School Board Meeting Schedules

CRTP-Y member David  Laura  spoke about problems in San Luis. He reminded the audience that he was speaking  as a concerned citizen, not as a school board spokesperson. We have some 1,500  students who live in Mexico but cross the border every morning to attend Yuma  County schools. It is costly for Yuma schools to provide education to children  of parents who live out of county, parents who do not pay taxes to support those  schools. 

 
However,  according to Mr. Lara, the much greater problem is that people in Mexico are  using these children as drug mules. Although the mayor of San Luis perpetuates  the myth that San Luis is the safest city in Arizona, the fact is that the drug  problems, overdoses and such, have exploded and the problem at the high school  is in crisis. There were recently as many as 20 arrests of students at the high  school on drug charges. And the problem has moved into our local schools as  well.

 
It  would be illegal for the border patrol to stop the children from crossing into  our country. They are simply waved through in the morning rush hour traffic  melee of farm workers and green card holders on their way to work.  It can take  as much as 4 hours to cross the border.  We  cannot lawfully stop the children from crossing into the US. however, we can perhaps deal with it from our side. Often, parents in Mexico cede guardianship  of their children to friends or relatives who live on this side of the border so  that they have a legal address in the county. Lawfully, a minor must be in the  custody of their legal guardian all the while they are in Mexico.

 
It’s  a huge problem. It used to be agreed among the worst criminals that using  children was off limits. No more. Mr. Lara encouraged those in attendance to take part in the public forums held at School, at school board meetings where this troubling  problem will continue unless we get involved. 

Your concerns and comment regarding the number of students who cross the border every day to attend schools here in Yuma County are needed.  U.S. taxpayers are footing the cost of these foreign students and that is NOT right.  School Board officials as well as Yuma County Supervisors are listed below.  Have an opinion? Send them a message!


Contact  information Yuma Union High School District
Phillip D. Townsend,  Board President, 5111 E. Gila Ridge Road, Yuma AZ 85365
Bruce Gwynn, Board Vice President, 6792 East Telegraph Street, Yuma AZ 85365  
Email: bgwynn@yumaunion.org
Jacqueline Kravitz 1881  W. 24th Street, Suite C, Yuma, AZ 85364  Email: jkravitz@yumaunion.org
David Lara, Board  Member, P.O. Box 3748, San Luis AZ 85349   Email:  dlara@yumaunion.org
Shelley Mellon, 2180  South 4th Avenue, Suite D, Yuma, AZ 85364  Email:  smellon@yumaunion.org

Board of  Supervisors District 1  Martin Porchas   Email: martin.porchas@yumacountyaz.gov
District 2 - Russell  McCloud    Email:  russell.mccloud@yumacountyaz.gov

District 3 - Darren  Simmons    Email:  darren.simmons@yumacountyaz.gov

District 4 - Tony Reyes     Email:  tony.reyes@yumacountyaz.gov

District 5 - Lynne Pancrazi.    Email:   lynne.pancrazi@yumacount