Bright Ideas - TUSD's Community Input Program

Thank you!

"I wanted to thank you for helping teachers and staff feel that our opinions are important! In a big district I feel lost sometimes and that no one is 'listening'. Although I don't have a 'bright idea' to share at this time, thanks anyway!"
-- From a TUSD staff member

Hot Items:

In the 2007-2008 school year, each high school has a full-time career counselor.
TUSD's Professional Learning and Pima Community College have worked together to develop a customer service class designed especially for TUSD office staff.
Ideas submitted to the Bright Ideas program have resulted in over $2.5 M in savings and many other changes that have made TUSD more efficient.
TUSD's Wellness Committee, through health provider Aetna, is now offering wellness programs.

We need your ideas on how to save money and increase our revenue at TUSD! (Complete the Bright Ideas online form to send your ideas to the committee.)

What Can You Do?

Consider TUSD in your estate planning. Contact Financial Services (225-6130) regarding a Gift Donation Fund.
Consider TUSD before any other school options
Please contact your legislators to voice your opinion on the necessity to increase funding for K-12 education in Arizona.
Volunteer in the schools. For information, see the Volunteer web page.
Donate your state tax credit dollars for a TUSD school of your choice. For information, see the Tax Credit web page.
Provide supplies to schools.
Consider TUSD before any other school options! If you live outside of TUSD, you can apply to have your children attend a TUSD school through the open enrollment program. For more information about enrolling in TUSD, see the enrollment procedures web page.

How the Bright Ideas Program Works:

The program works by receiving suggestions submitted by employees, parents, students and community members. When you submit your ideas, they are entered into a database.

The Bright Ideas Committee (BIC) meets every other week for two hours to review suggestions. BIC is comprised of representatives from stakeholder groups, including teachers, parents, principals, administration, food services, transportation, facilities, and support staff.

An idea which seems viable is forwarded on to the appropriate "change agent" in various departments who can further analyze how the suggestion can impact the District. If the suggestion is adopted, then the BIC tracks the progress and measures the success.

This program was designed by the Research Opportunities for Investment (ROI) Task Force, who in 2004 began looking at the best use of district resources.

Our successes include over $2.1 million in savings and many other changes that have made TUSD more efficient.

Conscientiously utilizing our volunteer committee resources, we do not respond to each bright idea submitted. Please check our website periodically to see what ideas we are able to implement.

Why We Need Your Help:

As the front line experts in our TUSD community, parents, students, staff, and community members, you have demonstrated that you have original, effective ideas about improving our education system. Your input is valuable in our efforts to make TUSD a stronger school system, so we can best educate our children. Help us ensure a better future for the children of Tucson by submitting your Bright Idea. Please submit your ideas by using the online form.