Families, educators adjust to school closures a year later in Paradise Valley
ABC15 Arizona
[{'start': '0.400', 'end': '4.640', 'text': "I'm ABC15 education reporter Elanie Dao."}, {'start': '2.960', 'end': '6.799', 'text': "We're nearing the end of the school year"}, {'start': '4.640', 'end': '8.480', 'text': 'and this academic year, three districts'}, {'start': '6.799', 'end': '11.040', 'text': 'decided to close down schools with'}, {'start': '8.480', 'end': '12.639', 'text': 'another one in discussions. However, one'}, {'start': '11.040', 'end': '14.480', 'text': 'valley district went through this last'}, {'start': '12.639', 'end': '16.240', 'text': 'year. Paradise Valley Unified closed'}, {'start': '14.480', 'end': '18.080', 'text': "down some schools and now we're catching"}, {'start': '16.240', 'end': '19.840', 'text': 'up with some families and educators'}, {'start': '18.080', 'end': '21.359', 'text': "about where they're at and what advice"}, {'start': '19.840', 'end': '24.000', 'text': 'they have for the communities going'}, {'start': '21.359', 'end': '26.320', 'text': 'through the situation. Now,'}, {'start': '24.000', 'end': '28.480', 'text': 'about a year ago, the school is um'}, {'start': '26.320', 'end': '30.000', 'text': 'shutting down. Paradise Valley Unified'}, {'start': '28.480', 'end': '31.920', 'text': 'closed down three schools. Yeah,'}, {'start': '30.000', 'end': '34.000', 'text': 'unfortunately is one of our schools and'}, {'start': '31.920', 'end': '36.160', 'text': 'it stinks. The closures hit hard for'}, {'start': '34.000', 'end': '38.079', 'text': 'students, parents, and educators after'}, {'start': '36.160', 'end': '41.120', 'text': 'the board cited declining enrollment and'}, {'start': '38.079', 'end': '44.559', 'text': 'reduced funding. I am definitely still a'}, {'start': '41.120', 'end': '47.520', 'text': 'little annoyed at what I felt was the'}, {'start': '44.559', 'end': '49.920', 'text': 'lack of transparency a year or so ago.'}, {'start': '47.520', 'end': '52.079', 'text': "Becca's boys school, Desert Springs"}, {'start': '49.920', 'end': '54.320', 'text': 'Prep, was one that closed. But in the'}, {'start': '52.079', 'end': '56.719', 'text': 'end, a year ago, I just felt like a'}, {'start': '54.320', 'end': '58.320', 'text': 'sense of resignation. She as well as mom'}, {'start': '56.719', 'end': '60.079', 'text': 'Maria Wilson had to find other'}, {'start': '58.320', 'end': '63.039', 'text': 'alternatives. I went and looked at seven'}, {'start': '60.079', 'end': '65.320', 'text': 'different schools. Um someone some in'}, {'start': '63.039', 'end': '68.960', 'text': 'the district, some private, some'}, {'start': '65.320', 'end': '70.960', 'text': 'charter. Um it was a rude awakening, but'}, {'start': '68.960', 'end': '73.840', 'text': 'a challenge they had no choice but to'}, {'start': '70.960', 'end': '76.880', 'text': 'overcome. Feels better now. Uh it felt'}, {'start': '73.840', 'end': '78.159', 'text': 'really really hard and just it was a'}, {'start': '76.880', 'end': '79.520', 'text': 'there was a lot of sadness. Heather'}, {'start': '78.159', 'end': '81.759', 'text': 'Schmidt, president of the Paradise'}, {'start': '79.520', 'end': '84.000', 'text': 'Valley Education Association, remembers'}, {'start': '81.759', 'end': '86.080', 'text': 'how it impacted staff, too. We know that'}, {'start': '84.000', 'end': '88.560', 'text': 'we had a few folks that chose to retire'}, {'start': '86.080', 'end': '90.880', 'text': 'early or move on from the district, but'}, {'start': '88.560', 'end': '93.759', 'text': 'we had jobs for everyone. And I think'}, {'start': '90.880', 'end': '96.000', 'text': 'that is the biggest one of the biggest'}, {'start': '93.759', 'end': '97.840', 'text': 'wins of that. As Paradise Valley'}, {'start': '96.000', 'end': '99.600', 'text': 'families have adjusted to new schools,'}, {'start': '97.840', 'end': '101.920', 'text': 'three other districts are preparing to'}, {'start': '99.600', 'end': '103.680', 'text': 'close some campuses in May. What advice'}, {'start': '101.920', 'end': '106.240', 'text': "do you have for these families? It's"}, {'start': '103.680', 'end': '108.240', 'text': 'important that families do their'}, {'start': '106.240', 'end': '110.079', 'text': 'research about what new schools their'}, {'start': '108.240', 'end': '112.159', 'text': 'kids are going to be going to or if they'}, {'start': '110.079', 'end': '115.759', 'text': 'have a choice of where their child can'}, {'start': '112.159', 'end': '117.920', 'text': 'go to really, you know, embrace looking'}, {'start': '115.759', 'end': '119.600', 'text': "around at options. So, what's happened"}, {'start': '117.920', 'end': '121.280', 'text': 'with the schools that did close down?'}, {'start': '119.600', 'end': '122.880', 'text': 'This building right behind me here used'}, {'start': '121.280', 'end': '125.360', 'text': 'to be a Desert Springs Preparatory'}, {'start': '122.880', 'end': '127.360', 'text': "Academy, but now it's for PV online"}, {'start': '125.360', 'end': '128.879', 'text': 'teachers who are teaching kids from here'}, {'start': '127.360', 'end': '130.479', 'text': 'who are learning online. The other'}, {'start': '128.879', 'end': '132.560', 'text': 'elementary school is being used for an'}, {'start': '130.479', 'end': '134.640', 'text': 'early childhood learning center. Vista'}, {'start': '132.560', 'end': '136.319', 'text': 'Verdie Middle School still sits empty.'}, {'start': '134.640', 'end': '138.480', 'text': "Even though I couldn't control what"}, {'start': '136.319', 'end': '140.800', 'text': 'happened a year ago, I did have this in'}, {'start': '138.480', 'end': '143.840', 'text': 'my control. And so I feel a lot better'}, {'start': '140.800', 'end': '146.000', 'text': 'about where we are as a family and where'}, {'start': '143.840', 'end': '147.760', 'text': 'our friends are for their own children.'}, {'start': '146.000', 'end': '149.599', 'text': 'The district says its projected budget'}, {'start': '147.760', 'end': '151.599', 'text': 'balance carryover is significantly'}, {'start': '149.599', 'end': '153.760', 'text': 'better, thanks in large part to savings'}, {'start': '151.599', 'end': '155.680', 'text': "from the closures. We've moved on. I"}, {'start': '153.760', 'end': '157.360', 'text': 'feel bad that other parents are and'}, {'start': '155.680', 'end': '162.319', 'text': 'children are going to go through this.'}, {'start': '157.360', 'end': '162.319', 'text': 'Phoenix. Alan Dao, ABC15, Arizona.'}]