All school year long, Mesa’s schools grade the kids, so it’s only right the students and their parents should get to return the favor.

After joyfully receiving millions of dollars in new state funding for teacher raises, fullday kindergarten and special education, Arizona’s school districts are finding themselves in an unexpected predicament — they are spending too much money, according to the state’s constitution.

The north East Valley will have a new school district next year. Voters in the Troon and Rio Verde areas decided to form a school district rather than join the Cave Creek Unified School District during Tuesday’s election.

After Election Day, the Troon and Rio Verde areas in the north East Valley will belong to a school district for the first time. But whether the area joins the Cave Creek Unified School District or forms a new one is up to voters.

After joyfully receiving millions of dollars in new state funding for teacher raises, fullday kindergarten and special education, Arizona’s school districts are finding themselves in an unexpected predicament — they are spending too much money, according to the state’s constitution.

After Election Day, the Troon and Rio Verde areas in the north East Valley will belong to a school district for the first time. But whether the area joins the Cave Creek Unified School District or forms a new one is up to voters.

Big financial challenges for Scottsdale’s public schools have brought out options that many parents find upsetting, even intolerable. These include the possibility of closing schools and rearranging attendance boundaries.

Just in time for the first day of school, Gilbert Unified School District unveiled its new website at www.gilbertschools.net. Changes were made to make the site more user friendly, easier to navigate, and more visually appealing. It is now possible to get to any school or quickly navigate to desired locations from the links on the top of each page.

The Arizona Department of Education honored 18 districts and charter schools this week during its Leading Change Conference in Tucson.

Classes resume July 26 in the Chandler Unified School District. Schools are now open for enrollment.

The Chandler Chamber of Commerce has named Chalene Baxter of Santan Elementary School the educator of the Year, Riggs Elementary School Principal Jan Weyenberg the administrator of the year and Hamilton High School custodian Chris Debb the support staff employee of the year.

Mesa school board members will spend Tuesday evening in a huddle asking questions of administrators and considering districtwide proposed changes for next school year. The key discussion may revolve around the Mesa Unified School District’s proposal to move ninth-graders to three high schools next year and the other three comprehensive high schools the following year.

Flat roofs at three Higley elementary schools have caused roof leaks in the past, most recently at San Tan Elementary School, and district officials are making sure the leaks haven't caused any mold.

The Higley Unified School District governing board will have a public hearing and possibly adopt the 2009-2010 budget on Wednesday.

The Mesa Unified School District administration will present a proposed budget for the 2009-2010 school year during a governing board meeting Tuesday.