TUSD Launches Groundbreaking Pilot: 6th Graders to Join Elementary Schools

Sixth graders in the Tucson Unified School District (TUSD) will remain in 10 elementary schools as part of a pilot program. The Governing Board initially approved the idea in October and is set to give final approval at a special meeting on Tuesday.

TUSD’s research indicated that sixth graders perform better in elementary school environments, leading to this initiative. This move is also favored by parents, with the district losing about 500 students annually as they transition from elementary to middle schools.

The pilot program aims to address this issue, keeping students in elementary schools for an additional year. The affected schools are Banks, Collier, Davidson, Gale, Henry, Lynn-Urquides, Soleng Tom, Steele, Vesey, and Whitmore Elementary Schools.

In addition to the sixth-grade program, the board will discuss the placement of wireless towers on school properties. Currently, there are 22 towers on 14 campuses within the district. These towers generate between $20,000 and $30,000 per year each in lease income.

Parents have expressed concerns about the potential health risks of 5G technology. Although some perceive 5G as a conspiracy theory, physicist Sabine Hossenfelder argues there’s insufficient research on its long-term safety. She highlights potential interference with meteorology and climatology as a more pressing issue.

The board is also set to finalize a new sexual discrimination policy in line with revised rules by the U.S. Department of Education under Title IX, which prohibits sex-based discrimination in federally funded institutions.

Meanwhile, Santa Cruz County’s Board of Supervisors will hold a closed-door meeting to discuss “GutfahrGate.” Former Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr resigned in April after County Manager Jesus Vasquez informed her of a 120-day suspension due to irregularities found in the county’s bank account, with $4 million reportedly missing. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the county continue to investigate the matter.