Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 357

The Arizona Republic 10 4 SATURDAY, MARCI 1 11, 2006 EAST VALLEY se.lettersarizonarepublic.com OPINIONS COMMUNITY COLUMNIST Districts would add flavor to Tempe's bland election QUICK HIT Mesa's Fiesta Mall and Scottsdale Fashion Square are trying to fill space vacated by Robinsons-May. But while Fiesta's options include Wal-Mart, Scottsdale is going after chi-chi retailer Barneys New York. That's a classic upgradedowngrade. Editorials represent the position of the newspaper. Southeast Valley editorial page editor: Bob Schuster, (602) 444-7718; bob.schusterCfarizonarepublic.com.

Southeast Valley editorial written Joanna Hensley, (602) 444-7772; joanna.hensley8arizonarepublic.com. OUR VIEW Fiesta Mall's clock is ticking, Westcor nities to press more flesh with their respective constituencies. The formation of a district system is not a new idea. Phoenix did it. Even Mesa did it.

Neither community is any worse for wear. Obviously, a district system is no panacea. And, no one is claiming that it is. But, it's difficult to refute that it would enable more people to campaign for public office. That should be the ultimate goal of those who believe in genuine open government.

Furthermore, if Tempe's downtown ever takes off and thousands of people actually move there, they will eventually become the tail that wags the rest of the city. They will be well-heeled and overeducated. As such, they will complain a lot and vote in substantially higher numbers than the rest of the city. Those of you who think that downtown receives too much attention now are cautioned to wait another decade. Watch the residents of the downtown dominate local discourse and set the political agenda.

Truth be told, the only way to keep tomorrow's downtown voters at bay is to isolate them. You do that by containing them in a district, thus reducing their future influence. In other words, you cut them off at the knees before they arrive. In the meantime, the current leadership vacuum condemns us to sit through cycle after cycle of vacuous local elections, where vanilla routinely takes the gold. Dan Durrenberger is a 32-year resident of the Southeast Valley who lives In Tempe and works in Mesa.

He can be reached at DJDurrenbergeraol.com, cism of Mr. Arredondo intended), the ability of a candidate to collect that many dollars raises an issue that ought to be discussed. Specifically, the benefits of creating a city-wide district system for the purpose of leveling the playing field and making local politics more competitive. Right now, the fact that only five people are running for three council seats is an indictment of the closed nature of the present system. For the sake of daring to think outside Tempe's empty political box, consider the following: Tiny Town could be divided into three voting districts.

Two council members would be elected from each district. Or, you could create six districts and elect one council member from each. Regardless, the mayor would be elected at large. Candidates could raise money from whomever and wherever they chose. Why do this? Well, for one thing, it would make it possible for more people to run for public office.

Under the current system, council candidates have to raise a considerable number of dollars to fund an effective city wide campaign. They have to distribute signs over 40 square miles. They have to mail literature to thousands of households. All of this costs money. It takes a substantial war chest (though nowhere near what Ben has managed to raise).

Conversely, under a district system, fewer signs and smaller mailings would be required. As such, it would take less money to mount a potentially successful council campaign. More people would be able to run. And, those who did run would have more opportu Iff i Fran Wendtland of Chandler won't much longer at Fiesta Mall, where When Westcor bought Fiesta Mall more than a year ago, everyone presumed the new owner would do some massive renovations and give the area a needed boost. But to date, this is all we've learned from Westcor about the future of the aging mall: One of Fiesta's anchors, Robinsons-May, is going out of business after a merger last year with Macy 's.

Because Ma-cy's already exists at the mall, Westcor has a big space to fill. Macy's soon will move into the former Robinsons-May space, leaving the most visible storefront from Alma School Road unsettlingly vacant. No one knows who or what will fill said empty space, although Westcor has said it could be a discount chain such as Wal-Mart. Puh-leeze. Fiesta Mall deserves better than this.

It's nothing if not a survivor. Despite its age, its lack of entertainment and dining options and the relative decline in the neighborhood, Fiesta Mall is still holding its own. Loyal shoppers are still giving stores a reason to be in business. But that doesn't mean it can survive on its own ad infinitum. Business isn't as good as it was a few years ago because new malls are drawing away customers.

In 2004, the city commissioned a detailed report on how to revitalize the Fiesta Mall area. It made a plethora of recommendations for the surrounding area, including beau-tification projects along Southern Avenue and the replacement of aging strip malls with multifamily or office uses. But it also made recommendations for the mall, including LETTERS TO THE EDITOR COMMUNITY COLUMNIST The race for three seats on the Tempe City Council is an utter bore. There isn't an original or visionary thought on the table. For example, did you know that each of the council candidates supports law enforcement? Imagine that.

They like the police. They're also pro-neighborhood. Wow. And, get this. One candidate opposes traffic congestion! Another supports "common sense DAN DURRENBERGER answers to our collective needs." Ho, hum.

Nap time. Yet another boasts of an endorsement by a former Tempe mayor who held office in 1968. Who honestly cares what some guy elected 40 years ago thinks about anything? Another candidate is endorsed by the South East Valley Regional Association of Realtors. That's heavy stuff. What else do the candidates support? Well, one supports fiscal responsibility.

Another will "work to make our community better." A third promises to "champion open government." Everyone likes the Rental Housing Code and the preservation of old buildings. With that as dull background, here's something more interesting to chew on. Incumbent council member Ben Arredondo has raised $160,000 in his race for re-election. That's impressive. No Tempe mayoral or council candidate has ever accumulated that much money.

Nonetheless (and no criti Cast vote for Waters Tuesday While reading the newspaper this past spring, I learned that Kyrene had changed its middle school program to allow more time for the core classes and I thought to myself that it was about time. Although budget was cited as one of the reasons another equally important reason was the district has had students that were not making adequate yearly progress. Since about 2000, Kyrene has tried the Band-Aid approach to correct this problem, to no avail. That is why I was happy to finally see Kyrene make the needed changes and surprised to see some parents so resistant to change. We are in a recall election for Rae Waters, who has been the scapegoat for these unhappy parents.

With an ever-changing list of complaints such as not enough time for music, too much time in core classes, lack of communication by the district, district spent too much money on study to improve communication, it has been difficult to see what they are angry about. I have come to the decision they are simply angry about change, and no amount of communication will ever make them happy. In fact, the only thing they will be happy about is reinstating a flawed time management problem for curriculum in the middle schools. I have worked on Kyrene committees with Waters since about 1994. In that time, Rae has never shied away from tough decisions.

Her expertise as well as her ability to step outside her comfort zone to advocate for student needs at both state and federal levels is a voice that should not be taken away from education. Her attention to detail and understanding of education legalities would be too hard to Let's recall AIMS, not Waters, and improve educational system James CarrenoThe Republic be shopping at Robinsons-May owner Westcor is very quiet. more exterior curb appeal, improved parking and more entertainment options. Westcor has a great opportunity and should be making every attempt to do all three. To its credit, the company has said there is interest in creating entertainment options, or possibly even homes, at the mall.

So let's see it. The clock is ticking. Robinsons-May is already clearing out its stuff. It's time for Westcor to translate interest into action. sheets.

Instead, we should simply require estimating the area of polygons and encourage students to create their own technique, and then working from their internalized thought process derive or help them understand the logic of formulas. Beats memorization every time. Likewise, after reading 15 pages of sixth-grade social studies standards I was yelling, "Way too many required areas if we want students to learn the critical underlying principles!" Writing and reading should be integrated across the curriculum. Social studies and language arts, in particular, ought to be taught by two teachers working together with the same students, or one dual-certified teacher. We should never feel we need to sacrifice foreign language, the arts and physical education to meet overly regimented standards.

We can create 120-minute flexible blocks for language arts and social studies along with 120-minute flexible blocks for math and science, 50 minutes daily for foreign language and two 45-minute electives and also give teachers 90 minutes to coordinate and plan creatively. But it would take a bold school board to adopt this schedule until we have a state superintendent of public instruction who is willing to revise the standards that are crippling our schools. Dave Wells of Tempe holds a doctorate in political economy and public policy and teaches at Arizona State University. Reach him at DaveMakeDemocracyWork.org. voters to make time next Tuesday to go vote.

Too much is at stake to be apathetic. Please vote! Slade Mead Phoenix Copple is committed I've known Leonard Copple for 30-some years. And over that time, I have seen his love for our community. As a former councilman for Tempe, I had the pleasure of serving with Leonard twice. I first worked with Leonard as a councilman in 1993.

The council that I was a member of unanimously appointed him to fill a vacant seat. A few years later, when Leonard was elected to the council, I was fortunate enough to work with him again. It was an honor for me to work with Leonard. I always appreciated his commitment to Tempe. Leonard weighs the issues carefully and judiciously to ensure that his vote serves the interests of all Tempe citizens.

I encourage you join me in casting one of your three votes for Copple in the Tempe City Council race. Dennis J. Cahill Tempe Knaperek sets it straight "Strange events" (Opinions, March 3) is another example of "strange" information circulating. To set the record straight, I am not running for the state treasurer's office Sen. Dean Martin is.

I do consider him capable and support his run. For me, however, representing folks in legislative District 17 Tempe and Scottsdale is my top priority. I intend on continuing my efforts to protect property rights and neighborhoods, enhance K-20 education, and reduce taxes while investing in our great state. I have begun my 2006 campaign for re-election to the state House and will work hard to retain my seat. Laura Knaperek The writer is a state representative for District 17.

replace. It is no wonder Waters has gotten endorsements from past and current educators, community leaders, The Arizona Republic and the Kyrene Education Association (teachers association). I encourage all people who care about quality of education in Kyrene to join me and vote for Waters on (Tuesday). Robin Landtroop Ahwatukee Foothills Vote, too much at stake Last week, I attended a debate between Rae Waters and Patrick McGill. Calling all registered voters! Please vote.

Kyrene. is facing a potential leadership crisis. McGill is clueless about the intricacies about running a school district. I was stunned. During the debate he fumbled question after question, demonstrating that he has little to no idea about the management of schools or the running of a district.

His refusal to meet with the Kyrene Education Association certainly does not bode well. His lack of knowledge over what meet and confer covers does not bode well. His "promise" to fund gifted programs by saying, "We will find the money" certainly demonstrates his lack of knowledge over the budget. I am curious where he will find the money. Next Tuesday, residents of the Kyrene school district can go to the polls.

I urge every registered voter to get out and vote for Waters. Kyrene will be facing a number of vital issues over the next few months. The board will be selecting a new superintendent. The board will be challenged with balancing the budget with increased costs against declining enrollment. The idea of losing Rae's knowledge, leadership skills and commitment during these trying times scares me.

Why would we replace someone with her skills? The turnout for this election will be low. As a result, your vote is more valuable than ever. I implore all registered sible schedules. Minutes for reading, writing and mathematics instruction dominated the discussion. The assumption being if you are required to increase AIMS scores, then you must spend more time on the subjects measured by AIMS.

Connolly Middle School has doubled sixth-graders' math time from 50 to 100 minutes daily. Math scores went up, but are higher scores worth having only one elective? The school day is only so long. Children need down time. Tempe's middle-school schedule must conform to its elementary schools, as the same bus drivers work both routes. If you want creative and better teaching, you also need to give teachers adequate time to prepare.

Presently teachers have one 50-minute preparation period and teach six 50 minute periods with about 160 children everyday. There's not much time for thoughtful planning. Quality instruction isn't just time. It's curriculum. AIMS encourages an obsession with test scores in reading, writing, math and soon science.

Unfortunately, with 200 pages of state requirements for each grade, we're over-standardizing education. As written, standards often pressure teachers to use cookie-cutter problems that match up with AIMS instead of fostering the deeper, more creative ways where students learn and appreciate concepts on their own. Consider this sixth-grade math directive: "Estimate and measure for the area and perimeter of polygons using a grid." You can immediately visualize the mundane work Next week we'll find out whether the community effort to oust Ky-rene School Board member Rae Waters succeeds. Unfortunately, what needs to be recalled won't be on the ballot AIMS. The stand ards that AIMS enforces have caused schools to re-examine how they teach.

That's good, except AIMS sets up the wrong criteria to evaluate change, DAVE WKI.LS creating shifts in priorities that ultimately aren't in the best interests of children. Last March, Waters made a tough call in voting for a schedule that improved instruction in most core subjects by extending periods to 68 minutes from 45. With longer periods, a skilled teacher can create meaningful activities that enable students to become active participants in their own learning. But 23 minutes had to come from somewhere. Kyrene eliminated foreign language from the core curriculum, forcing it to compete with music, physical education and other options for two elective slots.

Elective classes fell from 45 minutes daily to 68 minutes every-other day. Tempe Elementary District is reviewing its schedule, too. Its middle schools have seven 50-minute periods allotted to math, science, social studies, reading and writing, leaving students with two electives. The Middle School Task Force spent more than three hours Monday reviewing pos LA iliTin.1 CONTACT US Mail: Letters to the Editor, Southeast Valley, 106 E. Baseline Road, Mesa, AZ 85210.

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