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School Board Cuts 49
Teachers
 Staff reduction of 13% to take effect
next school year
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
APACHE JUNCTION- The Apache
Junction Unified School District
Governing
Board voted unanimously for a
reduction in force for certified staff
during
a special meeting Thursday, March
26, in the board room.
The staff reductions will take effect
next school year.
All first-year teachers except those
who are in hard-to-fill areas and are
highly qualified teachers were on the
board’s certified reduction-in-force
list.
There are 33 of those teachers.
Sixteen certified staff on emergency
teaching certification for this school
year will be on the nonrenewal list.
These people were employed due to a
temporary emergency condition that is
no longer in effect.
This totals 49 teachers or approximately
13 percent of the AJUSD’s total
current 365-person teaching staff, said
Betty Swanson, a district spokeswoman.
“We will have enough to solve the
problems we need to solve,” said Dr.
Greg Wyman,
the district superintendent.
After the reduction in force/emergency
teaching
certification nonrenewals occur, a
“hold” process
will occur until the point in time where
additional
financial information is available and
voluntary/
obligatory transfers are in place. At
this point, the
district will determine any staffing
needs and may
be able to offer positions to
reduction-in-force employees.
After the reduction in force/
emergency teaching certification
occurs, all understaffed
positions in the district (as
determined by comparing anticipated
school staffing with
established ratios) will be
posted internally with the exception
of those positions determined
to be “hard to fill,”
said Chad Wilson, associate
superintendent for education
Services. These positions will
be also posted externally. Dr.
Wyman will make the determination
of “hard to fill” positions.
AJ Man Found Guilty Of
Murder
 2nd degree murder charge stems from 2007
killing
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
After a nine-day trial, a
26-year-old Apache Junction
man was found guilty March
26 of second degree murder
and misconduct involving
weapons in connection to a
November 17, 2007, killing.
Zachary M. White faces
up to 30 years in prison for
shooting and killing Carl R.
Anello, 26, in the 1800 block
of South Monterey in Apache
Junction. The shooting took
place during a party, according
to Capt. Tom Kelly of the
Apache Junction Police Department.
“They claimed they were
playing a game where they
tied each other with duct tape
in a chair to see how long it
would take them to rip their hands or
arms away from the
chair,” Kelly said. “Alcohol
was probably involved. During
the course of this thing,
Zachary got his hands on a
gun and pointed at Carl’s
head and the gun discharged
killing Anello when he was in
the chair.”
White was arrested by detectives
of the Apache Junction
Police Department’s Criminal
Investigation Division
and indicted on two counts
of second degree murder and
misconduct involving weapons.
The prosecutor in this case
was Deputy Pinal County
Attorney Gregory Bizzozero
and the presiding judge was
Superior Court Judge Boyd
Johnson.
After the jury returned their
verdict, Johnson held an additional
hearing which found
aggravating factors. The results
of this finding could enhance
the penalties at White’s
sentencing hearing. The sentencing
hearing is scheduled
for April 21, 2009 in front of
Judge Johnson.
Council To Change ‘Call To Public’
 May be moved to end of meeting
By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski
The News
The Apache Junction City
Council is poised to permanently
move the “Call to the
Public” portion of council
meetings to the end of its
regular meetings so business
can be more efficiently conducted.
“I believe very strongly that
folks who have scheduled
agenda items should come
first,” said Councilwoman
Robin Barker. “They need to
be able to get their business
finished and go home. If we
have “Call to the Public” at
the beginning, it seems like
in the past we’ve taken a
very long time to get through
that. The other people have
to wait. I frankly think it’s
rude to make them wait that
long.”
Barker added, “I think “Call
to the Public” is a right as well
as a privilege. People have a
right to address their elected
officials. It’s something that
councils vote to have.”
Arizona law does not require
a “Call to the Public” portion
of a city council meeting, and
many cities choose not to include
a “Call to the Public” in
their meetings.
Mayor John Insalaco agreed
with Councilwoman Barker.
“We’re hoping to move it,”
he said. “As far as I’m concerned,
I’d like it moved to
the end. I can’t speak for anyone
else. I have the feeling
that most of us want it.”
See
A-1 and see
City Council
A-5
Prospectors Shine On
Diamond
 A.J. defeats Sinagua 12-7 for first win
of the season, then makes it two in a
row with 9-6 win over Verrado
By Chuck Baker
The News
The Prospectors banged
out 15 hits and got a gritty
performance from starting
pitcher Ryan Howard to
knock off Flagstaff Sinagua
12-7 last Tuesday for
the team’s first win of the
season. It was also the first
win for head coach Preston
English in his first year at
the helm.
Ryan Howard tossed six
and a third tough innings,
allowing seven runs on
seven hits and although he
walked six and hit three
other Sinagua batters, he
fanned seven to get the “W”
and then went 2-for-3 at the
plate with a double and two
runs batted in.
Howard entered the seventh
inning with a 12-3 lead
but was tiring on the mound
as the Mustangs loaded the
bases and then scored four
runs on three singles, a walk
and two hit batsmen.
Coach English wanted
Howard to finish the game
he had started but chose to
bring in relief pitcher Nick
Saathoff, who got the final
two outs.
“I’m a big believer in letting
a pitcher who worked
as hard as ‘Howie’ did finish
the game,” Coach English
said.
Saathoff had quite a game
as well at the plate, going
2-for-3 with a double and
two runs batted in, scored
four runs and swiped two
stolen bases.
See
B-1 and see
AJHS,
B-6
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