Ruth Fisher Elementary School

It is unfortunate that this school district has been seriously mismanaged from the top. There are great teachers there who care about our childrens education, but they are stifled by district mismanagement. When we moved here, it was one of the better schools in the county, now it's the poorest, and technically bankrupt due to bad management and planning. Just look at the aims test results. They speak for themselves. for some strange reason they dumb down the classes - I guess so they can meet the no child left behind policy. We moved our children to Palo Verde - a much better school, where children can excel and are challenged daily. It is worth the driving time to take our children there, rather than have the bus pick them up so we can watch them fail. Hopefully with a recall of the board, and a change of leadership, things can get better again.
--Submitted by a parent

I am extremely disappointed with the leadership of this school, especially the Principal (Swanson). My 2 children came to this school 4 months ago, both Honor Roll. One of them is now in danger of failing 7th grade, the other getting into trouble (all brought to Swanson's attention but no positive changes happening). There is no support whatsoever from the current Principal except negativity. It is very distressing. I am soon going to be looking into trying to get them transferred to Arlington, just down the road.
--Submitted by S. H., a parent

My daughter is in 3rd grade with Mrs. Barnett. She is a new teacher this year. The atmosphere is much better this year and we are all working on keeping it up. My involvement is everyday as I am also a current teacher there. The music program is super and the kids are learning a lot in that aspect. Bring an ounce of patience and come visit us we are working hard for you and your kids. Thanks for listening. Go RFE Colts!
--Submitted by Leslee Wayman, a parent

I have 2 children in this school. So far I haven't had any issues with the teachers. My biggest problem is with the communication, or rather lack of communication. When I try to call the school, I can never get a hold of anyone. I leave messages, but never get return phone calls. There really needs to be some large positive changes to this school.
--Submitted by a parent

I recently retired from teaching 4 years at Ruth Fisher Elementary School in the Saddle Mountain Unified School District. I taught 1st and looped to 2nd grade. It was a wonderful experience. My husband also taught P.E. at this school for 12 years. This is a rural yet fast growing area. The children are such a pleasure and I found them such fun to work with. The parents out here in Tonopah struggle like everone else to make ends meet, work, raise a family, travel back and forth to their jobs, and enjoy the atmosphere and somethimes the pains of rural living. I almost always had 90-100% turnout for conferences that sometimes went into 7:00 p.m. on that particular Thursday night. We always tried to accommodate our parents. We even did phone conferences for them. The office staff did a great job under very difficult growing stress you can't imagine! Mrs.Mandrell
--Submitted by a teacher

I have 2 children that have attended ruth fisher for the last 4 years, my overall satisfaction of the school is fair. I think the teacher to child ratio could be improved upon. I also believe a lot of money has been put into the highschool atheletics when funds are needed still at the elementary level.
--Submitted by a parent

We were very unhappy with our first experience in the office. The office is very demanding that you comply with rules and yet I have received conflicting information from both office to teacher and office to office personnel. They harp on not missing school and even when supplied with sign in's from parents and letters sent in to the office as to why the miss occurred they still send nasty letters home regarding unexcused absences. I've also heard teachers say that Tonopah kids are trouble makers and there is nothing that can be done to change that. We moved from an excellent school in Chandler and have been very disappointed with how this school operates and how we have been treated.
--Submitted by a parent

I really like the caring staff members.
--Submitted by a staff

Ruth Fisher has been a great school for my daughter. After transferring to Ruth fisher in the middle of her 3rd grade year, she has raised her grades from B's and C,s to being on the honor roll with straight A+'s. And she loves her teacher, she actually wants to get up every day and go to school (even when she's sick) They must be doing something right!
--Submitted by a parent

This used to be a great school what has happened? You have to fight with the high ups tp get them to do simple testing on children. There are no great strides being made to make our children accomplish anything. All we have heard is were building a high school. Who cares. What about those of us who do not have children in higher grades. You need to take care of the younger students otherwise they won't be interested in attending high school. As far as parent envolvment there is little. Not only do most work, but who wants to get involved with a bunch of people who want everything their way only. Get it together folks, your not the ones that matter here.
--Submitted by a parent