District News and Updates
News and Updates
Heat Index Chart/Heat Illness Awareness
As Arizona continues to experience summer temperatures, the Florence Unified School District is committed to ensuring the health and safety of our students. We want to share how our schools monitor weather conditions and make decisions regarding outdoor activities.
Our District uses the heat index to assess weather conditions each day. The heat index is shared with all school principals and is also available on the District website. This information helps guide decisions regarding outdoor activities, including recess, physical education, and other campus events.
Depending on the heat index, schools may:
- Shorten or move outdoor activities indoors.
- Modify or cancel recess.
- Adjust physical education activities.
- Increase hydration and cooling breaks for students.
We strongly encourage all students to bring a refillable water bottle to school each day. Every campus has water bottle filling stations where students can refill their bottles throughout the day to stay hydrated.
For athletic programs, our Director of Athletics works closely with principals and coaches by monitoring both the heat index and the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), which measures the heat stress individuals may experience, particularly during outdoor activities in direct sunlight. These tools help determine when additional safety precautions are necessary, including modifying practice schedules, increasing rest and hydration breaks, moving activities indoors, or postponing or canceling practices and competitions.
The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. We appreciate your partnership in helping students come to school prepared with water, appropriate clothing, and sunscreen when appropriate.
Arizona Healthy Schools Act (House Bill #2164)
As we begin the 2026-2027 school year, we want to share an important update regarding classroom celebrations.
Arizona's new Arizona Healthy Schools Act (House Bill #2164) has changed what foods may be shared with students during the school day. Beginning this school year, foods containing certain prohibited ingredients may not be brought to school for distribution to students during birthday celebrations, holiday parties, or other classroom events.
For purposes of this law, the school day is defined as beginning at midnight before the instructional day and ending 30 minutes after the conclusion of the instructional day. During this time, foods containing any of the prohibited ingredients may not be distributed to students on campus.
What this means for our classroom:
- Parents may continue to pack any lunch, snack, or treat they choose for their own child.
- Birthday treats or snacks intended to be shared with classmates must comply with the Arizona Healthy Schools Act.
- Foods containing any of the state's prohibited ingredients cannot be distributed to other students during the school day.
- To help avoid disappointment, please contact me before sending any food items for a classroom celebration.
There are many wonderful ways to celebrate birthdays without food! Some ideas include:
- Donating a favorite book to the classroom
- Stickers, pencils, or bookmarks
- A special birthday certificate
- A classroom helper privilege
- A fun birthday recognition during class
Thank you for your understanding and partnership as we comply with state law while continuing to make every student's birthday special
26-27 Tech Update: Changes to Bring Your Own Device Policy
See the letter below from district administation explaining changes to the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) policy for the upcoming school year.
Beginning with the 2026–2027 school year, all Florence Unified School District students will no longer need to bring personal laptops or tablets to school for instruction. District-issued devices will provide all technology needed for daily learning and state testing.
This change supports student safety, data security, and instructional consistency while aligning with new state requirements that limit student use of personal devices and restrict access to social media during the school day.
District-issued devices are designed to provide secure internet access, protect student information, and ensure that all students have reliable access to the digital resources used in the classroom. In addition, using district-managed devices reduces technical issues caused by the wide variety of personal devices and allows teachers and technology staff to focus more on instruction rather than troubleshooting connectivity problems.
Students should leave personal instructional devices at home, as district devices will meet all educational and testing requirements throughout the school year.
We appreciate the partnership of our families as we implement this change to create a safer, more secure, and more consistent learning environment for every student. Should you have any questions, please call 520-866-3500 during normal business hours or email ASK@fusdaz.org
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District Committees
Budgetary Steering Committee
The primary community committee is composed of stakeholders representing the diverse subgroups within the Florence Unified School District community. The Budgetary Steering Committee reviews the findings and proposals submitted by each subcommittee, evaluating which options—or combination of options—can achieve the necessary budget reductions while minimizing the impact on students’ educational experiences and family support systems.
4-Day School Week Committee
The 4-Day School Week Committee is dedicated to exploring the potential impacts of transitioning the district to a four-day school week. The committee is developing a proposed model and examining key considerations, including operational changes, staff compensation, and overall budgetary implications.
Building Closure Committee
The Building Closure Committee is responsible for evaluating the potential impacts of school site closures. The committee examines the financial and logistical implications of closing each facility, including student reassignment plans and the effects of those transitions on students and families. Ultimately, the committee develops a prioritized list of school sites that may be considered for closure, if necessary.
7-12 Model Committee
The 7–12 Model Committee is evaluating what the district would look like if existing high schools were restructured to serve grades 7–12. The committee is researching outcomes from other districts that have implemented this model, assessing facility capacity and constraints, and analyzing the potential benefits and challenges of such a transition.
Latest Updates: Hear from our Committees
Budgetary Steering Committee
4-Day School Week Committee
Stay informed with monthly video updates from our committee leads, sharing the work, progress, and priorities shaping our district work.
Building Closure Committee
Stay informed with monthly video updates from our committee leads, sharing the work, progress, and priorities shaping our district work.
7-12 Model Committee
Stay informed with monthly video updates from our committee leads, sharing the work, progress, and priorities shaping our district work.