Education

Six PHS students head to national FBLA conference

Payson High School’s chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) returned from the Arizona FBLA State Leadership Conference with 11 trophies.

Tire marks tell a story

On the parking lot pavement, two ribbons of black silently sat waiting to tell their story.

Foreign students thrive at high school

An end-of-the-year Academic Awards Ceremony at Payson High School featured many talented and determined individuals, including many foreign exchange students.

State guts vocational class plan

First the state Legislature slashed its budget and now the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has gutted the Northern Arizona Vocational Institute of Technology (NAVIT) nursing and fire science programs for Payson High School students.

School board yearns to be average

The Payson School Board Monday adopted a plaintive legislative wish list that included the bold proposition that Arizona should strive to be, well, average.

Career class spurs debate

The Payson School Board on Monday wrestled with the muddled, intermittently controversial, improvisational effort to satisfy the state’s demand for career classes without disrupting the schedule.

Students show skills at Band Jam 2013

Most tapped their toes, while others had trepidation etched on their brows, but all had smiles on their faces after the last note of each song died out.

School board grapples with changes

With its budget still in limbo, the Payson School Board this week grappled with sweeping changes in focus as it issued contracts that included a surge in positions on the administrative schedule.

All-day kindergarten touted as key to boosting scores

During her initial visit to the Payson Elementary School (PES) in January, what Brenda Case saw in the kindergarten classes drives her to tears today.

‘Starving education to death’

Retiring Payson Unified School District Director of Special Services Barbara Fitzgerald took her leave after seven years in Payson on Monday with a heartfelt address to the school board that drew a prolonged standing ovation from the audience.

Local group inspires homeschooling

“Right now there are about fifty families in the Rim Country that are homeschooling,” said Homeschool Support Group Lead Coordinator Kim Ballam, a position she shares with with Meg Smith. Ballam and several other homeschooling moms meet every other Friday during the school months at Mountain Bible Church to discuss mentoring those interested in homeschooling and providing quality playtime.

Murder Self-Defense?

I set out to get a quick shot of Rim Country Middle School Resource Officer Michael Hansen impressing students with his bullet-proof vest and air of authority — but these days you never know what you’ll find when you actually get inside a classroom.

No teacher layoffs

The Payson School Board Monday night approved a passel of new administrative contracts as well as 128 teacher contracts that will mark the first time in three years the district has avoided teacher layoffs.

Lighthearted play profound

Some of the special needs students at Payson High School recently put on a play about the Musicians of Bremen Town, ranchers who no longer need these animals and are going to get rid of them. The animals consist of a donkey, two dogs, two roosters, and two cats. The Donkey, played by William Howard Mortis, decides to go to Bremen Town and be a musician.