Arizona Daily Sun from Flagstaff, Arizona • 2

A2 Tuesday, March 9, 2010 Arizona Daily Sun azdailysun.com FALA inches closer to adding middle grades School administrators a are unsure whether they can offer grades 7 and 8 in time for the Fall 2010 semester, but the pieces are falling into place for expansion. BY HILLARY DAVIS Sun Staff Reporter Flagstaff Arts Leadership Academy has been cleared to add a middle school program. The Arizona State Board for Charter Schools approved Monday FALA administrators' request to add grades seven and eight as early as this fall, making FALA a 7-12 school. FALA's executive director Becky Daggett and dean Ari Wilder are not yet taking applications and have not released a timeline for middle school admissions. They are staying conservative until the roughly $4 million bond transaction for the school's new campus set to be built at the southwest corner of North Fort Valley Road and North Fremont Boulevard and ready by August has cleared.

Still, the two said they are excited and optimistic about FALA's chances of having a middle school next school year. Wilder said the expansion application to the state required FALA, which has been a high school since 1996, has historically solid scores on state standardized tests and good graduation rates. "All those things combined rightly suggest that we are a pretty phenomenal educational institution," Wilder said. "So I think when you're doing something right and you want to expand you're much more likely to be granted the power to do that expansion." BOND WRAP-UP COMES NEXT Daggett said FALA's bond underwriter is shopping around the package to potential investors, and should have it wrapped up soon. "We really have three decision points.

One was the state allowing us to add middle school, so we've cleared that," she said. "The next one is going to be our bonds closing and having the money to actually build the school, and that by all accounts should be decided in the next significant work. She, along with couple of four FALA faculty members, third one drew up sample, comprehensive struction." language arts and math units for Wilder both seventh and eighth grades. students are She also had to explain FALA's ting a new vision and mission, and how the "FALA middle school would fit in. The er peers small school, which started this a bit of year with close to 200 students, latter, the focuses on creative arts and col- might about lege preparatory academics.

brother or Universities face 12 BY HOWARD FISCHER Capitol Media Services PHOENIX Arizona could owe the federal government almost as much money as a proposed sales tax hike would raise if voters reject it. A contingency plan for what would have to be cut if the one-cent levy fails at the ballot proposes to slash nearly $428.6 million in aid to education. That would be on top of more than $380 million lawmakers are proposing to cut to balance next year's budget, no matter what, including eliminating state funding for full- -day kindergarten programs. And the university system, which escaped unscathed in the basic budget proposal, would take a 12 percent across-the-board cut. That translates out to nearly $39.3 million for the main campus of Arizona State University, more cember IN BRIEF Negrin Special investigator appointed to probe PHOENIX (AP) The Chief Justice of the Arizona Supreme Court has appointed a special investigator to look into allegations of unethical conduct against Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

The investigation arises from a recent court ruling by a Pima County Superior Court judge who concluded that Thomas had prosecuted County Supervisor Mary Rose Wilcox for political gain and had conflicts of interest that should have precluded him from the prosecution. Man sentenced on vacation rental deception PHOENIX (AP) Authorities say a former Arizona man already imprisoned in Wisconsin for fraud will spend an additional five years in federal prison for a vacation rental scam. Prosecutors say 48-year-old Edwin Lyle Negrin swindled -be renters of North Carolina vacation properties that he falsely claimed to own in De- OBITUARIES Richard Fitz Richard Charles "Dick" Fitz, 66, of Flagstaff, died Friday, Jan. 15, 2010, in Grants Pass, Ore. Mr.

Fitz was born Dec. 22, 1943, in Seattle. He was a painting and FITZ landscape contractor. He served in the U.S. National Guard.

Roy Johnson Roy Johnson, 92, died Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, peacefully at home. Mr. Johnson was born Feb. 19, 1918.

He worked in the lumber industry, first in Flagstaff at Saginaw, then Southwest before moving to Alamogordo, N.M., for 30 years. He returned to Arizona six years ago. Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife of 69 years, Anna; sons Eric (Dale) of CORRECTION capacity of Navajo Generating Station in Page is 2,250 megawatts. IN BRIEF CLICK OR CALL For more FALA information, go to www.flagarts.com or call 779-7223.

been in a colony of trailers near the Easton Collection Center at the Museum of Northern Arizona for the last 14 years. "FALA is so special to them and the idea of sharing this really special thing with seventhand eighth -graders, I think they're simultaneously excited about but they're also a little protective," Wilder said. She said the arts curriculum for the younger students will be similar to the high school spread, with offerings in fine arts, music, theater, creative writing and dance. There may be some overlap in the arts courses and more ability-oriented subjects like math, but the middle schoolers will otherwise have their own language arts, math, science and social studies classes. Wilder said she expects to hire four teachers just for the middle school subjects, and have a quad for the middle school classrooms.

JOINS NPA AS A 7-12 CHARTER two larger ones and even adding sixth- graders next year, alongside the closure of Sinagua High School and two elementary schools. A growing parent movement, of however, the is seeking an expansion 7-12 concept as is currently the case at Sinagua would maintain all three middle and high schools. The FUSD governing board will vote no sooner than mid-May. Currently, there are five other charter schools in Flagstaff with seventh and eighth grades: Northland Preparatory Academy, Flagstaff Junior Academy, Pine Forest, Montessori and Peaks. NPA is the only charter that is currently 7-12.

Sinagua is the only Flagstaff district school with a 7-12 configuration. FALA is collecting applications for next year's high school admissions now. Prospective families should have already attended an open house, but if they have not, they should contact Wilder as soon as possible to make an appointment and fill out an application packet. Charter schools receive state per -pupil subsidies but cannot weeks. And then the FALA's governing board ap- levy property taxes.

They must will be the actual con- proved administration's expan- meet the same state testing sion application in December, standards as mainstream pubsaid FALA's current and Wilder shipped off the lic schools but are not subject excited about get- lengthy application soon after. to some of the latter's state home and sharing the The move comes as the Flag- mandates. Charter admission experience" with young- staff Unified School District is gives siblings preference and is even if some have mulling major changes to its then by lottery if more students trepidation about the middle school program. FUSD apply than there are places. way an older sibling administrators have endorsed the birth of a baby consolidating the three rela- Hillary Davis can be reached at sister.

The school has tively small middle schools into or 556-2261. percent cut to make state budget work than $32.6 million for the University of Ari- mula" in the federal law for getting out of the zona and in excess of $16 million for Northern deal. But he conceded it would not be easy. Arizona University. In fact, he said that Arnie Duncan, the federal Only thing is, when Arizona accepted $832 education secretary, said his agency is not apmillion in funds from the American Recovery proving any that have been submitted to date.

and Reinvestment Act, better known as stimu- "But given the fact that this would be a voter lus dollars, Gov. Jan Brewer signed an agree- referral, and the voters would have an opment that Arizona would not reduce funding portunity to speak, we think at that junction for education below what it was in 2006. it would speak volumes to the feds," SenseThese two cuts would bust that agreement man said. He brushed aside the possibility the by a lot. federal government will ask Arizona to repay "It would take our state funding of education the cash.

back 10 years," said gubernatorial press aide Even if the sales tax is approved, the deal bePaul Senseman, to the support levels in 2001. tween Republican legislative leaders and Gov. If that happens, Senseman said Brewer. will Jan Brewer formally unveiled Monday paints a apply for a waiver of the accord she signed last picture of major changes in the state. year, which would absolve Arizona of having to pay back those federal stimulus dollars.

Senseman said there is a "complicated for- 2007 and January 2008. previously pleaded HITTING THE guilty to mail fraud and wire fraud. Authorities say he admitted to defrauding at least 57 people out of about $200,000 by having them wire funds to a bank account in Chandler, then breaking off contact with them. Negrin was sentenced Monday in U.S. District Court in Phoenix and ordered to pay nearly $193,000 in restitution.

In Wisconsin, Negrin was convicted and sentenced in January 2009 to two years in state prison. He was charged with felony fraud for trying to sell a vehicle that he didn't own. Police searching for escaped prisoner PHOENIX (AP) Tempe police say they are searching for a female prisoner who escaped from a hospital while in custody. Arizona State University police also are joining in the effort to find 20-year-old Yvette Decorse, who fled from an officer Monday night while at Tempe St. Luke's Hospital.

Authorities say Decorse was arrested for providing false information and three outstanding warrants. He loved flying and was a member of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association. He also loved fly fishing, laughter and friends. Mr. Fitz is survived by his brothers, Terry Carnahan and Dean Gale of Flagstaff.

A service will be at Lee's Ferry. All are welcome. Call Terry at 699-1894 for details. Telford's Chapel of the Valley of East Wenachee, handled arrangements. Washington state, and Jerry (Roabie) and Kenneth (Susan) of Flagstaff; daughter Carol of Clarkdale; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and sister Lois Watson of California.

A private memorial service will be at a later date. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.buelerfamilyfuneralhome. com. Bueler Family Funeral Home of Camp Verde is handling arrangements. Accomplice in torture case gets probation TUCSON (AP) One of four people accused of torturing a Tucson man for hours has been sentenced to two years of probation.

Larry Bruce Hammond pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and agreed to testify against former beauty queen Kumari Fulbright, whom he said he helped hold a former boyfriend captive for eight to 10 hours in December 2007. Court documents say that Hammond, Fulbright and two other men pointed pistols at the man, threatened his life, and stole his wallet, cell phone, briefcase, and $500 to $600. The documents also say Fulbright bit her ex-boyfriend several times while he was tied up and that she stuck a butcher knife in his ear. POLICE LOG Aggravated assault A Flagstaff man was hit in the face with a chair early Sunday morning. According to Flagstaff police reports, an officer at Flagstaff Medical Center on a call of a dog bite encountered a frantic woman in the emergency department at about 1:30 a.m.

She said she had a person in her vehicle in distress after being in a fight. The officer rushed outside with hospital staff to find the man with a bloodied, puffy and bruised face sliding in and out of consciousness. The woman was unable to tell the officer what happened, but she did get the officer in touch with two friends of the victim who were with the victim when he was attacked. One friend told the officer that they were partying downtown. The victim had become highly intoxicated and while they were waiting for a ride, a group of men approached and began "talking trash" to the victim.

One friend told the group they had the wrong guy, but then one of the men in the group picked up a chair, swung it and smacked the victim in the face with it. The two friends intervened and the suspect fled. The victim could not remember what had happened to him after he had been stabilized by hospital staff. Police have little suspect information. THERE'S MORE TO THE STORY Visit www.azdailysun.com for the full version of this story.

HITTING THE SLOPES SKIERS AND SNOWBOARDERS speed downhill at Snowbowl on Monday morning. (Kendra Daily Sun) Charged with DUI Craig A. Beamsley, 21, 3855 E. Sioux Drive, No. 7-B, was arrested by Flagstaff police and charged with DUI at 1:59 a.m.

Saturday. Anthony P. Begay, 31, of Winslow was arrested by Flagstaff police and charged with super extreme DUI at 2:06 a.m. Saturday. Joshua D.

Ficarra, 21, of Phoenix, was arrested by Flagstaff police and charged with extreme DUI at 2:18 a.m. Saturday. Alyssa J. Ojeda, 20, 1518 E. Gavin Lane, was arrested by Flagstaff police and charged with extreme Dull at 2:23 a.m.

Saturday. Stella L. Flores, 56, 328 E. Zuni Drive, was arrested by Flagstaff police and charged with extreme DUI at 11:45 p.m. Saturday.

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