The Dysart Mythbusters page is dedicated to providing factual information in response to myths regarding district issues.  The page will be updated as needed throughout the school year to provide the Dysart community with factual information about Dysart’s endeavors.  For questions related to the Dysart Mythbusters, please contact the community relations department at communityrelations@dysart.org.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Myth – August 4, 2009 – Dysart’s transportation department transports students in buses that do not have functioning air conditioning.
 
Myth Busted – Factual Information – All buses in the Dysart transportation fleet are equipped with air conditioning.  There are times when a bus may experience a malfunctioning air conditioning system.  When this occurs, the system is fixed as quickly as possible. While Dysart’s buses use the air conditioning systems, the combination of students on a bus and the Arizona heat may not bring the bus temperature to a level comparable to that achieved in a building or a car.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Myth – July 28, 2009 – Dysart staff continue to attend overnight and out of state conferences even though the district has restricted overnight travel from the maintenance and operations budget.
 
Myth Busted – Factual Information –Dysart staff are attending conferences and trainings that may require overnight stay or are held out of state but the funds are not from the maintenance and operations budget.  Many of the grants that Dysart receives require staff to travel to trainings and workshops.  Grants that require travel or attendance to conferences also fund the expenses associated with the workshops, including travel.  Additionally, schools may have students accompanied by staff travel out of state or overnight using funding from student fund raisers or extracurricular tax credit funds.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Myth – April 7, 2009 – The Dysart School District used district money to fund the Dysart Hero Program and Award Dinner.
 
Myth Busted – Factual Information – The Dysart Hero Program and Award Dinner were completely funded by donations from A & P Construction, Cigna Medical and D.L. Withers Construction.  Additionally, attendees of the dinner paid $10 for their tickets.  NO DISTRICT FUNDS WERE USED FOR THE DYSART HEROES PROGRAM, DINNER, OR ITS AWARDS.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Myth – April 7, 2009 – As a result of budget cuts, Dysart will not be offering transportation to current 10th or 11th grade students living in the Shadow Ridge High School attendance boundary, who stay at their current school through graduation.
 
Myth Busted – Factual Information – Transportation will be provided for two years for current 10th or 11th grade students in the Shadow Ridge High School boundary who stay at their current school, due to Shadow Ridge High School opening with only 9th and 10th grades.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Myth - March 18, 2009 –The salaries and pay increases of community education staff are determined based on how much money that they collect from outside programs.

Myth Busted - Factual Information –The salaries of the community education staff are not based on how much money is collected from community education classes.  Salaries for all Dysart staff members, including community education, are based on the established district wide hiring practices and salary schedules.  The salary process used for community education is the same process utilized by all programs, departments and positions, regardless of the funding source (for example, community education fund, grant funds, etc.). The Community Education Department budget includes monies from community education classes, facilities rental, the before and after school student program and some of the summer school offerings.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Myth - March 2, 2009 – A rumor has begun that with the looming state budget situation, Dysart is considering a return to an outside, contracted bus company to run its transportation.

Myth Busted - Factual Information – The Dysart School District successfully took over operations of transportation last year.  While adjustments to the District’s current transportation program may be necessary in an effort to reduce costs, the District has no plans to return to contracted services.

_________________________________________________________________________________

Myth - February 26, 2009 – A myth is circulating that Dysart is canceling the shared facility agreement (IGA) with the City of Surprise.

Myth Busted - Factual Information – Dysart has been meeting with representatives from the City of Surprise to ensure that both groups work to meet the needs of the community through the IGA.  The meetings, which began in 2008, have focused upon ensuring that Dysart and the City of Surprise fully understand the intent of the IGA and its components.  The original intent of the IGA is to provide community-based schools throughout Dysart.  The Dysart School District’s desire is to see that the use of all of its buildings is maximized to meet the needs of the community.  Meetings between the City and Dysart on a variety of topics are continuing to make certain that each party fully meets the needs of the community.