Thank you so much for supporting the arts in PUSD by signing our petition. I appreciate your patience as I've navigated these board agendas. Like many of you, I'm a concerned parent trying to make sense of complicated policies and stand up for our kids' arts programs. I want to clear up some important details about Thursday's Governing Board meeting.
There was some initial confusion about which policy was being voted on. Policy 1-204 (the complete DEI ban) has been tabled for now. It still remains a possible future threat to programs our children benefit from.
This Thursday's vote is different, but similar. The Governing Board will decide whether to renew PUSD's memberships in three national arts organizations:
Educational Theatre Association - International Thespian Society & Thespian Festival
National Association for Music Education - All-state Choirs & adjudicated festivals
National Dance Education Organization - conventions, recognitions, and resources
These memberships are educational tools that put our students on equal footing with their peers across Arizona and the U.S. I think we all agree that we shouldn't be taking opportunities away from the students in our district.
How you can help:
Email the board members today
- Copy/paste our draft letter below (if you did this for the DEI policy, please email them again with Thursday's vote info)
Show up at the meeting
- Thursday, August 28 at 6pm
- District Administration Center: 6330 W. Thunderbird Road Glendale, AZ 85306
- Whether you speak at the podium or just come out to support, we need people to show up to save the arts
Keep sharing the petition
- Every signature strengthens our case and shows the board how many families care
Together, we can protect arts opportunities for every student in PUSD. Thank you for lending your voice and I hope to see you Thursday night!
With gratitude,
Ashley McComb
Governing Board email addresses:
Heather Rooks (President) - HRooks@pusd11.net
Jeff Tobey (Clerk) - jtobey@pusd11.net
Janelle Bowles (Member) - jbowles@pusd11.net
Melissa Ewing (Member) - MeEwing@pusd11.net
Becky Proudfit (Member) - RProudfit@pusd11.net
Subject: Support for Renewal of Arts Education Memberships
Dear Members of the Governing Board,
I am writing to urge you to support the renewal of Peoria Unified’s memberships in the Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), National Association for Music Education (NAfME), and National Dance Education Organization (NDEO).
These memberships are not political endorsements. They are essential educational tools. They provide our teachers with access to national standards, professional development, and adjudication criteria that ensure consistency and rigor across our programs. They also give students the opportunity to participate in festivals, competitions, and recognition programs that their peers across Arizona and the nation enjoy.
Without these memberships, our students would be excluded from honors such as induction into the International Thespian Society, adjudicated music and dance festivals, and other opportunities that validate their hard work and talent. It would create inequity between Peoria Unified students and those in neighboring districts who will continue to benefit from these programs.
The Arizona Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Education have confirmed that these memberships do not threaten federal funding as long as student participation is based on interest and ability. The purpose of district membership is academic: curriculum alignment, performance standards, and student growth.
I respectfully ask you to prioritize student opportunities and teacher support by voting yes on renewing these memberships. Doing so ensures Peoria Unified continues to provide a competitive, equitable, and high-quality arts education that reflects the best practices in our state and across the nation.
Thank you for your service and for your consideration of this important issue.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Connection: Parent, Student, Educator, Community Member]