Mesa Public Schools is nationally recognized for excellence in teaching, and for student achievement in academics, sports, creative and performing arts, as well as career and technical programs.
Did you know, however, a variety of support services contribute to ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment for all students? Have you ever wondered who keeps the buses running on schedule, the carpets clean and the technology operating? Here is a behind-the-scenes look at a few departments adding to the success of Mesa Public Schools.
Make meals count
Well-nourished children have improved concentration, elevated test scores, better school attendance and fewer behavioral issues. The central warehouse for food and nutrition drives 820 miles per day to provide students, at 76 campuses, with a wide assortment of appealing and nutritious foods. Each day, students consume 15,500 breakfast quesadillas, as well as 956 gallons of milk, 2,250 pounds of apple slices and a whopping 33,300 slices of whole-wheat pizzeria-style pizza.
A welcoming environment
When students and teachers are healthy and comfortable, the class can maintain focus on teaching and learning. The 389-member custodial department works tirelessly to ensure schools are sparkling every day. These individuals provide important services, from cleaning carpets and disposing properly of waste from the health office, to scrubbing and recoating gymnasium floors. In addition, crews spend three to five days per week dislodging gum from concrete, using high-pressure machines to blast focused streams of heated water to remove the residue.
The future is green
Mesa Public Schools bus drivers safely transport 18,161 students to and from school. They serve as the first and last point of contact with students and parents each day. Transportation maintenance technicians keep 544 buses up and running for the 34,689 daily miles they log. The district operates the largest bus fleet in Arizona, and currently is converting the bus fleet to propane. Last year, Mesa Public Schools reduced greenhouse gases by 2,789 tons, becoming the first school district to win the Propane Autogas Fleet award.
Using technology to provide service to parents
Imagine supporting one of the largest Web sites, and most active online presence of any kindergarten through grade 12 school system in the world. That is all in a day’s work for Web Services, the team responsible for supporting student and staff use of Web-based technology.
In addition to traditional research and learning tools, today’s students use online resources, video conferencing and cloud computing. As the call for technology increases, so do the demands for maintaining the district Web site, and servicing employee and student e-mail.
Mesa Public Schools Web users have created more than 675,000 unique pages of content, have uploaded more than 40,000 minutes or 29 days of video footage, and have helped build a site, which attracts more than 100,000 daily page hits. In addition to Web site news and information, the district Facebook presence allows the community to keep up to date on accomplishments and events.
For more information, please visit www.mpsaz.org, or go to www.facebook.com/mpsaz.