BCSD board to fill vacancy
BY TSN
BULLHEAD CITY – The Bullhead City School District (BCSD) governing board is accepting applications to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of member Brandee Dubois, who stepped down this month. She was elected as a write-in candidate to a full four-year term last November after having been previously appointed to fill an unexpired term.
The board is expected to recommend its newest member at its August 12 meeting, which is open to the public. A formal appointment will then be made by Mohave County School Superintendent Mike File. Under state law, File has the right to accept or reject a board’s recommendation, or unilaterally name his own appointee.
Because a vacancy is being filled, that seat will be up for election next year (2022) rather than at the end of Dubois’ full four-year term.
School board members are responsible for setting policies and goals, reviewing and approving budgets, and hiring and evaluating the superintendent. They do not receive a salary for monthly meetings, periodic student disciplinary or personnel hearings, or workshops.
Potential candidates must live within the District’s boundaries. Interested candidates who meet the legal requirements should submit letters of interest by July 28 to the school district offices at 1004 Hancock Road, Building 100, in Bullhead City. They may also be emailed to bcsdboard@crsk12.org . District boundaries are posted at https://resources.mohavecounty.us/file/SchoolSuperintendent/SchoolDistricts_2020.pdf .
Board members may choose to interview candidates in open session at the August meeting.
Meeting dates, times and agendas for BCSD are posted at www.crsk12.org and on Facebook at Bullhead City School District (@BCESD) and Colorado River Schools (@crsk12az).
Bullhead City School District traces its history to what’s now known as “The Little Red Schoolhouse,” which opened almost 75 years ago, and now has six schools serving students pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
First-of-its-kind endeavor in Arizona, MEC and TWN celebrate 1st fiber optic broadband connections
BY TSN
BULLHEAD CITY – Mohave Electric Cooperative (MEC), TWN Communications (TWN), state and local elected officials, along with community members came together on July 15, to commemorate the first fiber broadband connections.
In a first-of-its-kind endeavor for an electric cooperative in Arizona, MEC is building a fiber-optic network to enhance electric operations and provide fast, reliable broadband service for each MEC member, a service territory consisting of 36,000 members / 42,500 end points.
“Our members and electeds insisted MEC take on this challenge,” said MEC CEO Tyler Carlson. “MEC was formed by our early members when investor-owned utilities would not provide electricity to this area. Similarly, our members have a drastic need for reliable internet not provided by others. 75 years later, the cooperative model comes full circle, and here we are bringing a fiber network to serve our members’ needs.”
MEC overcame incredible challenges and successfully triumphed a few “firsts” in order to start a fiber broadband project. MEC was the first Arizona electric cooperative to secure legislation during the COVID 19 pandemic with a super majority of both houses passing SB 1460, and Governor Ducey signing the legislation in June 2020. MEC is the first electric co-op to receive unanimous broadband financing approval from the Arizona Corporation Commission and also the first electric co-op- to secure $110 million in private financing through CoBank. These rare milestones demonstrate why MEC’s fiber network is “first of its kind” for an Arizona electric co-op.
Construction for this five-year project began December 2020, and June 29, 2021 marks the day when MEC and TWN made their first fiber broadband connection.
“This first connection represents another big step toward the bridging the digital divide, a cornerstone for telemedicine, remote learning, benefits to business and the economy for our rural area,” Carlson continued.