The Laveen Elementary School District’s David Glasser Athletic Complex is the new home of the sod used in the 2017 Cactus Bowl thanks to a rather large donation by the Fiesta Bowl Charities.

Following December’s Kansas State vs. UCLA game, the sod was removed from Chase Field and transported to Laveen where it was installed at the district’s new community football/soccer field. The organization unveiled the new turf, freshly painted with the Fiesta Bowl logo, on March 8. An added gift was permanently fixed electronic scoreboard that was installed just days earlier.

The field sits on the site of the former Laveen School which was rebuilt a mile away. Once demolished, the Laveen community voiced interest in using the site for community ball fields.

The district utilized a $185,000 grant, awarded by the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority, as well as almost $850,000 in capital funds to renovate the site. However, there was not enough funding available for sod, meaning the fields would not be ready for spring season sports. In came Fiesta Bowl Charities to the rescue. “Today, thanks to Fiesta Bowl Charities, we have an absolutely beautiful lush green lawn on the new football field,” remarked district superintendent Dr. Bill Johnson at the official unveiling.

The site now includes the new football/soccer field, two baseball fields, a practice area, snack shack and expanded parking.  The athletic complex was named in honor of fallen Phoenix Police officer David Glasser who was killed in the line of duty while serving the Laveen community in 2016.

“This new quality athletic field provides a much needed amenity for the Laveen community. It has already created a tremendous amount of interest and excitement in youth sports. We are extremely grateful to Fiesta Bowl Charities for helping a dream become a reality,” Johnson added.

The district will dedicate the completed complex on April 12 just before the intramural football championship game that will be played on the new field. It will be primarily used by local youth ball leagues.

The Laveen Elementary School District is celebrating the grand opening of the David Glasser Athletic Complex at 4:00 p.m. on April 12.

The event will celebrate the addition of the three ball fields and other recreational areas to the Laveen community while honoring fallen Phoenix Police officer David Glasser who served this community. It will also recognize the partners who made this complex possible.

Following the ceremony, the football field will host the championship intramural football game beginning at 4:35 p.m.

The new complex features a football/soccer field, two baseball fields, a practice area, and snack shack.  The complex is owned and operated by the district and will serve the various youth ball leagues of Laveen. It was developed on the site of the old Laveen School near 51st Avenue & Dobbins.

The project was funded primarily through the district’s capital budget and was developed by Jokake Construction. A $185,000 grant by the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority offset additional costs. The Fiesta Bowl donated the sod used in the 2017 Cactus Bowl game and an electronic scoreboard for the football / soccer field. The David Glasser Foundation provided funding for other improvements.

Read more about the David Glasser Athletic Complex.

Laveen Elementary School District held a groundbreaking celebration for the David Glasser Athletic Complex on November 3. The complex will be built on the site of the old Laveen School at 5001 W. Dobbins.

The new athletic complex will include a football/soccer field and two baseball fields. It will serve the various youth ball clubs of Laveen.

The complex is named in honor of fallen Phoenix Police Officer David Glasser who was killed in the line of duty in 2016 while responding to a burglary call within the Laveen community.

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Beginning in the 2017-18 school year, Laveen will be utilizing a standards-based grading system which allows us to better communicate with parents on the progress students are making toward mastering the academic standards. Students’ grades for each subject area will be reported in two separate categories: academic achievement and effort. The academic grades will  include assignments or tests that measure the students’ mastery of the learning standards. The effort grades will include such things as class assignments, homework, and participation.

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