InBuckeye Magazine July 2025

InBuckeye Spring 2025 InBuckeye Magazine InBuckeye.com InBuckeye is Buckeye's premier local news source. InBuckeye is your go-to source for hyper-local news and information about Buckeye, Arizona. Stay informed with the latest community updates, events, and stories that matter to our city. InBuckeye is the only dedicated news outlet focusing exclusively on the city of Buckeye, ensuring residents are always in the know.

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July 2025

How daytime laborers stay cool in the summer BURN NOTICE

HISTORY • COMMUNITY • BUSINESS • EDUCATION • MORE

July 2025

LEADING OFF Editor’s letter 4 HISTORY He helped build the canals and a lot more 6 Blast from the past 8 COMMUNITY What happened to Daniel Robinson? Where the case stands after 4 years 10 Buckeye wants to add to its skyline 16 How do daytime workers cope with summer heat? We asked some 18 EDUCATION Controversial ESA program finds success story in Old Town 24 Superintendent says what makes A-rated Buckeye Union High the best 28 BUSINESS Mapping Buckeye business news 30 Local CFO to chair gala as company champions education, labor 34 REAL ESTATE Extreme home sales 36 Newly approved custom homes — where will they be built? 38 Mid-year real estate snapshot by neighborhood 40

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GAMES A suburb above 42 DIRECTORY Your guide to Buckeye businesses 44 TRENDING What’s the latest in Buckeye? 47

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ON THE COVER Michael McDaniel captures Landon Landon Lowe, owner of The Termite Guy, a Buckeye-based pest control company, servicing a backyard in the Tartesso neighborhood June 25.

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Editor’s Letter ELIAS WEISS

Hot topics

T HIS EDITION OF INBUCKEYE MAGAZINE BRINGS THE FULL HEAT OF SUMMER. We begin with new developments in one of the most haunting unsolved cases in recent memory: the 2021 disappearance of Buckeye geologist Daniel Robinson. We accompanied a search party, analyzed police reports and secured exclusive interviews to shed new light on the yearslong search that has uncovered human remains; but none of them Daniel's. From there, we turn our lens toward the resilient workers who build and beautify Buckeye, even as the mercury soars. How do they cope with the punishing summer heat? We asked — and the answers were as honest as the work.

Publisher SCOTT BARTLE

Editorial Director ELIAS WEISS

Advertising VINCENT MANFREDI TAWNI PROCTOR AMBER ROGALLA BRITTANY RUSSELL Writers DR. STEVE BEBEE MICHAEL MCDANIEL NILAM PATEL BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR. Photographers MICHAEL MCDANIEL BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR.

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Real estate in Buckeye is buzzing, too. From jaw-dropping custom homes and luxury sales to some true bargains that might surprise you, there’s a lot going on in the market. We break down the trends and show you which neighborhoods are hot or not. Then you'll meet the Buckeye bakers who are turning heads and turning out cupcakes thanks to an education program that’s causing panic in some corners of the state. While lawmakers argue, they're just busy building a business one batch at a time. Speaking of business, we've also mapped where all the newest businesses are setting up shop in your neighborhood. The energy here is contagious. And finally, don’t forget to vote in the very first Best InBuckeye contest! This is your chance to celebrate your favorite places, faces and flavors in the city. Cast your ballot at InBuckeye.com/Best, and I'll see you in the next edition.

Designer CARL BEZUIDENHOUT

MISSION Inform readers/viewers. Enrich advertisers.

Stay cool,

BELIEFS We believe in: • An informed citizenry. • Holding ourselves and others accountable. • The success of deserving businesses.

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ELIAS WEISS EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Elias@InBuckeye.com

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HISTORY

HE LAID DOWN THE LAW BY BRIAN PETERSHEIM JR.

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John Gideon Roberts was born in 1874 in Trinidad, Colo. He moved to Arizona with his family when he was 12. They settled in the Buckeye Valley after one year living in South Phoenix. Roberts was a farmer and a cowboy, later homesteading a ranch north of Palo Verde, according to a July 1954 issue of the Wickenburg Sun . The Roberts homestead was

situated between two buttes that are now known as Robbins Butte and Powers Butte. Robbins Butte was originally called Roberts Butte, but was mapped in error as Robbins Butte, according to Palo Verde Elementary School records. Roberts helped construct the Arizona and Buckeye canals, served a term as cattle inspector and was deputy

sheriff at Buckeye under three Maricopa County sheriffs. He also had been a constable in the Buckeye district in 1937, when this photograph was captured. This image shows Roberts on his horse in front of the Roxy Theater. Roberts died in 1954 and was buried at Palo Verde Cemetery. His great- granddaughter Arlene McLaughlin still lives in Buckeye.

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BUCKEYE BUCKEYE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT #33 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL DISTRICT #33

HISTORY

BLAST FROM THE PAST Featured in the March 16, 1972, issue of Buckeye Valley News , this historic newspaper page offers a nostalgic glance back to 1929, when the town crowned its first “Cotton Queen” — a title awarded to Miss Mae Major during the grand opening of the Orpheum Theatre. Mae Major, a graduate of Buckeye Union High School and then a freshman at the State Teachers College in Tempe, was elected by popular vote to be the face of The Review’s annual cotton edition.

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The contest itself was a civic celebration, encouraging community participation and held in conjunction with the debut of Buckeye’s then-new Orpheum Theatre. The paper described her as a popular, modest young woman and the daughter of longtime Buckeye pharmacist William Major. By 1972, Mae — now Mrs. Mae Major Davis — had become a living connection to the town’s past. As Buckeye celebrated Pioneer Days that year, she contributed vintage photographs to the publication, including the one reprinted on this page from the Sept. 27, 1929, edition.

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“I think he’s leading us to find others that need to be found and closure that needs to happen for other families. “So, I do think he’s on the other side, trying to bring awareness to the area and have some closure for other families.” David Robinson confirmed the account with InBuckeye , claiming it was shocking in more ways than one. “The remains were found in the area where the psychics wanted to check,” David said. “That was huge and scary because the human remains were new, meaning fresh. Not to be so graphic, but the marrow was still on the bones, which were pinkish in color.” The remains, found in late 2021, were approximately 2½ miles southeast of where Daniel’s Jeep was found, according to the police report. The skull was found a little more than 3 miles northeast of the Jeep. “ “I think he’s leading us to find others that need to be found and closure that needs to happen for other families.” MINDY RODGERS, PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR David last searched for his missing son April 12 on the doorstep of a new-build community coming to Buckeye, according to posts on X, formerly Twitter. The community is hardly more than a mile away from where Daniel’s Jeep was found. David told InBuckeye that Buckeye’s previous police chief, Larry Hall, told him a story about drug trade routes in the isolated area of the city. “He kind of gave a situation that the cartels probably did something to my son,” he said. “That the cartels land a plane at night on Sun Valley Parkway and drop drugs off and fly back into Mexico.” Investigators created a composite sketch of the skull found, according to David. He claimed the skull, found north of his son’s Jeep, was that of a family member of someone who spoke to him. In their conversation, he said the decedent’s sister told him her brother was missing after police allegedly dropped him off in the West Valley.

THE VANISHING POINT The desert started giving up its dead, but not Daniel Robinson

BY MICHAEL MCDANIEL T HERE HE WAS MURDERED. Miles north of Interstate 10, past acres of untouched desert, he was shot in the back of the head. The murderer’s bullet tore through the victim’s brain, exiting through his mouth. A likely scenario for the human skull found in Buckeye, according to the father of missing geologist Daniel Robinson. The Buckeye Police Department, however, claimed it was misinformation. “Buckeye police recovered those remains. There was no apparent gunshot hole in those remains,” said BPD spokesperson Carissa Planalp. David Robinson, Daniel’s father, claims the former missing person could have been dumped there by the police for the vultures and coyotes to pick apart. The desert is unforgiving, like a serial killer, he said. Not too far away, about 3 miles south of where the skull was found, 25-year-old Daniel Robinson went missing. His Jeep tipped over near a remote ravine, but to this day, no trace of Daniel’s body has been found, according to the BPD missing person report.

One tip came from a self-styled private investigator from California named Mindy Rodgers. She badgered McGrath, asking to be brought onboard the case. Later, she’d visit McGrath in Arizona. In his interactions with Rodgers, he learned her tools were spiritual, not forensic. “The interesting thing is that when we found the rest of the human remains, it was after a psychic came into my office from San Francisco,” McGrath said, referring to Rodgers. She told him she had visions of Daniel. Later, she drew a crude area on a map where she thought Daniel’s body was. According to McGrath, the exact coordinates were the size of a football field. “And so, we blew up a map of exactly those coordinates. It was a small area, and my partner and I said, ‘Okay, here’s the start.’ And I got in there, and I’m not kidding you, less than 30 seconds, I’m staring at a huge femur,” McGrath said. Rodgers told InBuckeye she’s

Human remains found Following national media attention, tips poured in for the police and Daniel’s search team. One tip claimed he was spotted in Flagstaff; another claimed he was a victim of a white

Jeff McGrath, a private investigator who represented the family pro bono, told InBuckeye the rancher who found Daniel’s vehicle said he probably would have noticed a body because his cattle would have swarmed it out of curiosity. David heard similar claims, proposing that former Buckeye police leadership may have staged it there. He told InBuckeye the rancher had said the Jeep had not been there two days earlier. Buckeye police deny this claim and tell a different story, begrudgingly questioning the narrative of a Black man who lost his son forever. Painful inaccuracies from the Robinson family, omissions from the police and federal indifference despite the discovery of multiple bodies cast the case of Daniel Robinson in shades of grey. Unlike the desert sky in Buckeye on a summer night, Daniel’s tragedy may never be black and white.

supremacist, an Air Force member who was working to keep Daniel away from a romantic relationship with a white woman who frequented Waddell’s Longhorn, according to the Buckeye police missing person report. Another man walked through the front door of the police station to tell investigators he thought his gay, drug-addicted father may have kidnapped Daniel because he looked like his type.

been a psychic medium for more than a decade. Her life took a turn after a near-death experience, which developed her psychic abilities, according to Rodgers. Her initial case centered around Twentynine Palms, Calif., a desert region also known for missing people. Since then, she’s worked on two dozen cases, each one culminating in a unique way. She believed Daniel was speaking

Missing person photo of Daniel Robinson

to her from beyond. “I feel like Daniel’s not only trying to help us find him,” Rodgers said, alluding to the remains,

Despite the ludicrousness of some tips, McGrath approached each theory with an open mind, he said.

Flowers for Daniel at St. Henry Roman Catholic Church June 12.

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suggesting an emotional crisis before his probable demise, something David claims is untrue. Through his side job at Instacart, a grocery delivering service, Daniel came across a woman identified as Katelyn, who allegedly drunkenly invited him in after he delivered alcohol to her and her friends. David claims Daniel spent the night there. Katelyn seemingly dismisses romantic claims, according to the report. “Katelyn said she believed Daniel was harmless though, as he had only one arm and was short in height,” police wrote in the report. David suggested to InBuckeye that a romantic encounter occurred, pushing another counter-narrative.

“They never heard of him again. He just disappeared. But she was concerned about that. I gave them a copy of that picture, and they said, ‘Yes, that’s the brother,’” David said. “Of course, the family had to look at that picture itself. That person has been identified.” A Buckeye Police Department missing person report indicates more human bones and personal identification were eventually found with the femur after police searches. Identification suggested he was a missing man, last seen in Litchfield Park, named Jeremy Isaac Lawrence. Dental records confirmed the skull was of Lawrence as well, apparently found miles apart, according to the Buckeye missing person report GPS locations. Police discovered Lawrence’s truck destroyed by fire in 2019, before his remains were found. “It should be noted that there are several other missing persons cases where the persons’ vehicles have been found in this open desert area,” wrote the detective. Steve Britto went missing in 2010. His vehicle was later discovered along Sun Valley Parkway near milepost 110 — just 2 miles south of where Lawrence’s remains were found. Britto himself was never located. Similarly, in 2007, an unidentified man was found shot to death in a desert wash off the same stretch of Sun Valley Parkway, also near milepost 110. The Maricopa County Examiner’s Office is declining to release details of the remains found by Robinson searchers until investigations are finalized. The third missing person Daniel Robinson was last seen leaving a job site off Sun Valley Parkway, where a coworker identified in police documents as Kenneth reported Daniel acting strangely and driving into the desert. Daniel’s family reported him missing after losing contact. A month later, his Jeep turned up flipped inside of a ravine, with his clothes, cell phone and wallet left behind. David told InBuckeye he was highly critical of BPD, accusing it of selective reporting, falsifying information and mishandling evidence. For instance, he claims police have downplayed the number of human remains his teams have found to manipulate public perception. David claims the teams found the remains of as many as seven people to date. He was unable to share evidence with InBuckeye . In a

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“I’m like, damn. You’re too smart to be spending the night in that way, how you know she doesn’t have a husband, boyfriend or something, and you spend a night in some woman’s bed,” he said. “I was pissed, because he was too smart for that.” David disputes police claims about Daniel’s interactions with Katelyn, asserting phone records and timestamps don’t align with the police narrative. He also questions the omission of a second woman Daniel mentioned spending time with, suspecting she may be underage or that her story was intentionally excluded. Katelyn would suggest in the police report that Daniel would come to her house unannounced, despite letting him know he could stop by anytime to pick up his “canopy,” which he allegedly left there. It’s unclear exactly what the item was. She later insisted Daniel stop visiting after observing him multiple times via a home camera. Investigators suspect he started acting strangely after his friendship with Katelyn

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Top: Ravine where Daniel Robinson's vehicle was found in Buckeye. Above: Psychic medium Mindy Rodger's brother Justin Mashore, and his daughter Torrin Mashore, helping search for Daniel in Buckeye. Above right: Pictures of human remains found by Rodger's team in Buckeye's desert.

46 ignition starts after an airbag deployment. That’s something McGrath claims someone wouldn’t do in a tipped vehicle with airbags deployed. “Although an unanswered anomaly, the ignition cycles do not appear to be a factor in the collision,” wrote investigators in the missing person report. Police spokesperson Planalp later claimed investigators may have unintentionally triggered extra ignition cycles during data retrievals. McGrath conceded some claims made by police are possibilities, according to the missing person report. The report also paints Daniel as heartbroken in the days leading up to his disappearance,

legal response to a Freedom of Information Act request, Buckeye police released all pertinent findings and reports from the remains found by David’s searchers. The department’s former chief was previously suspended for falsifying crime stats. For that reason, David thinks police may be capable of staging Daniel’s Jeep and lying about the number of dead bodies found. McGrath, the private investigator, examined the vehicle after it was recovered and noted discrepancies in the mileage on two logging devices, suggesting possible movement after a car crash. Police claim these discrepancies are not uncommon, however, McGrath also discovered

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him getting off a bus. He had apparently used the bus to travel to various locations, for unknown reasons, and then got back on another bus that took him to his sister’s place. Daniel’s sister told police he came over and “would just sit there for about 30 minutes and wouldn’t say anything.” She tried talking to him, but he “just sat there and [did] not respond,” then left abruptly. Daniel’s coworker told The Independent he had a distant look in his eyes, and he first thought he exhibited drug-use behavior the day he went missing. McGrath came to a similar conclusion after noting Daniel had allegedly stripped his clothes off after exiting his vehicle, indicative of PCP overheating, he said.

Whose skull was found in Buckeye? Did Daniel speak from the dead? Watch InBuckeye 's exclusive interviews the father, the psychic and the police for answers to these and more questions.

Theories Daniel’s sister confided in McGrath that their father discussed involuntarily committing Daniel to psychiatric care, the investigator claims. About two weeks before his disappearance, people started noticing more abnormal behavior,

according to McGrath. In one incident, Daniel’s sister found the front door wide open with his wallet and car keys sitting on her coffee table for hours, which immediately raised concern since he left without his vehicle, according to the PI. He eventually returned around 11 p.m. that night. Investigators later found video footage of

ended. Police interviews with friends and his sister report some abnormal behavior around and after meeting with Katelyn, according to the police report. “I’ll either see you again or never see you again,” Daniel said, in his final text to Katelyn.

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DANIEL ROBINSON IN HIS FINAL TEXT TO KATELYN

This led to David Robinson and McGrath parting ways after a disagreement over a media interview involving the PCP theory, which David found impossible to believe. McGrath said David may be incentivized to keep the foul-play narrative going, claiming David stayed at swanky hotels initially when searching for Daniel in Arizona. He also claims David paid for weekly round-trip flights for his girlfriend. David has received more than 10,200 donations totaling over $404,000 in a GoFundMe account dedicated to his son, according to InBuckeye research. David ran last year for Congress as a Democrat in South Carolina and plans to run again, he said. He frequently solicits political donations through his near-daily updates and livestreams on Facebook. Records show he has raised approximately $13,000 in political contributions, yet none came from Arizona residents — despite his strong media ties to the state. “When he contacted me, he was a desperate father,” McGrath said of missing Daniel Robinson’s father, “which is why I said I can’t find it in my heart to take money. But I think he lost focus. It’s unfortunate.”

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CLEAR SKYLINES AHEAD BY MICHAEL MCDANIEL

“This is a key milestone in the city’s efforts to secure a Recreation and Public Purposes lease for approximately 640 acres on the east side of Skyline Regional Park.” JOHN O’HALLORAN, BUCKEYE SPOKESPERSON “

The City of Buckeye is contemplating the expansion of its renowned Skyline Regional Park. “Buckeye is continuing to coordinate with the Bureau of Land Management as the next step in the process moves forward,” Buckeye spokesperson John O’Halloran said. “BLM will soon open a 30-day public comment period on the Environmental Assessment as part of the project scoping.” That period started June 27 and will end July 28. Proposed additions would improve trail connectivity between the existing park and the neighboring Verrado community. Proposed park improvements include new trails, trailheads, staging areas, shade structures, restrooms, access roads and parking to enhance and expand recreational experiences in the area. “This is a key milestone in the city’s efforts to secure a Recreation and Public Purposes lease for approximately 640 acres on the east side of Skyline Regional Park,” O’Halloran said.

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“

JEFF CARUSO Construction inspector, City of Buckeye

“Nothing better than a bottle of ice-cold water on a hot day.”

SWEAT EQUITY How do Buckeye’s outdoor daytime workers cope with the summer heat? Temperatures regularly soar past 110 degrees for weeks straight in Buckeye summers. Essential outdoor workers in the city have developed strategies, mantras and philosophies to help them get through the unforgiving summer. InBuckeye asked some about their personal systems, quirky rituals and clever hacks to stay safe and sane under the relentless Arizona sun. All workers told InBuckeye that a positive mindset is essential in outdoor work. “The freedom of working outside gives a person a certain peace of mind,” said one.

Jeff Caruso doesn’t mess around when it comes to Arizona heat. He downs at least seven and as many as 10 bottles of water a day, adding Gatorade occasionally, and treats coffee as nothing more than “starter fluid.” Pre-hydration the night before and frequent breaks help him stay cool. He also swears by his latest gadget: a neck-mounted air conditioner. His summer gear includes long sleeves, light-colored clothing, SPF, shade protection and a wet towel under his hard hat for extra cooling.

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“Water is my go-to thirst quencher ... but I also love an ice-cold Gatorade from time to time.” “

CHYKILA BOOKER Police service assistant, Buckeye Police Department

Chykila Booker keeps it simple and consistent: six or seven water bottles per day, an ice-packed cooler, a chilled water scarf for her neck and arms. She never drinks coffee — but gets plenty of shade. Her favorite summer trick is simple but effective: “I’ll park under the shade to get some work done.” Go-to snack: Fresh fruit or salad Summer soundtrack: Disney classics

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Landon Lowe starts his day with a QT Diet Coke and keeps a one- gallon Stanley thermos iced all day. “It’s me versus the sun. I treat it like a sport,” Lowe said. He drinks 1½ gallons of water per day, adds salt or Liquid IV and usually avoids hats to stay cooler, opting instead for multiple sweat rags. Lowe learned the hard way after a hospital trip. “Ever since heat exhaustion last year, I take more breaks in the truck,” Lowe said. “Thirty to 45 minutes on; five to 10 off.” His high heat hints: SPF up to 100, two long-sleeved shirts and a large, Mexican straw hat on intense days. Being nice to his clients pays off, Lowe quipped. “One client let me jump in their pool after a job. I took them up on it.” Go-to snack: Midday meal “cooked” on his truck’s dashboard Summer soundtrack : Podcasts on addiction recovery and helping the homeless. “It helps with perspective. I’ve got it hard, but others have it harder.”

Contact us for Buckeye specific homebuyer incentives. 480.405.5313 PHXWestInformation@drhorton.com DRH Properties, Inc., Broker. Home and community information, pricing, plans, included features, options, terms, availability, amenities and co-broke are subject to change at any time without notice or obligation. Square footage dimensions are approximate and vary by elevation. Drawings, pictures, photographs, video, square footages, colors, features, and sizes are for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. Price shown is base home price and does not include closing cost and fees, lot premium, modifications to plans and custom features which may substantially affect final cost of the home. Please see a sales agent for complete details, including a list of available homes. Sales that are conditional may be rescinded by purchaser until receipt and acceptance of the Arizona Subdivision Disclosure (Public) Report. A copy of the public report is available on the State Real Estate Department’s website. D.R. Horton reserves the right to cancel or change all offers without prior notice. If buyer is working with a licensed real estate agent or broker, the agent or broker must accompany and register buyer on first visit to the D.R. Horton sales office. Prices vary by community. Equal Housing Opportunity. Construction by DRH Construction, Inc., ROC # 113105-B.

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For Raynaldo Yepez, mornings start early with coffee at 5 a.m., but the real hydration comes from ice-filled water bottles and MiO flavor enhancers. He aims for about a gallon of water per day. “I would also throw a wet towel in the freezer and drape it over my bald head to cool down.” When he’s overheated, he said you might find him standing inside a convenience store cooler.

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EDUCATION

Dough Bros owners Kylee (above) and Jonathan (below) Ruark instruct students and their parents June 16 in Old Town Buckeye.

RISING TOGETHER Controversial program finds success story in Buckeye

Jonathan Ruark teaches a beginner's baking class in Buckeye.

Jonathan is also watching how technology is changing the landscape. He believes new tools like artificial intelligence could be game- changers in education — and he sees ESA as a critical piece in helping families adapt as public models evolve or even become obsolete. A couple of good eggs For Buckeye mom Lindsay Meredith, Arizona’s ESA program has been a lifeline. Through the program, she’s been able to customize her children’s education in ways that public schools couldn’t offer, despite looming proposed legislative cuts and red tape, especially when it came to addressing their special needs. Her son with dyslexia got a certified Barton tutor and finished his first chapter of a book. “He asked to buy another,” said Meredith, beaming. “He’s four chapters in on his own.”

literally helping families like us be able to stay home with our kids and create an entire small business. That’s the American dream.” The Ruarks identify as neurodivergent, and so do their children. From their own experiences, they saw how conventional education systems often failed to accommodate different learning needs. That’s part of what inspired them to design something more flexible and responsive. What began as sourdough lessons has evolved into a thriving educational venture tailored to neurodivergent learners and their families. “ESA has become half of our business,” Kylee said. Their classes offer a more personalized, patient environment — one that’s attuned to kids who might struggle in traditional classroom settings.

One mother who attends the baking classes shares a similar story. For her family, ESA program has opened personalized education options and provided critical support for children with special needs. An American dream for some When Dough Bros began, the Ruarks were just sharing their love of baking. It started with Facebook Live videos and grew into shipping sourdough starter kits around the world. Eventually, that turned into hands-on classes — first virtual, then in person. “This has been the best part of our business,” Jonathan said. “It has really transitioned into this whole community.” For Kylee, the ESA program is as much about economic freedom as it is about educational choice. “The way I look at it,” she said, “they’re

BY MICHAEL MCDANIEL

A BAKING CLASS FOR EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNT KIDS IS ABOUT TO BEGIN ON A MONDAY afternoon in Old Town Buckeye. Before the students arrive, Kylee Ruark is in motion — prepping dough, laying out ingredients, and setting up the children’s workstations. There’s a slight sense of panic as she tries to get everything just right before they walk in. Her husband, Jonathan, steps in to help. The pressure, and their practiced teamwork, help them finish just in time. Eventually, families begin to trickle in, a little late. But it’s on “Buckeye time,” someone jokes — so no one minds. Relief sets in for the Ruarks as they start seeing familiar faces. They are clients, but some are longtime friends; others are new to the circle. Each day feels a little different, a little unpredictable, and for the couple, that’s part of what makes it meaningful. They’re making a living while teaching valuable skills. Buckeye-based Dough Bros says Arizona’s controversial ESA program has not only supported their choices but also changed their lives. And they believe it’s changing lives for others, too.

InBuckeye.com | July 2025

July 2025 | InBuckeye.com

EDUCATION

WELCOME TO IMAGINE BUCKEYE!

At Imagine Buckeye, we are proud to serve our students and families with a commitment to academic excellence and character development. Rooted in our core values of Respect, Responsibility, Open-Mindedness, and Honesty, everything we do—both in and out of the classroom—is designed to help our students grow into well-rounded, confident learners.

Top left: Kylee Ruark demonstrates how to knead donut dough on June 16, 2026, in Old Town Buckeye. Bottom left: Kylee Ruark gathers hot donuts a student crafted. Right: Students roll fashion donuts together and ice cooked donut dough.

ESA also paid for hands-on cooking classes, where her son learned to take volumetric measurements and use kitchen equipment, she said. Her older son began thriving, too. Passionate about cars, he enrolled in automotive classes, which weren’t available in public schools. “He inherited a truck from a family member,” Meredith said. “Now he drives it to work, maintaining it himself.” The ESA program has faced backlash, especially over reports of misuse. Merideth claims those were just a few rotten eggs in the dough. “What we agreed to when we signed up for it is that we have to reconcile our accounts,” she said. “We have to turn in receipts for everything that we buy, and we have to provide curriculum for what we buy.” Accountability is strict — receipts, curricula and reconciliations ensure every dollar supports learning, according to Meredith. However, she worries that proposed caps and restrictions could harm families who rely on the program. Despite that, she says it opened doors public schools never did. Her boys explored gardening, hatched chicks in an incubator, joined 4H, and dug deep into interests schools only skimmed. Said Meredith: “There are plenty of autistic children, and ESA provides the ability for these kids to have those special needs met instead of waiting a whole year or months even to get that accommodation met in a public school.”

ESA AND ITS CONTROVERSY EXPLAINED Arizona’s Education Savings Account program — once a niche initiative for students with disabilities — has ballooned into an $800 million system serving more than 70,000 students statewide. Supporters call it a breakthrough in school choice because of: DIRECT FUNDING TO FAMILIES. The ESA program provides taxpayer-funded scholarships — roughly

CUSTOMIZED EDUCATION. ESAs empower parents to tailor their child’s education, especially students who struggle in traditional settings. FLEXIBILITY. Unlike traditional vouchers limited to tuition, ESA funds can be used for a wide range of educational expenses, including online courses, special-needs therapy and homeschool materials, giving families unprecedented control. Critics call it an unregu- lated mess because of: ONGOING INVESTIGATION. Arizona’s attorney general is investigating whether ESA funds were illegally spent on luxury items or services unrelated to education. State auditors found instances of parents attempting to use funds for TVs, yoga classes and ski trips.

LACK OF OVERSIGHT. Parents aren’t required to demonstrate academic progress. Purchases are self-directed, and the Arizona Department of Education has struggled to track and enforce appropriate spending. Public school impact. The program’s explosive growth has siphoned money from public schools. Many ESA recipients were never enrolled in public schools to begin with, raising equity concerns. PROPOSED PROTECTIONS. A Republican-backed effort would lock ESA funding into the state constitution via Proposition 123 — a move opponents say could shield the program from future reforms and limit public school funding flexibility. At publication time, the proposition was holding up the entire state budget in the legislature.

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$7,000 per student — directly to families

We believe education thrives through connection, which is why we proudly partner with families and the community. Through engaging holiday events, meaningful family partnerships, and local collaborations, Imagine Buckeye remains a welcoming place for every Firebird to grow, learn, and soar.

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InBuckeye.com | July 2025

July 2025 | InBuckeye.com

EDUCATION

“ Our vision is “to graduate students who are ready to pursue and achieve their postsecondary goals in life.” Students can also take college-level courses while in high school through dual enrollment and Advanced Placement coursework. More than a quarter of our students participate in a work-based learning experience while in high school (an internship or practicum), 29% have passed a college-level course and 39% have taken and passed a college level CTE course. If you are looking for a high school that offers a comprehensive academic course selection, a robust CTE program and a fully comprehensive athletic program; a district that values and supports the fine arts and offers alternative academic programs, the Buckeye Union High School District is here to serve you and your family. We hope that you make Buckeye Union High School, Estrella Foothills High School, Youngker High School or the Buckeye Learning Center your school of choice for the 2025-26 school year.

also prepare our students for their next steps in whatever path they choose beyond high school. Our district runs on a block schedule where students take four classes per semester, or eight classes per year. This allows our students to take 32 credits over a four-year period rather than the mere 24 credits a student takes on a traditional six-period day, giving them the opportunity to take 16 elective classes than they would at a school that ran on a traditional day offering only eight electives. With these elective opportunities, students can take Career & Technical Education (CTE) courses that satisfy their high school elective requirements while also preparing them for the workforce. In BUHSD, more than half of all students are CTE completers (taking two or more courses in a program area), with many of them being completers in multiple programs. Further, half of our students leave high school with industry standard credentials to enter the workforce.

Future Ready course and other activities, we empower students to achieve success. Through our System of Learning and Framework, we monitor groups of students to make needed adjustments to our curriculum, course sequences and instructional practices to meet their needs. We also monitor individual student progress to provide interventions and reteaching opportunities. And, through Applied Academics (the term we use for electives), we show students the relevancy of what they are learning to their desired future. Ultimately, we provide our students with the opportunity to gain access to career pathways that lead to meaningful, productive and rewarding future careers. BUHSD is very proud to boast the 93% graduation rate in our district over the past six years, which is higher than most districts in our state. Not only do we have a great track record for graduating students from high school, but we

Education with a purpose What makes A-rated BUHSD the best? Students here learn more — literally

BY DR. STEVE BEBEE, BUHSD SUPERINTENDENT

B uckeye Union High School District is proud to be an A-rated school district that gives students an education with a purpose. BUHSD’s mission, which was developed with input from community members, students, staff, teachers, administrators and other stake-

experiences to do so. To this end, we stress excellence in academics, the arts, athletics and everything in which they participate. Through the work of our counselors and GEAR Up coaches, the focus is to have every student create a post-secondary plan that high school prepares them to achieve. Through our

holders is that we are “committed to success for all students by providing a safe, engaging and relevant educational experience.” Our vision is “to graduate students who are ready to pursue and achieve their postsecondary goals in life.” We believe that all students can learn, and we provide them with the opportunities and

623-269-1000 BUHSD.org