Parents and guardians of students attending Salt River Schools showed up to the Early Childhood Education Center Gathering Place on Sept. 15 for the Superintendent Stakeholder Committee meeting to lend their voices and hear about what’s new this school year.

Key topics on the agenda included the new truancy ordinance, Higher Education funding, disciplinary procedures at the schools, what’s happening at the Accelerated Learning Academy, and a conversation about an incident that impacted Salt River Elementary School a few days prior, on Sept. 11. The Salt River Police Department was on hand to give a brief overview of the incident.

3 Takeaways:

• The Salt River Schools Superintendent Stakeholder Committee held a meeting in September to inform parents about updates from each grade level in the new school year.
• After an incident impacted Salt River Elementary School, parents and guardians discussed the incident with school staff and the Salt River Police Department and learned more about policies in place to inform families if there is a perceived threat.
• Learn about upcoming events at Salt River Schools and exciting opportunities for students.

Leadership and Food Services Talk Values and Culture

After a prayer and dinner, Salt River Schools Superintendent Cheryl Houston welcomed all in attendance with a refresher on the core values of Salt River Schools.

Houston said the work at Salt River Schools is forever grounded in O’odham and Piipaash culture and language (roots), strengthened by Education Board governance and accountability (a safe and secure river), guided and sustained by ongoing professional development opportunities (the harvest of improvement across academics and careers), and inspired by critical engagement with the students, families and Community they are blessed serve (the sunrise on next generations).

Food Service Manager Shannon Reina discussed how Salt River Food Services is teaching and enforcing healthy eating. The Food Services team will be incorporating more O’odham and Piipaash culture into school menus, from ingredients to vocabulary words. The team reported that a new cook position has been added, there has been a 49% increase in student breakfast participation since April 2026, and a team of students at the Accelerated Learning Academy will participate in the 2027 Blue Watermelon Project “Feeding the Future” contest.

New Partnership With SCC, CCDF Funding Expands Early Childhood Education Opportunities

Child Care Development Fund Certificate Program liaisons were present to talk about CCDF funds and how they have impacted students. CCDF funding helped open the Eagles Nest at the Accelerated Learning Academy, three infant/toddler classrooms and one preschool classroom. The funding added 18 positions and provides services to 40 children.

In an enrollment and strategy update for the schools, parents were informed about Salt River Higher Education’s recent accomplishments. A new partnership with Scottsdale Community College’s American Indian Program will offer Higher Education office hours during certain events to increase student access to support. Other accomplishments include continued student and family engagement with program orientations and FAFSA workshops, ongoing provided Community-informed services, and expanding access to higher education and career training.

More key updates from the Superintendent Stakeholder Committee:

• School & Community Relations: Attendance improvement incentive program to recognize and reward improved attendance each semester. Strengthening truancy monitoring and student support with improved communication.
• Staff and engagement strategy from Education Social Services: The Child Find program has been rebranded as SEED (Supporting Early Education & Development) and increased ESS program visibility.
• Early Childhood Education Center engagement highlights: the Fatherhood Program launched Aug. 21 with 15 participants, 10 fathers and five mothers. Upcoming events at ECEC include the Goodie Gathering (Oct. 16), Native American Recognition Days (Nov. 16–20), Winter Celebration (Dec. 11), Pizza With Police (Jan. 22) and Big Wheel Day (Jan. 27).
• Salt River Elementary School is hiring an ESS teacher and is beginning interviews for a music teacher. SRES is actively educating parents about bullying awareness and prevention.
• Accelerated Learning Academy initiatives include monthly student leadership activities/meetings; student mentorship, internship and work-study programs; Chef in the Garden; parenting classes and Eagles Nest ECEC partnership; new Scottsdale Community College music partnership; and a new attendance clerk position to support the truancy ordinance.