Sahuarita Wins!

Sahuarita WINS!

Dr. Manuel Valenzuela, superintendent of Sahuarita Unified; Tom Murphy, Governing Board member andTown of Sahuarita Council member; and Dr. Jeff Bennett of the University of Arizona shared information about a regional grassroots and education initiative.

Sahuarita is located south of Tucson off U.S. Interstate 19. As the second-fastest growing community in the state, leaders representing several organizations ranging from city government, education and businesses have collaborated to develop a unified vision for Sahuarita to help work toward common goals, encourage future growth and define what their community wants to be. The result is Sahaurita WINS!

What is Sahuarita WINS!?

• A team of executive-level leaders from the public and private sector
• A regular, monthly meeting lasting no more than one hour
• Provides a Business Sector Update
• Provides a School District Update
• An opportunity to find common interests among groups
• An opportunity to build understanding regarding unique and shared needs
• An opportunity to develop new, mutually beneficial cooperative efforts to meet shared needs

The team is made up of members representing Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold; Town of Sahuarita; Farmers Investment Co.; Raytheon Missile Systems; Rosemont Copper; Carondelet Health; Rancho Sahuarita Company; University of Arizona; Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce; and Sahuarita Unified School District #30.

A community cannot exist without collaboration – everyone helping each other toward a unified vision and goals. 

What are the benefits from Sahuarita WINS!?

• Promote a unified vision and identity
• Provide field experiences for students to develop job skills
• Leverage of limited resources
• Building understanding of programs and initiatives
• Meeting of industry and workforce development needs
• Building community support for schools

What are the results so far?

• Creation of ENGR 102 Class, a three-credit, college-level course offered to students through the University of Arizona
• AZiLDR research initiative in partnership with the University of Arizona
• Support for National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)
• Identification of new CTE programs aligned with community needs
• Partnerships and enhanced relationships with Magdalena & Sonora, Mexico
• Field experience for student
• New and additional scholarships for students
• New partnership opportunities – YMCA, Pima County Library, etc
• Pursuit of additional joint-use facilities

The presenters shared a summary of action steps that were taken to create the team.

• Contact stakeholders
• Schedule a breakfast
• Focus upon common interests (STEM, workforce, school programs)
• Identify one attainable goal
• Schedule monthly meetings for follow up, reporting and maintaining positive momentum
• Continue to set clear goals
• Affirm commitment to support the process

They also identified the next steps for the initiative.

• Cooperation in economic development efforts with the Town of Sahuarita and Green Valley/Sahuarita Chamber of Commerce (Business Expo)
• New CTE program in heavy equipment operation and diesel technology
• National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI)
• ENGR 101 class available to middle-level students
• Common Core Communication efforts

ASPRA Reporter, Brian Killgore, Apache Junction Unified