These three teachers will now be considered for the Orange County Teachers of the Year recognition program. Finalists will be honored at an award ceremony in November. We have a few teachers that are not here but I will read uh what it has to say here and then recognize the one that is here. First is Joe Joseph Ihara Western High School. His subject is world language Japanese been with the district for 27 years and his special contributions he creates a strong sense of community. He builds rich cultural connections and deepens student engagement beyond the classroom. Joe has coached the basketball team for over a decade, dedicating countless hours to nurturing his players as respectful young men and leaders on campus. His innovation, creativity, and organizational skills shine through his work in designing immersive experiences for visiting international students and supporting large groups of international visitors, over 150 students at a time.
But I'm coming to you tonight because I'm worried. Despite the deep commitment I've shown to this district, I'm not seeing that same commitment reflected back towards me or my colleagues. As an educator, I am worried about the future of ABUSD for my peers, myself, and most of all for my children, my students, and their families. The financial future of this district is looking less and less appealing to not just new hires, but to the experienced educators who set the standards and lead the way. The removal of instructional coaches in some LLI positions, for example, has left teachers with fewer resources, less support, and more on our plates. We're being asked to do more with less. Less time, less guidance, and less pay. It's not sustainable. The serious financial challenges in this district are undeniable, and it's making it harder and harder for staff to justify staying when other districts are offering significantly more support.
And the purple at the bottom only representing three grade levels is our middle school population which as you see has kind of peaked has been going down a bit and is now starting to rise again. The study also looked at the soioeconomic demographic of our city. Here we can see that over the last five years our ethnic breakdown has remained about the same. a slight increase in Hispanic students and a slight decrease in students um who are white, Asian, black or multi-racial and a tiny tiny sliver of Native American um Pacific Islander kind of staying steady at the top. Now, this study also looked at both poverty rates based on the census, and that's what we see mapped out here. This is poverty rates based on the census of the entire population of the city, not just our school district. And here we have an example looking at the approved housing developments.
[Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Applause] [Music] Heat. [Music] Heat. Hey. Hey. Hey. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. [Music] [Applause] Oh, hey. Hallelujah. Hallelujah. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Heat. Heat. Check the walls. Check [Applause] our Ayana one more time for you. [Applause] So, we're going to throw it really, really far back and we're going to uh do a Gershwin tune entitled Summertime. Summertime is a part of a larger piece of uh music for Porgi and Best. It was a a musical and we're going to do a modern spin on it. and we're going to take it from a classic swing into a bit of a funk for you. So, here is our uh updated arrangement of Summertime by Ira George, sorry. And I and I [Music] Summer [Music] time. Easy fish in the country. [Music] for your darling rich.
Uh welld deserved. Congratulations as well. So currently there are 19 nationally board certified teachers and three nationally certified school nurses in the district. Attainment of national board certification is one of the most prestigious and respected professional certifications available in K12 education. We are incredibly proud of our staff and recognize the extensive amount of work involved in this rigorous multi-year process. Please join me in congratulating Michael and Michelle one more time. card. Card certificates coming. Let's make sure I didn't mess up the order here, Mr. Force. Thank you. And photo time. We'll get our direction from Ally. Congratulations. [Applause] Okay, we did students, we got teachers, we're going to school level now. So, I am going to ask the Rattlesnake Ridge team to join me up front, please. You don't have to clap. We don't know what they did yet. So tonight we are proud to recognize Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary School for earning the prestigious A+ School of Excellence Award from the Arizona Education Foundation.
The change didn't stop as a freshman either. Each year there were new teaching changes, retirements, and my own p passions and interests changed as well. At another school, I may have struggled to overcome these challenges and fallen behind. But at CHS, due to the leadership and example set by upper classmen and teachers, a few notable names being Mrs. Beach, Mrs. Fuller, Mrs. Race, and Mrs. Gearing, I was able to learn and grow from the changes happening around me. Another reason I was able to thrive at CHS was because of the community school spirit and pride shown. An example of the impact the spirit had just this year was at the Sugar Creek Classic. Our basketball team was young and we were definitely not favored to win yet they ended up on top classic champions which was coincidentally the game where we had the most student involvement in the pep session and it was also one of my favorite memories of senior year.
Our special education teacher Britney Raymond took it. myself and we were able to just hit the ground running at the beginning of the year. A little scary because it's all new, but it but they've just done phenomenal. So OG is um or Orton Gillingham is a phononics-based instruction and it is good for all students, but it also really works for our kids who have dyslexia, um who have any kind of reading issues. And so it's been able to give our teachers clarity and um consistency across grade levels. So they've been able to talk to each other and say, "Hey, I'm seeing this or this is working or this is not working." Um and have actually a common language about things. So that's been really beneficial. More importantly, it's been and what we've seen is it's been really beneficial for our students and that's the goal.
So we were not able to start the meeting. Uh due to that they requested to just move an extra to move to the next planning board meeting as they will be in front of the design review committee this upcoming Tuesday. Um and then they will coming back because they figure they didn't have any updates really to bring to the board. So after that meeting they will be coming back. So, I'm sorry. And you said they're they're going design review committee on what date? The 14th. The 15th. The 15th. Tuesday the 15th. Okay. So, um um I have a question. Did we ever get a memo to the design review? We did. Okay. We didn't see that. Okay. It's I mean we it's fine the way it's been handled, but typically at the turnaround, we've seen the board seen it that we can uh we can forward that on.
At that point, many families started to leave. Most choiced out due to the uncertainty of what was going on in the district. Families and staff do much better when things are stable as well as predictable. We lost many children in those years. As you all may know, students who choice out rarely if ever come back. My request as someone who's experienced the upheaval in 2007 and 2008, seeing our district struggle with the closings and movings, please put these decisions on hold. The variables are changing. They are different from where they were before. You know that there's going to be some changes happening to our educational foundations in the very near future. Having a stable school system can allow informed decisions to be made carefully. It's getting too late in the school year to be making these decisions right now. Please try and hold off this decision for a year.
This year marked a major milestone as our fencing program officially transitioned from club status to fully recognized varsity sport at Cheshure High School. The program has long been known for its inclusive culture, a place where athletes of diverse backgrounds and experiences come together to push each other, support one another, and grow as a team. This year, they even welcomed an athletic director who did not know much about fencing. Their accomplishments speak for themselves. First, their men's epi team won their conference and for the second year in a row won their state championship. Their men's saber team finished sixth in the state. Their women's foil team placed second in the conference and sixth in the state. And their women's saber team, one of my favorite stories, when they came to my office, finished third in states, a first in Cheshure fencing history. Even more, yes, please.
Collaborating with teachers across the the disciplines, Joe ensures these students gain a deep understanding of our five C's and cultural partners practices. Joe's vision, dedication, and ability to bring people together are nothing short of extraordinary. He goes above and beyond in every aspect of his work, leaving a lasting impact on students, colleagues, and the entire school community. Congratulations, Joe. [Applause] Sean Fleshman, Fleshman, excuse me, Orange View Junior High School. His subject is US history, 27 years in the district, and his special contributions are his passion for education shines through his dynamic and student centered teaching methods. As a history teacher, he designs lessons that are not only uh impart knowledge, but also encourage critical thinking and civic engagement. By connecting historical events to contemporary issues, he helps students understand the relevance of the past in shaping their present and future. Shawn is a pioneer in bringing new programs and opportunities to the campus.
Now, let me shift h shift hats for a moment to my most important role, parent. As a single inome household, I ultimately have to choose what is best for myself and my children. I could make up to $13,000 more per year in a neighboring district, some of which require fewer contracted hours than I currently work. And in many of these districts, my family's benefits would be fully paid. That's not just a small difference. That's thousands more in my pocket each year and many more hours spent with my children. For someone in my situation, that's huge. And I'm not alone. Many ABUSD families are feeling this strain. I'm deeply worried about the financial state of our district. I see the impact it's having already, and I'm scared of what's coming next if things don't change. So, tonight, I'm asking you all, how did we get here?
this the the new um developments that are going to be going up, the on three, the Black Prince Distillery, the Prada and Vista development, and Petra Gardens and where they're located with on three down by school 8, um Prada Vista Gardens over by school 16, Petra Garden at in the school 13 area, and the Black Prince right behind us, which kind of straddles the school 31 15 and 13 areas. Now, this looks at the school age population of the city. The darker blues are the most densely populated areas, but this is based on city population, not our school enrollment. We get to school enrollment right now with the geocoding. This is the coolest slide in a second. because I'm really into this stuff. This slide, see all those green dots? Those green dots geocode every student who is currently enrolled taking a seat in the Clifton Public Schools and pins them to their location in the city.
[Music] One of these morning you going to rise up sing. Then you spread your wings and you'll take to the sky. till the morning [Music] you daddy and Mary standing in my [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Summer is easy. [Music] picture when the cry is [Music] high. Oh my daddy. [Music] Little baby, don't you cry. Don't you know that I can just [Music] [Applause] And Martinez, you're up. Thank you. Okay, we're back up and the first song we're going to play for you now is called Haven't Met You Yet. Uh you guys may know it as a Michael Blue tune, but we're going to have Avery sing it tonight. So, hope you guys enjoy. [Applause] [Music] I'm not surprised. Not everything lasts. I broken my heart so many times. I trapped myself in. I talked myself out. I put it all up. I tried so very hard not to lose it.
The recognition covers a 4-year period with Rattlesnake Ridge earning the 2025 through 2029 designation. It has been since two It has been since 1983 that the A+ School of Excellence program has served to identify and recognize educational excellence in public schools throughout the state and to identify which Arizona public schools would be recommended for the US Department of Education's National Blue Ribbon Award. Hundreds of schools apply each year to obtain this highly sought-after designation. Qualities that the judges look for include strong leadership that inspires collaboration and embraces professional development. Highquality teachers and staff who create engaging learning experiences and help students thrive academically and socially. A rigorous standards aligned curriculum that encourages critical thinking and problem solving. engaged parents and community involvement in a student centered learning approach with extracurricular activities and a safe nurturing environment. Matt Uden, the principal, stated, "This recognition is a reflection of the entire school community, our teachers, staff, administration, parents, and of course, our students." The process included a rigorous application process which formally began in the early 2024 school year and culminated with a two-day visit or two-day site visit to campus where every classroom stakeholder group and aspect of a typical day at Rattlesnake Ridge was showcased and observed by A+ judges with a wealth of experience leading and teaching at schools across Arizona.
I believe that school spirit and morale were paramount during my time at CHS. It truly is what sets Crawfordville apart from other McGomery County schools and beyond. It makes me proud to be a student here. Overall, I enjoyed my time at CHS. Others may not say the same, but it's hard to not enjoy if you get involved and take pride in your school. Teachers, coaches, and administrators are always rooting for you and working for the benefit and success of their student. This leads to peers wanting each other to succeed, promoting a culture of success in sports and school, ultimately leading to graduates who contribute to society. This fulfills the motto, enter to learn and go forth to serve. Thank you for letting me share my experience. Hello, my name is Nyra Bard. I'm a senior here at Crawfordville in sorry, Croville High School. I'm the daughter of Spencer and Chante Chastine and I intend to go to Purdue next year to major in pharmaceutical sciences and later maybe achieve my mers in public health.
So we have really much stronger decoders they can read, they can decode the English language and encoders which is what we used to call spelling. They they can write and they're doing a much better job and they're becoming more confident in that. So the second thing is data and looking at data in a meaningful way. So and and really in a student focused way. So the training from cadre and uh the dibbles assessment and the core phonics screener that we've adopted this year has really been helpful. progress monitoring has just really shifted our mindset into um teachers. They might not always admit it, but they're starting to really enjoy the data. They're smiling and happy as they see students improving and they're progress monitoring so often that they're able to shift very quickly and not leave students in um an intervention that maybe is not too easy, is not right for them.
It's been a little crazy. my to-do list is exceptionally long. Um but yeah, we can forward that off to you. But they did receive that. Um so, um today, all we'll be doing is unless somebody has any questions like that, we will just continue that hearing to April 24th and then I make make a motion, please. I'll make a motion to continue the 240 260 Pleasant Street Metro West Facilities LLC hearing for the site plan review design plan review and site alternation special permit to April 24th, 2025. Second that call vote. Anna Tesmani I, Katherine Tziki, and Trisha Kendall. That will be on the 24th. Um, next is the House Street Scenic Road. [Music] Um this was the um the annual uh circuit clearing of the trees. I think we all got the draft of that.
Thank you. My name is Jessica Pollock. I am a Greenfield resident, a homeowner, taxpayer, Greenfield High School employee, and parent of a third grade greater in the Greenfield public schools. For nearly 25 years, I've been a Greenfield city employee, and I've worked at GHS for the past 15 years. I have worked under several mayors, including the first, a a couple of town department heads, four superintendent, and five principles. I've seen leadership that works and leadership that fails. I understand the roles and responsibilities for the different positions in our city and how difficult it is to manage a department and a city of our size. I'm here tonight to express my concern about what I've seen happening at recent school committee meetings in regards to the budget and redistricting. Superintendent Pat Node is a veteran educator with 25 years experience in education on all levels from classroom teacher to principal to assistant superintendent and now to superintendent.
Even more impressive, over 50% of our fencers earned conference academic achievement awards, showcasing the balance of athletic and academic excellence that we strive for. Congratulations to coaches Heather Von Fischer, Kyle Mezi, Elizabetha Keranova, Adam Kazus, and all our fencing student athletes on an incredible season. I I was well this was um I was I was coming here actually to thank all of you. Can you hear me? Is it coming through here? Okay. Um over a year ago we've attended several board meetings and council meetings. So yes, we you know our faces by now. Um and the kids became a successful quest for varsity status at the high school and you know as a coach and as a representative for the whole team you know I thank you all for granting us that recognition. Um the board and council members recognize the value of fencing in Cheshure and Dr.