Mountain Vista Middle School

It blows my mind as a parent how incompetence can continue to run this school. My daughter tells me everyday about the drinking in the bathroom and the kids get a slap on the wrist instead of suspension. She says she has heard the principal talking to staff about not wanting the reputation to be bad in the neighborhood so she will not suspend the students who deserve it. That is not okay in my book and am waiting until a spot opens up in the local charter school to transfer her. Parents get your kids out now if you want a future for them
--Submitted by a parent

To the person below me this school is a GREAT school and Mrs Taylor does a great job.. She is a great principal and she does NOT bully no kids around.. The only reason i would rate the principal a 4 out of 5 is because, YES there is only ONE principal but i can tell you right now since my Kids have switched from Magma K-8 they have learned 20 MORE and excelled WAY better than they did in Magma Ranch. This school is GREAT and NO DOUBTS ABOUT IT! GREAT PROGRAMS, AWESOME TEACHERS, AND VERY INVOLVED WITH THE PARENTS! 5 OUT OF 5!
--Submitted by a parent

I check this site often as a member of this school community. Seeing the posts that tell potential parents that the school is racist and promotes bullying is disturbing. When my child has had any issues with other students the staff and administration have been on top of it. It is too bad that the issues aren't being brought to the attention of those at the school who CAN and WILL do something about it. Communication between home and school is the key to making a childs experience at school a good one.
--Submitted by a parent

If you spent just a bit of your time at the school I honestly believe you would be overwhelmingly impressed by the dedication and care that is being offered to our children. Speak to one of these dedicated teachers -ask them about your student - they know them - I promise you - your student is not lost in the crowd. Once you see how the staff interacts with our kids - you see the engagement - the kind that some of us only wish we had or SHOULD have with our children - then you will know that much of the negative that has been said in previous posts is from parents who know absolutely nothing at all about Mountain Vista Middle School. Ask your child about the amazing elective classes that are being offered - they are out of this world - and offered only because of the additional work and time the same teachers put in to create these NEW classes. Ask them about the new Math program that the school is piloting. Ask them about how their principal knows each one of them by name and knows to ask them how a test went and exactly what that student is working on in each class. Did you know there is a PTO? I am just so proud to say that my daughter is an MVMS Wolverine! T.Y. MVMS!
--Submitted by a parent

There are a lot of negative comments for Mountain Vista Middle School. But the positives comments seem to go to the charter Schools in the area. Why? And there are a lot of teachers standing up for Mountain Vista and that's good. But Coolidge Unified School District needs to make more academic improvements to win back the students that the parents have given many chances to San Tan and Mountain Vista over the years. As a parent I want what's best for my children and if that means putting them in a Charter School then that's what I need to do. I don't think that CUSD is meeting their needs, right now.
--Submitted by a parent

As a parent of two kkids at mvms and very involved I have to agree with the teacher. Most of them are dedicated to the kids and go above the call duty. However you can only be as good as your leaders. They are hampered by people in leadership roles that have personal motives when decision making happens and unfortunately for whatever reason the assistant principal was not asked back. He always had the kids interest at heart. He set up fundraisers for families of sick students, he was at every sporting event home or away, and he disciplined the kids while teaching them lifelong lessons in the process. He was a community figure at both the elementary school and mvms. If the leaders at the top had the same dedication as he had to the kids and community coolidge would be in a much different situation. Parents need to quit complaining on this site andspeak up to the board memebers about what's right and wrong to change anything.
--Submitted by a parent

As a teacher at MVMS I am so upset to read to the negative comments from these parents. Let me tell you how it really is at our school. Our team is small but it is very powerful in many ways. Every teacher stays at this school ( not for a paycheck) but because we love enriching the live of our students in a positive way. We are there for students when they are laughing and comforting them when they are crying. Many teachers stay after school to tutor students who are struggling without receiving extra pay. The teachers build relationships with students and parents that last a lifetime. We are encouraging students inside the classroom and cheering them on when it comes to activities outside of school. As far as dicipline I believe as teachers we handle that well within our classroom. An experienced teacher does not need to send a student to the principle for every little thing. I am appauled about being blasted on here when I have been committed to this district for four years. As a parent if you have a problem please come in and discuss it with us. Our school has a open door policy which students and parents are more than welcome to talk to teachers and the principle
--Submitted by a teacher

I just want to say that I have seen Mountain Vista Middle school go through some growing pains. Last year however, I was very excited to see this school return to the Middle school format we grew up with. What a change this had made! The new athletic grounds are fantastic for sports! The new principal has really done a lot to move forward. I realize that some parents are upset because there students may be held accountable for their actions but I think I speak for most parents when I say that thats what we want. I dont hear anything about discipline problems anymore.

My name is Cecilia Johnson and I am the superintendent of Coolidge Unified School District. I am beginning my third year. I am very proud of our accomplishments, our students, teachers and administrators. I want to make this district an outstanding district for the community. Please contact me at 520-723-2042 and I would be happy to discuss any concerns that you have.

I understand that there is some frustration within the community about staffing changes at MVMS; however, blasting the teachers is simply unfair and unfathomable. The reality is that staffing is based on student number, both for teachers and administrators. If enrollment declines, the school cannot afford to support a staff that it once maintained. So in essence, pulling your students from MVMS only perpetuates the problem that causes your frustration. Criticizing teachers however is unacceptable. Here's a bit of information that you might not have known about some of your teachers at MV. Many MV teachers came back, un-paid, and set up their classrooms to be prepared for Meet the Teacher and the first day of school. Many teachers volunteer time they could be spending with their families to help the students at ASAP. Some of the teachers have forgone positions in Chandler, Gilbert, and Mesa, which pay considerably higher. BUT, we've committed ourselves to San Tan Valley and MVMS. The staff of MVMS has made a commitment to be part of your family. Would you make a commitment and be part our ours?
--Submitted by a teacher