Rep. Boone appointed to fill vacancy
by Brian DiTullio

DVUSD – State Rep. Tom Boone, R‑Peoria, has been appointed the fifth member of the Deer Valley Unified School District governing board.

Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools Sandra Dowling announced the appointment on March 23. The seat was declared vacant in February after board member Ted Carpenter resigned to take another position with Dowling’s office.

Boone will be filling the unexpired term which runs through Dec. 31, 2008.

Boone previously served 20 years in DVUSD administration before retiring in June 2000.

The biggest issue for the school district, Boone told The Desert Advocate, is the same one it faced while he was employed there, “Better planning and managing growth.”

DVUSD board president Michael Gregoire stated last week he was pleased with the selection.

Gregoire pointed to Boone’s history as a financial officer with DVUSD as a benefit, since the normal learning curve now has been eliminated.

As a state Representative for District 4, Boone is currently House Majority Leader, is Chairman of the Appropriations (B) Committee and serves on the Appropriations (P) Committee. He also serves on the Joint Legislative Audit Committee, the Joint Committee for Capital Review, and the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.

In addition, Boone is executive director of the Valley Schools Insurance Trust.

Gregoire noted this connection to state government will benefit the school district, as they’ll have an inside track on what’s going on at the legislative level.

“Our finances are dictated by the House of Representatives,” said Gregoire. “This gives us insight and clout as to what’s going on.”

The DVUSD governing board consists of five members elected by popular vote. A president and clerk are selected from the five by fellow board members and serve in those capacities for one year. All board members must reside within the district.