a new Gerald says three main vaccine from Johnnson & questions remain for the Johnson began its rollout, and here in Arizona, future: how much vaccine hesitancy is there truly goGovernor Doug Ducey ing to be once everyone is ordered schools to offer able to receive a dose; will in-person teaching and lifted occupancy limits for a variant emerge that can restaurants, gyms and bars. evade vaccine or natural But public health officials immunity; and finally, how long will our vaccines and still stress caution, both because of continued cases, natural immunity last? “If we do a good job vacand the difficulty inherent cinating, and we have the to predicting the vaccine available, we’ll be pandemic. done by May,” Gerald said. “We want to continue “If Biden’s plan comes cautiously moving fortrue and people accept the ward,” said Pima County Health Department Direc- vaccine, this summer is going to look really good. tor Dr. Theresa Cullen. But we’re going to have to “There are encouraging follow the emerging resigns across the board as search that is tracking these far as cases, hospitalizavariants… If we get our tions, and vaccine distrivaccine acceptance rate to bution but, we cannot let 70%, 80% or higher, then our guard down.” we’re good, we shouldn’t For Joe Gerald, PhD, see a resurgence. That’s the director of the University of Arizona’s Public Health best-case scenario.” Because of a gradually Policy & Management inoculated population and program, every COVID death that happens now is greater access to vaccines, a “double tragedy,” because Gerald does not anticipate the state to experience it happens in a setting in another wave as we did in which “we knew better” early summer and late fall and the vaccines are so 2020. But even if we do, close to being adminisour hospitals and mortuartered to all who want it. ies shouldn’t face the same Gerald has spent years pressures they previously researching respiratoexperienced. ry-related illnesses and “I don’t think we’re interventions for them, including tuberculosis and going to see another wave. If we do, it’s going to be asthma. Since the panInside Tucson Business

Arizonans whose present health status, occupation, language, culture or whatever else, doesn’t allow the same access to the vaccines because the registration is difficult or confusing. This is a feature of how we structured our system. It doesn’t have to be this way,” Gerald said. “Right now our strategy is ‘the supply is limited, so let’s make those who can come to the vaccine, come to the vaccine.’ But we need to do more to get the vaccine to Courtesy Arizona Department of Health Services those who are vulnerable.” Gerald argues authorNew daily cases in Arizona continue to drop, with the week ities have distributed too of March 15 the lowest it’s been since mid September. many of our state’s allotted vaccines to largescale vacthat. While in the moment cination Points of Distrismaller and it’s going to have the added benefits of it’s not going to add up to bution, and have hindered fewer hospitalizations and as many deaths, if we allow federally qualified health deaths,” Gerald said. “Giv- that to continue for a pro- centers who are best posilonged period, it still adds tioned to reach vulnerable en what we understand sectors of the communiabout the current virus and up,” Gerald said. “That’s ty. However, he believes why I think many public variants that are present the upcoming Johnson & health officials are really in Arizona, I’m pretty frustrated with the pace at Johnson vaccine—which optimistic about what’s which our political leaders only requires one dose and going to happen moving want to go in withdrawing has more flexible storage forward.” requirements—can fill in But there’s another ma- business restrictions and jor question: How low can mask mandates, because we some gaps. “It’s probably not going recognize it’s not over and we keep the community transmission rates between we still have another two- to happen at the state level. There’s too much to-three months of hard now and when we can get riding on the Governor’s work in front of us.” a vaccine to every person Gerald admits there are own political fortunes to who wants one? show success through the problems with Arizona’s Arizona’s transmission state’s PODs,” Gerald said. and other states’ vaccine rate is currently around “What we really need to see two times as high as the dip distributions, namely happen is the federal govracial and economic disbetween 2020’s summer parities. A March 5 article ernment allocate more to and fall outbreaks. This these alternative pathways equates to 50 to 100 cases in the New York Times directly to federally qualiper 100,000 residents per reported that communities of color have received fied health centers, directly week depending on the county, which translates to fewer vaccines. However, a to the retail pharmacy roughly 8,000 new cases a survey from the Associated chains.” However, he does say Press’s National Opinweek statewide. Ducey’s recent executive ion Research Center also “That doesn’t seem like found vaccine hesitancy to order requiring schools a lot, but I think that’s to offer in-person learnsimply be higher among mainly because we’ve ing is reasonable. This is black and hispanic comalready experienced such because the Governor’s munities. dire circumstances that it “We’re leaving out many requirements align with looks great compared to

the CDC’s requirements, so long as things continue to improve as they are. Most Arizona counties are in “substantial” spread, but are trending toward moderate. “As long as conditions continue as they are now, or continue to get better, I think the Governor’s plan is entirely reasonable,” Gerald said. “There is a little bit of risk if we get worse and experience a third wave. What the Governor calls for is if you open your high school— which you basically have to do now—and things get worse and go back to the ‘high’ transmission level, then you have to stay open; you can’t go backwards.” On March 5, the Pima County Health Department also announced their own reduced mandates, increasing the size of permissible gatherings from 10 or fewer to 25 or fewer. However, they stressed we are still far from the pandemic being over. “We’re seeing this growing impatience with recommendations from public health officials, as if we want to keep the communities on lockdown and businesses closed. But I think public health officials and healthcare workers who’ve been on the frontlines, we’re coming from a much different perspective than the general community and political leaders,” Gerald said. “I think public health officials are being appropriately cautious, and there are some growing disagreements with political leaders, particularly with the mask mandates. What we’ve learned is they should be ‘first-on, last-off.’ They’re simple, inexpensive, and reasonably effective when there’s a high degree of adherence. And by keeping masks on, it actually allows us to open things sooner.” ITB

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MARCH 26, 2021

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REAL ESTATE

rado Ventures, LLC, in El Dorado Square, 1200 N. El Dorado Pl., Suite D-420 in Continued from P5 Tucson. Molly Mary Gilbert and Principal, Thomas J. Nieman, Office Specialists with Cushman & Wakefield Lesher & Corradini, | PICOR, represented the PLLC renewed their lease landlord in this transaction. with KCI-Broadway, LLC, iFix Smartronics, LLC Scott Seldin-Broadway, leased 900 square feet of LLC, Belmont-Broadway, retail space from Oracle LLC, and Tucson 5151 InPlaza, LLC, located at 6336 vestments, LLC, for 1,032 N. Oracle Rd., Suite 334 square feet of office space in Tucson. Cushman & located at 5151 E. BroadWakefield | PICOR Retail way Blvd., Suite 1540 in Specialists handled this Tucson. Principals, Thomas transaction. Diane Carlson J. Nieman and Richard and Greg Furrier, repreM. Kleiner, MBA, Office sented the landlord, and Specialists with Cushman & Ramiro Scavo represented Wakefield | PICOR, reprethe tenant in this transacsented the landlord in this tion. transaction. Success Forces, LLC Adam Colbert, MD, leased 844 square feet of PLLC leased 932 square feet industrial space from Cenof office space from El Do-

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tral Point Tucson, LLC, in the Central Point Business Plaza, located at 3959 E. Speedway Blvd., Suite 316 in Tucson. Molly Mary Gilbert, Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented both parties in this transaction. Aviar Commercial Space Planning & Design, Inc. leased 835 square feet of office space from Tucson Portfolio 8, LLC, located at 7650 E. Broadway Blvd., Suite 212 in Tucson. Ryan McGregor, Office Specialist with Cushman & Wakefield | PICOR, represented the tenant in this transaction. Jon O’Shea with Vast Commercial Real Estate Solutions, LLC, represented the landlord.

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MARCH 26, 2021

TECH TALK

Cancer detection, death rays and science fair winners Jeff Gardner Inside Tucson Business

ith a major research university right in our backyard, a strong military presence and innovative companies spread throughout the metro region, there’s often a plethora of interesting science and technology news to be found in Southern Arizona. Here’s a breakdown of the most interesting recent developments from the region: Advanced Cancer Detection. On Thursday, March 18, Roche Tissue Diagnostics announced the launch of their DISCOVERY Green HRP kit, a cancer-detection tool that can help researchers detect multiple biomarkers from a single tissue sample. Biomarkers are organic characteristics, such as chemical compounds or cells, that indicate the presence of a disease or infection. When searching for biomarkers that indicate cancer, researchers use colored “chromogens” for tissue analysis. Jill German, the head of Roche Pathology Customer Segment,

explained that as tissue research expands to more biomarkers, researchers need chromogens that can provide greater color contrast for image analysis. In response, this new HRP (horseradish peroxidase) kit was designed and developed with researchers in mind and will enable them to see multiple biomarkers instantly, with the ultimate goal of advancing cancer patient care globally. Roche Tissue Diagnostics, which is Roche’s Oro Valley lab, announced researchers can now investigate up to seven cancer biomarkers on a single tissue slide, using Roche’s multiple color kits in conjunction. Laser Relocation. Tucson-based technology company Applied Energetics has announced it is relocating its headquarters to the University of Arizona tech park at Rita Road southeast of Tucson. The move is to help support the company’s anticipated future growth and “provide greater capacity for research, product development and production activities.” Applied Energetics, formerly known as Ionatron, was founded in 2002 to develop hightech lasers, laser weapons,

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optical systems and a “death ray” (as the company has desribed it) for the defense, aerospace, industrial and science industries. Since founding, the company has established 26 patents and 11 additional Government Sensitive Patent Applications. Applied Energetics develops Laser Guided Energy and Laser Induced Plasma Channel technologies, which can “precisely transmit high voltage electrical charges by using a laser to create a conductive path in the atmosphere” for military and countermeasure uses. Applied Energetics’s move to the UA Tech Park is expected to take place over the next two months. The company will be joining more than 60 technology companies and organizations already housed at the Tech Park. The UA Tech Park at Rita Road serves as a hub for local technology and science companies, both associated with the university and the broader Tucson business community. SARSEF Winners. The Southern Arizona Research, Science and Engineering Foundation recently announced the winners of their 66th annual Science and Engineering

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An example of tissue colored with different chromogens to detect biomarkers. Fair, which saw science projects from nearly 3,000 Arizona students from elementary through high school. More than 100 local students won cash awards for their projects which ranged from robotics to environmental science to animal behavior to chemistry. First-place projects included: • “Will Homemade Biodiesel Be an As Effective Fuel As Canola Oil?” • “How Do Petroglyphs of the Hohokam Tribes Prove Interaction Across Long Distances?”

• “Implications for Tissue Engineering of an Implantable Organ” • “The Smart Toilet – An Automated Urine Screening Device for Kidney Failure, Bladder Cancer, and Prostate Enlargement.” Because of the last year, more than a dozen student projects involved COVID-19 research, both the disease and its effects on society. Four local schools also won SARSEF’s $500 Award for Research Supplies: Cibola High School, Emily Gray Junior High, J. Robert Hendricks Elemen-

tary School, and University High School. In addition to student projects winning, local educators also won awards, including the “Educator Advocate of Science and Engineering” award and the SARSEF Champion Educator award. These awards gave local educators between $50 and $200, and others included a yearly membership to Treasures 4 Teachers of Tucson. For a full list of awards, visit sarsef.org/10557-2021-sarsefwinners ITB

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MARCH 26, 2021

UA researchers propose ‘Lunar Ark’ for global survival Jeff Gardner

events in Earth’s history, such as asteroid impacts… And this touches on several timely topics. One of the n the remote big draws is the fallibility arctic archipelago of human civilization and Svalbard lies a vault ecosystems. It’s more upcontaining nearfront now for many of us ly one million seeds that witnessing current events. can be used to repopulate There’s a sense of fragility threatened plant species seeing the dramatic impact and ensure biodiversity of COVID. That strikes a in the face of a potential chord with getting people’s global crisis. attention.” But this seed bank has a Similar to the biblipotential major weakness: cal story of Noah’s Ark, It is on the planet Earth. Thanga’s modern day ark On Saturday, March would hold reproductive 6, University of Arizosamples from more than na assistant professor of 6 million Earth species. aerospace and mechanical But instead of floating on engineering Jekan Thanga a flooded Earth, this ark proposed a “lunar ark” at would be housed inside the Institute of Electrical recently discovered lava and Electronics Engineers’ tubes under the moon’s Aerospace Conference. In surface, many of which his presentation, Thanga have remained undisturbed described the need for a for billions of years. “global insurance policy,” Of course, this is only and how life on Earth can a proposal, and creating survive potential catastro- such an ark would require phes by storing seeds, technology not yet develspores and more—includoped. Transporting those ing human genetic material millions of seed and DNA such as sperm and eggs—on samples to the moon is esthe moon. timated to require roughly “Life on Earth is not 250 rocket launches. By always necessarily mercomparison, it only took ry,” Thanga said. “There 40 launches to build the are many cataclysms in International Space our history. There’s quite Station. a number of us, myself Thanga says the proposal included, tracking critical serves both as a legitimate Inside Tucson Business

scientific concept, but also it furthers the theoretical conversation about the need for a global insurance policy. Though COVID is the latest disaster to spur discussions about global survival, Thanga says climate change is another potential cataclysm, and one that can threaten the aforementioned Svalbard vault. “We’ve proposed a solution that has been refined and is making use of a multitude of advancements that are fitting for our time,” Thanga said. “On the other hand, it’s making stronger the question that if there is mass cataclysm, what is our answer? Are we at the point where we can manage and prepare for it? In other words, can we survive these situations?” Thanga outlined the lunar ark concept with a group of his undergraduate and graduate students. The team’s model involves an underground base that would hold cryogenically preserved samples and is powered by solar panels. According to UA, to be “cryopreserved,” the seeds must be cooled to negative 292 degrees fahrenheit and stem cells kept at negative 320 degrees fahrenheit. As a reference for just

how cold this is, the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine must be stored at negative 94 degrees fahrenheit. “What amazes me about projects like this is that they make me feel like we are getting closer to becoming a space civilization, and to a not-very-distant future where humankind will have bases on the moon and Mars,” said Álvaro DíazFlores Caminero, a UA doctoral student leading the thermal analysis for the project. “Multidisciplinary projects are hard due to their complexity, but I think the same complexity is what makes them beautiful.” Though it is highly conceptual, Thanga has a history of working with technologically advanced projects. These include projects supported by NASA and the U.S. Air Force, such as his work with “CubeSats,” miniature satellites that are currently being used to simulate the surface environments of asteroids. Thanga and his team even considered those satellites as potential homes for the ark, but decided the project would be simpler— if such a project can be considered simple—on a solid body. “We don’t have resources floating in space, so we’d have to mine them from an asteroid or from the moon, as opposed to utilizing the moon’s resources that are already there,” Thanga said. “The lava tube is a natural structure that we could utilize. By our current estimates they are untouched for three billion years, and for that reason very stable. They also do not receive cosmic or solar radiation, or micrometeorUniversity of Arizona ite impact.”

Jeff Gardner

Scientists discovered the lunar lava tubes beneath the moon’s surface early last decade. Similarly structured to Earth’s, these lava tubes form from lava flowing through the ground, gradually emptying out and leaving a cavernous channel behind. However, these lunar tubes are far larger than the lava tubes in places like Hawaii, and can stretch to more than 300 feet in diameter. “We are looking at how to use small satellites or small spacecraft to go out and explore these extreme environments, and in this paradigm of exploration, it’s a very high risk. So it makes a lot more sense to send robots first to really get a feel for what these tubes are,” Thanga said. Thanga is hesitant to give specific dates for a prediction as to when this ark could happen, but can list some scientific advancements required to make the project feasible. First, he says scientists would need to develop complex robotics that can operate under the extreme cold present within the moon’s lava tubes. In addition, they’d also need to overcome a

phenomenon called “cold welding,” where similar metals in a vacuum (such as in space) can fuse together simply by touching because there is literally nothing between them, such as air, as there normally is on Earth. Because of rapidly diversifying space industries, Thanga says there are multiple potential groups who may fund the project. These can range from government agencies to independent companies like SpaceX, to multinational organizations like the United Nations. Again looking at the Svalbard vault as an analog, that project is managed by multiple groups, including the Norwegian government and the nonprofit Crop Trust, and funded by various governments and charitable organizations working toward a common goal. “I would see the trigger as an imminent threat, several notches worse than COVID, and we slip by it,” Thanga said. “That might alert people to the fact that we need this idea of a backup or a way to limit the shock of one of these possible cataclysms.” ITB

INSIDETUCSONBUSINESS.COM

MARCH 26, 2021

Charter Schools Rank Business 2020 Address 2019

Phone Company Email Website

Leman Academy of Excellence 7720 N Silverbell Rd Tucson, AZ 85743

(520) 639-8080 media@lemanacademy.org https://lemanacademy.com/

La Paloma Academy Lakeside Campus 8140 E. Golf Links Rd. Tucson, AZ 85730

No. of Grade Students Levels Offered

No. of No. of Student : Teachers Support Teacher Staff Ratio

Specialties

Top Local Executives Year Establ. Locally

7,500

k-8th

375

N/A

20:1

Classical Education

Dennis O'Reilly

2015

(520) 733-7373 jtrujillo@arizonacharterschools.org lpatucson.org

860

K-8

25:1

Free before and after school program, character education program, full sports programs, indoor gymnasium, multi-media center/library, multi-purpose room/indoor cafeteria, full computer lab, P.E., arts program, summer camp and tutoring programs, Preschool

Megan Rodgers

2002

Academy of Tucson Schools 10720 E. 22nd St. Tucson, AZ 85748

(520) 733-0096 jgarcia@aoths.net academyoftucson.com

600

K-12

15:1

College Preparatory, Fully Accredited

Jose E. Garcia

1986

Eastpointe High School 8495 E. Broadway Tucson, AZ 85710

(520) 731-8180 info@eastpointehs.net eastpointehs.com

500

9-12

25/1

Fun, friendly, safe and secure high school experience

Lori Vanscyoc

1999

Compass High School 8250 E. 22nd St., Ste. 128 Tucson, AZ 85710

(520) 296-4070 info@compasshighschool.com compasshighschool.com

425

9-12

Fine and performance arts, welding, carpentry, automotive, graphic design, horticulture, landscape architecture, construction, culinary arts, music recording, video editing and credit recovery

Kerk Ferguson

2001

Presidio School 1695 E. Ft. Lowell Rd. Tucson, AZ 85719

(520) 881-5222 tdrexel@presidioschool.com www.presidioschool.com

425

Kindergarten through 12th grade

20 : 1

Core knowledge, college-bound, direct instruction, online available during Covid pandemic

Jessica Montierth Puls

1996

La Paloma Academy South Campus 5660 S. 12th Ave. Tucson, AZ 85706

(520) 807-9668 jtrujillo@arizonacharterschools.org lpatucson.org

420

K-8

25:1

Free before and after school program, free lunch for all Sean Watins students, character education program, P.E., full computer lab, sports program, counseling, parent and community involvement and family values

2012

Pima Rose Academy 1690 W. Irvington Rd. Tucson, AZ 85746

(520) 797-4884 PRAprincipals@go2rose.com www.go2rose.com

400

9-12

1:25

Individualized curriculum, credit recovery, flexible schedules, self-paced, AdvancED Accredited, high school diploma

Jennifer Haley

2011

Great Expectations Academy 1466 W. Camino Antigua Sahuarita, AZ 85629

(520) 399-2121 info@geageckos.org geageckos.org

300

K-8

20:1

Jazz Band and Fine Arts

Jeremy Topp

1999

Mountain Rose Academy 3686 W. Orange Grove Rd Tucson, AZ 85741

(520) 797-4884 MRAprincipals@go2rose.com www.go2rose.com

300

9-12

1:25

Individualized curriculum, credit recovery, flexible schedules, self-paced, AdvancED Accredited, high school diploma

Christopher Golston

1998

Canyon Rose Academy 2401 S. Wilmot Tucson, AZ 85711

(520) 797-4884 CRAprincipals@go2rose.com www.go2rose.com

250

9-12

1:25

Individualized curriculum, credit recovery, flexible schedules, self-paced, AdvancED Accredited, high school diploma

Louis Robles

2003

Hermosa Montessori Charter 12051 E. Ft. Lowell Rd. Tucson, AZ 85749

(520) 749-5518 info@hermosaschool.org hermosaschool.org

240

K-8

20:1

Traditional Montessori

Sheila Stolov

1997

Desert Rose Academy 326 W. Ft. Lowell Rd. Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 797-4884 DRAprincipals@go2rose.com www.go2rose.com

200

9-12

1:25

Individualized curriculum, credit recovery, flexible schedules, self-paced, AdvancED Accredited, high school diploma

Lisa Corkill

2000

Tucson International Academy Midvale 1625 W. Valencia Tucson, AZ 85746

(520) 792-3255 jherrera@tucsoninternationalacademy.com www.tucsoninternationalacademy.com

187

K-12

18:1

100% or our graduates are accepted to college! Chinese, Spanish, dual credit for college,

Valerie Enriquez

2003

Tucson International Academy West 2700 W. Broadway Tucson, AZ 85745

(520) 792-3255 jherrera@tucsoninternationalacademy.com tucsoninternationalacademy.com

160

kinder 12th grade

14:1

100% of our graduates are accepted to college! Chinese, Spanish, dual credit for college,

Valerie Enriquez

2008

Canyon Rose Academy East Campus 8981 E. Tanque Verde Rd. Tucson, AZ 85749

(520) 797-4884 CRAEprincipals@go2rose.com www.go2rose.com

100

9-12

1:25

Individualized curriculum, credit recovery, flexible schedules, self-paced, AdvancED Accredited, high school diploma

Richard Connet

2017

Carden of Tucson 5260 N. Royal Palm Dr. Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 293-6661 bjeppson@cardenoftucson.org cardenoftucson.org

K-8

N/A

16 - 1 Max

Back to basics, patriotism

Eugene Moore

1980

Ranked by number of students Ranked information is provided by business representatives at no charge and is ranked alphabetically in case of ties. Other businesses were contacted but either declined or did not respond by deadline. There is no charge to be included in Inside Tucson Business listings. N/A=not provided WND=would not disclose NL=not listed last year NR=listed last year but ranking criteria not provided

Private Secondary Schools Rank Business 2021 Address 2020

Phone School Email Website

Salpointe Catholic High School 1545 E. Copper Tucson, AZ 85719

(520) 327-6581 jharris@salpointe.org www.salpointe.org

Pusch Ridge Christian Academy 9500 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson, AZ 85704

San Miguel High School - Cristo Rey Network

No. Students Grades 9-12

Grades Yearly Tuition Offered

No. Teachers Grades 9-12

No. Specialties Support Staff

1,250

9-12

$10,350

College preparatory, Catholic, Carmelite education. Project-based state-of-the-art STEM Program and rigorous cross-disciplinary Humanities Program, as well as 21 AP courses and four courses offered for dual enrollment college credit.

(520) 797-0107 kathy.elliott@prcak12.org www.prca.academy

348

DK-12

12298

private, Christian, classical, athletics, arts, academics

(520) 294-6403 info@sanmiguelhigh.org

348

9-12

N/A

College and career preparatory, corporate work-study, religion, core academic curriculum including honors and advanced placement

Top Local Executives

Year Establ. Locally

Kay G. Sullivan Keith Gibalski

1950

1998

Dave L. Mason Michael Richards

2004

Salpointe Catholic High School 1545 E. Copper I N S I D ETucson, T U C S AZ O N85719 BUSINESS.COM

1,250

(520) 327-6581 jharris@salpointe.org www.salpointe.org

2 Private Secondary Schools Pusch Ridge Christian Academy 9500 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson, AZ 85704

(520) 797-0107 kathy.elliott@prcak12.org www.prca.academy

San Miguel High School - Cristo Rey Business Network Address 6601 S. San Fernando Rd. Tucson, AZ 85756

Phone info@sanmiguelhigh.org School Email www.sanmiguelcristorey.org Website

4 1

The Gregory School 3231 N. Craycroft Rd.High School Salpointe Catholic Tucson, 85712 1545 E. AZ Copper Tucson, AZ 85719

(520) 327-6395 admission@gregoryschool.org (520) 327-6581 gregoryschool.org jharris@salpointe.org www.salpointe.org

9500 N. Oracle Rd. Tucson, AZ 85704

kathy.elliott@prcak12.org www.prca.academy

San Miguel High School - Cristo Rey Network 6601 S. San Fernando Rd. Tucson, AZ 85756

(520) 294-6403 info@sanmiguelhigh.org www.sanmiguelcristorey.org

348

(520)Phone 327-6395 School Email admission@gregoryschool.org Website gregoryschool.org

166

Rank 2021 2020

(520) 294-6403

348

No. Students Grades 9-12 166

9-12

$10,350

DK-12

12298

9-12

N/A

Grades Yearly Tuition Offered 5-12 9-12

1,250

Varies by grade level $10,350

N/A

No. Teachers Grades 9-12 N/A

N/A

N/A 68

1950

MARCH 26, 2021

private, Christian, classical, athletics, arts, academics

College and career preparatory, corporate work-study, religion, core

No. Specialties academic curriculum including honors and advanced placement Support courses, education for students from low income households Staff

Kay G. Sullivan Keith Gibalski

College Preparatory, MIT Fab Lab Network, Personalized Education and College Counseling College preparatory, Catholic, Carmelite education. Project-based state-of-the-art STEM Program and rigorous cross-disciplinary Humanities Program, as well as 21 AP courses and four courses offered for dual enrollment college credit.

1998

Dave L. Mason Top Local Michael Richards

2004

Julie A. Sherrill, Ph.D. Kay G. Sullivan Keith Gibalski

1980 1950

Year Establ. Locally

Executives

Ranked by number of students (9-12 only) Ranked information is provided by business representatives at no charge and is ranked alphabetically in case of ties. Other businesses were contacted but either declined or did not respond by deadline. There is no charge to be included in Inside Tucson Business listings. Christian Academy 797-0107last year but ranking criteria not provided 348 DK-12 12298 35 19 private, Christian, classical, athletics, arts, academics N/A=not Pusch providedRidge WND=would not disclose NL=not listed last(520) year NR=listed

Private Elementary Schools 2 Rank The Business Gregory School 2021 3231 Address N. Craycroft Rd. 2020 Tucson, AZ 85712

9-12

N/A

College and career preparatory, corporate work-study, religion, core academic curriculum including honors and advanced placement courses, education for students from low income households

No. of Grades No. of N/A YearlyCollege Tuition Specialties 5-12 Varies by grade No. of N/A Preparatory, MIT Fab Lab Network, Personalized Education Students Offeredlevel Teachers Support $ and College Counseling K-8 K-8 Staff K-8

Dave L. Mason Michael Richards

2004

Top Julie Local A. Sherrill, Ph.D. Executives

Year 1980

Ranked byPusch numberRidge of students (9-12 only) Christian Academy (520) 797-0107 386 DK-12 31 20 12298 private, Christian, classical, athletics, arts, academics Ranked information is provided by business representatives at no charge and is ranked alphabetically in case of ties. Other businesses were contacted but either declined or did not respond by deadline. There is no charge to be included in Inside Tucson Business listings. 9500 N.WND=would Oracle Rd. not disclose NL=not listed last year kathy.elliott@prcak12.org N/A=not provided NR=listed last year but ranking criteria not provided

Tucson, AZ 85704

www.prca.academy

Saints Peter & Paul School 1436 N. Campbell Ave. Tucson, AZ 85719

(520) 325-2431 croll@sspptucson.org sspptucson.org

350

N/A

6030.00

St Cyril Elementary School N/A N/A, N/A N/A

(520) 881-4240 N/A N/A

338

N/A

International School of Tucson 1701 E. Seneca St. Tucson, AZ 85719

(520) 406-0552 admissions@istucson.org www.istucson.org

265

PreK - 8

$9000 $10300

Immaculate Heart Academy 410 E. Magee Rd. Oro Valley, AZ 85704

(520) 297-6672 academyoffice@ihschool.org ihschool.org

160

Preschool - 8th grade

Redeemer Lutheran School 8845 N. Silverbell Rd. Tucson, AZ 85743

(520) 572-8136 office@redeemertucson.com redeemertucson.com

107

Preschool - 8th Grade

5 full time

Castlehill Country Day School 3225 N. Craycroft Rd. Tucson, AZ 85712

(520) 795-0008 Info@castlehillschool.com castlehillschool.com

Toddler 5th Grade

First Southern Christian School 445 E. Speedway Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 624-9797 fscs4jesus@aol.com firstsouthernchristianschool.com

Kino School 6625 N. First Ave. Tucson, AZ 85718

(520) 297-7278 info@kinoschool.org kinoschool.org

1998

Establ. Locally

1998

Religion, academics, competitive sports program, resource accommodations and fine arts

Charlene Roll

1933

N/A

Thomas D. Dertinger

N/A

Language-immersion (Chinese, French, German, Spanish), chess, music, basketball, soccer, zumba

Jessica Palma

2005

6000

Religion, Academics

Sister Veronica Yvette Loya

1930

4 part time

$6500

Christian education

Wayne Baxmann

1948

10950

Rigorous academics, innovative science, art, music and Stephanie Basiliere theater, Spanish, technology labs, physical development, library

1986

Preschool - 6th grade

N/A

Pres. $3100, Kinder- $4500, Elementary $5,000

Spiritual emphasis, P.E., art, computers, music and soccer shots.

Carolyn Burger

1981

K-12

$9500

Progressive, non-graded environment

Mary Jane Cera

1975

School Districts in Southern Arizona Rank 2021 2020

Business Address

Phone School Email Website

No. of Students

Grade Levels No. of Offered Classroom Teachers

No. of Schools: Student / Location Elementary/ Teacher Ratio Middle/High

Superintendant

Year Establ. Locally

Amphitheater Unified School District 701 W. Wetmore Rd. Tucson, AZ 85705

(520) 696-5000 contactus@amphi.com www.amphi.com

14,000

PreK-12

794

18/1

Central - Northwest Tucson

Todd A. Jaeger

1893

Vail Unified School District 13801 E. Benson Hwy. Vail, AZ 85641

(520) 879-2000 cervantezl@vailschooldistrict.org vailschooldistrict.org

13,004

PreK-12

770.2

12/5/7

17:1

Vail

John Carruth

1903

Marana Unified School District 11279 W. Grier Rd. Marana, AZ 85653

(520) 682-3243 musd6@maranausd.org maranausd.org

12,200

PreK - 12

717.5

10 Elementary / 2 K-8 / 2 Middle / 3 High

N/A

Marana

Dr. Dan Streeter

1922

Sahuarita Unified School District 350 W. Sahuarita Rd. Sahuarita, AZ 85629

(520) 625-3502 suds30.us susd30.us

6,300

K-12

300

5/2/2

N/A

Sahuarita

Dr. Manuel O. Valenzuela

1934

Pima JTED Career and Technical Education District 2855 W. Master Pieces Dr. Tucson, AZ 85741

(520) 352-5833 N/A pimajted.org

2,400

10-12

N/A

Southern Arizona

Kathy Prather

2007

Tanque Verde Unified School District 2300 N. Tanque Verde Loop Rd., Bldg. 1 Tucson, AZ 85749

(520) 749-5751 cplace@tanq.org tanqueverdeschools.org

2,100

PreK-12

154

N/A

Northeast Tucson

Dr. Scott Hagerman

1886

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