Graduation: Tucson has been using a grant and volunteers from AmeriCorps to try to improve the high school graduation rate and students’ access to college or jobs after high school. The initial grant was for two years, and it just got renewed. We ask Ben Olsen, the director of the program, about the track record of the program so far. Board of Education: An update on the state board of education, from the Southern Arizona member of the board, Calvin Baker. He’s also superintendent of the Vail School District. He explains the top priority for the school board is its ongoing work to establish how to grade public schools in the state. Healthcare update: We ask Children’s Action Alliance to give us an update about what the present state of healthcare means in Tucson. How can the regular person keep up with the changes every day to federal policy proposals, and what they mean here? Interview is with Dana Wolfe Naimark, president and CEO of Children’s Action Alliance. Sheriff’s Department: Arizona Daily Star reporter Caitlyn Schmidt first reported the misuse of funds that the Sheriff’s Department seized during criminal investigations. A top deputy was indicted and sentenced in that case, but now the Sheriff himself has asked the state to conduct a full investigation into that issue. We check in with Schmidt now to explain the Sheriff’s request and potential implications for the department.
