The Pinal County Merit System Commission is inviting applications from residents of Districts 2 and 3, according to an announcement on April 28. The commission serves as an appeals board for disciplinary actions, including terminations, taken by county department heads or elected officials. It has the authority to affirm, modify, or revoke these decisions.
This recruitment aims to fill two positions on the commission with local citizens. The board’s role is significant because it provides oversight and a review process for employment-related disputes within county government.
The call for new commissioners comes at a time when education outcomes in Pinal County are drawing attention. During the 2022-23 school year, over three-quarters of students in grades three through eight did not pass the mathematics section of the AASA assessment, while nearly seven out of ten failed the English section, according to the Arizona Department of Education. High school students faced similar challenges: eighty-one percent did not pass mathematics and seventy-three percent did not pass English on the ACT during that same year according to state data.
There have been some improvements in more recent results. Seventeen percent of high schoolers passed the mathematics section of the ACT during the 2023-24 school year as reported by education authorities. Additionally, twenty-three percent of third through eighth graders successfully passed math on their AASA assessments according to official statistics.
Residents interested in serving on this board can find more information about its responsibilities and submit applications online.
