And additionally, many of you have made All State Choir as thespians who dazzled audiences in performances with a myriad of plays, musicals, and as an improv troop, including this year being named state champions in [Applause] improv. And as artists with inventive creations that have been spotlights of our shows at the school and beyond. Performers and artists, may your creative minds continue to thrive in your future. Athletically among you, we have also had three PE league champions in football who defeated PBLO East for the in the playoffs for the first time in school history. Regional champions in cross country who championed each of their other team other teammate successes. Regional champions in softball as juniors who have helped c coach our future players. Regional qualifiers in girls volleyball that led with tremendous class. Athletes who have led underassman well in boys and girls soccer. Boys and girls tennis players who've qualified and competed at state.
My name is Emtt Smith and I am the student body president at Pine Creek High School. I've had the honor to serve for these past uh this past year and thanks for having me. As we sit here excited for what's to come and the final finish line of our high school careers, it's easy to forget about the journey and the critical moments that redefined each and every one of us and that made us who we are. It's in these very redefining moments that we're truly able to grow as we are pushed to our limit. One of my favorite quotes reminds us to rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance. Endurance produces character and character produces hope. It's a reminder that it's not the easy days, but the difficult ones that shape us. And through that challenge, we discover both our strength and our purpose.
This is a time for the public to comment. The board invites the viewpoints of citizens throughout the district and considers the responsible presentation of these viewpoints vital to the efficient operation of the district. Members of the governing board may not discuss items not on the agenda and will be limited to directing staff to study the matter for further consideration and possible decision at a later date. The board therefore establishes the following procedures to receive input from citizens of the district. Any individual desiring to address the board shall complete a form and give this form to the superintendent prior to the start of the board meeting. The board president will keep each speaker to a 3minut time limit. Questions or comments on matters under legal review will not receive a response. Members of the governing board may not discuss items not on the agenda. Personal attacks are discouraged.
Thank you. Okay, go ahead. Um, so building thinking classrooms, is this an expansion on I like thinking maps that you guys do? Is this just a next step into math into then taking that to the whole classroom or am I thinking of something else? This was truly a uh running conversation I had with Kristen Krueger who's over at Desert Sunrise and we were just talking about different strategies and then we I started talking with some folks from Desert um sorry Maricopa Wells and it they it we just started talking about the book. So we became more interested. I got some information and offered an opportunity for our third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers and every single one said, "Yes, we're in." We had five to six weeks after school where we just we looked at intentionally creating learning spaces and we learned together through this process.
Yolanda Yolanda Yolanda, are we Yolanda? Sure. If you want to respond that would be Yolanda, are we able to respond? Yes, please go ahead. Um, so I want to be clear. So those fixed costs you bring up, Brandy, those costs aren't going away, right? So the 12% increase on health care, I believe. Also, I think it's debt service coverage possibly on people's pensions. Yep. These aren't these aren't going away. So I think we need to really focus, and this is why I'm running, on increasing commercial revenue. These services are fixed. Nobody's pension is getting reduced. No one's health um insurance is going to be reduced. I do think we have to focus now. There are services and I agree we have to um talk about service cuts here and there that that may come to the table, but I think the focus really would have to go to what ways can we incentivize commercial business to increase revenue because I think if we get away from that I think that we're kind of we're losing we're losing the trees for the forest and I just want to say that.
That was another really big turnout in both sessions. Yeah, I think that's a phenomenal. Yeah, really do. As a, you know, a starter. I started there and I made it to the high school. So, you know, I did it and everywhere in between. I'm finally going to graduate from Mendes this year. Anyway, great job. It sounds amazing. So, Sarah, for you the engagement, are are you seeing uh engagement by both the uh the families that are getting services as well as their their peers? Uh are we getting good engagement uh for everybody or is it slanted one side or the other? Uh great question. It's act it's pretty equal. Um, for definitely the parent coffees, we've had good representation from all of our different stakeholders, whether you're receiving special education services, our EL families, our new families, our families with multiple siblings that have already like been there, done that.
This part is also about the environment and addressing safety. Um when we were walking into the high school last night, Glenn had commented on how nice the new emblem worked. Um it looked and we want to uh thank the moose again for donating the funds to have that fixed. but certainly does uh make a nicer entrance for Greenfield High School than previously. We also are trying to highlight social and emotional needs in our students and these are just some highlights from my parent update. Every month we have a diff different castle competency that we focus on in each building and our social and emotional lessons in advisory highlight those same skills. And we also try to share tips with families on what they can do at home to support the work that we are doing socially and emotionally in our buildings. The uh be amazing awards um constantly are a highlight in the parent update about the unity messaging that we're trying to create as a district and celebrate students and their highlights for being supportive and welcoming.
This part is also about the environment and addressing safety. Um, when we were walking into the high school last night, Glenn had commented on how nice the new emblem worked. Um, it looked and we want to uh thank the moose again for donating the funds to have that fixed, but certainly does uh make a nicer entrance for Greenfield High School than previously. We also are trying to highlight social and emotional needs in our students. And these are just some highlights from my parent update. Every month we have a diff different castle competency that we focus on in each building and our social and emotional lessons in advisory highlight those same skills. And we also try to share tips with families on what they can do at home to support the work that we are doing socially and emotionally in our buildings. The uh be amazing awards um constantly are a highlight in the parent update about the unity messaging that we're trying to create as a district and celebrate students in their highlights for being supportive and welcoming.
I think you know so when you get the grant money it comes in frontloaded for two years and we're running through we just ran through the first year so we have another year to go on grantf funded things without running out of the money but at the same time the next cycle is going to come up and I think that's when the push is going to come to shove because nobody's if there become I mean obviously if there becomes a threat to you know money and things like that that we're getting based on policies. We have to review it then, but we're not there yet. So there again, I don't think we want to rush to do until we have all of the full information. K, how much is that grant funding? Uh, so the grant that Susan's referring to is the reprint that um we just I don't know, it's still Cheryl's Thunder, but um the REG grant usually is about $30,000.
Uh we have our DPS teacher of the year Brian Ben. um that's who's like responsible for most of the things that are there and we have some amazing teachers who are actually doing presentations nationally. So Lana Cooney has presented work that she's been working with our professor that I mentioned earlier. She's been at ARRA in Toronto and San Diego and Crossroads in Atlanta and Montgomery. And she and Grace McKinley presented work in Philadelphia and she Grayson maybe Pete um might be presenting in the ESR in Copenhagen in August. Wait and [Applause] see. I need to get a passport. Um, so now before we get started, we have a little video, but when you see there's some pictures, but one of the video pieces in there is from one of our students. And so in the beginning of the year when we started our our PDL projects, she was not asked to create a anything.
So, I'm feeling hopeful that it'll improve improve things. So, how does it work with uh curriculum adoption? Are there at one point you guys used to have teams that would get together? Yeah. So, the next big adoption is going to be math, but the but that won't happen until next year. So, we're going to start developing a committee to start looking at the state adopted curriculum for math and then um yeah, there will be a committee and discussions about which one people like or don't like with recommendations. Yeah. Um speaking of curriculum, can you um implement seeing the stars? What was Can you explain that? That's under um special education curriculum. Yeah. implement seeing stars in special education classrooms. Is it just a program? It's a program and they've been um receiving training on that. Honestly, our special education director is going to be able to speak more intelligently about that.
Um, while pushin is ideal, right? I mean, we want the kids to be learning in the natural environment, generalizing skills, not everyone's there yet. Um, and they benefit from a quiet one-on-one. Um, obviously you've been in our rooms, you know, we have awesome tools and um, just anything that they could possibly use or sometimes my teachers will want to borrow a tool that they can trial in the class with a student. and by having a dedicated space that's been very supportive to their um their growth. I'm really concerned about them not being able to make progress on their goals if we don't have space for pullout services. Um I'm concerned that if we try to push into the fifth space, which is like a schoolwide space, that equipment will either be damaged or if there's a bunch of kids in there and not as much supervision, people will get hurt.
The block schedule started with um Chico High School beginning uh and implementing it first in um 202122 and followed by Pleasant Valley High School the following year. Chico High and I'll let Erica talk a little bit more about their schedule, but Chico High implemented a block schedule um a little differently that first year and then we came along with a different schedule. Uh we opted for an anchor day our first year versus Chico High who didn't have an anchor day. And so I don't know if you want to share anything about that. Sure. Um I was part of one the research team that also got to travel and go check out other schools and um we actually modeled a lot of what we did at both schools after Rockland High. And so a lot of us when we walked through Rocklin and saw the schedule, we're like, "Okay, that's it.
Boys and girls golfers who've completed and qualified in state. Cheerleaders who have competed at the state and national level. Girls basketball players who qualified for state this year and reestablished a culture of excellence. Boys basketball players who led to the best record in school history and were one of the top ranked teams in the state. Boys and girls wrestlers who have competed at regionals and many who have qualified, including a fourth and fifth place finisher. girls swimmers who not only excelled individually in relays at the state finals, but also won DCC's first state swim title this year. Boys, boys swimmers who competed well at state last weekend, including a third place finisher and had an undefeated season. Boys volleyball regional champions who qualified for state and have helped us establish a strong program. Baseball players who are competing for state and have had the best season in our history and will be hosting regionals on Saturday.
While you all have accomplished so much, none of us would have made it here alone. Behind every seat tonight is an endless support system, the teachers who believed in us, the families who supported us, and a community that lifted us up even when we didn't see it. I would like to personally thank all the teachers at Pine Creek who mentored me, my family who showed up here today, and the endless community members who supported me and pushed me on my path to succeed. Now, for someone who represents the community that has allowed all of us to succeed, it's my pleasure to introduce Academy School District 20 Superintendent Mrs. Ginger Hopper. Ginger Hopper, a Cardo native, brings more than 30 years of educational experience and expertise to Academy District 20. She comes from a long family lineage of educators who instilled in her desire to inspire others to be lifelong learners.
At the conclusion of a call to the public, individual members of the board may respond to any criticism made by an individual who addressed the board. The expectation of the governing board and district is that everyone treats one another with respect and that the speaker presents their viewpoints in a civil manner. If more than 10 individuals request to speak, the board president reserves the right to limit individual speakers to two minutes and may set a time limit to the call to the public session. Then madam president, uh name is I'm currently serving in the Arizona House of Representatives for district 15. Um, all of Combmes Unified School District is in district 15. Uh, which means I'm your local legislator. And I I try to make it uh to board meetings annually. I was at the Queen Creek meeting actually last week. Um, and I wanted to be at this meeting, the prior one, but uh we were still uh on the House floor in a session well after 7, but um so I just want to make myself available.
And it just it's it's it's not a program. It's just different strategies researched based around not necessarily teaching math. That's just what what it happens to be. So it will expand but it does align with the other programs and initiatives that we're using. Kagan cooperative learning structures is a way to intentionally create those groups. It's the vertical workspace that you see here. So learning is visible when we think about um I can't think of that um research but it it's now kids if they're at the vertical workspace they can look around. If you think about a traditional classroom work is typically on the desktop. So as a teacher in the room I can quickly see who has what and make adjustments or make suggestions. I love it. And I love that you're going to move it also to the K first and second grade as well and then build upon that.
So what is what is your idea for doing that? in incentivize. We have to figure out whether it's tax, whether it's whatever whatever it is that we do. The the people that are incentivizing have to know what they they're doing. They have to have relationships. They have to have the experience. I personally have worked with developers. Okay? I've worked with small business owners. I have small business owners in this this community that are endorsing me and I know that I work well with them to have the conversation. I would go to just for example to be a little bit more specific, we can go to uh restaurants, right? We can go to Erica, speak to Erica and actually figure out what is it going to take to increase your revenue. What what what are some of the things that incentivize your business, right, as a as a community?
They might not come to every parent coffee, but they're like, "Oh, okay. Promoting language, that's something I need." Or some social emotional learning for my last of four. I'm going to come to that parent coffee. So, we're getting a good representation there. Um, and I think it'll only grow the more we do it. This was kind of the first year. So, obviously timings, not everyone can attend, but now to know we'll do the basics and then ask what the community, but but it's good to know that what you're doing is is reaching everybody. Yeah. And just being mindful that everyone's super busy. So, how else can I disseminate that same information in the newsletter or if it's a video or reach out to our school site if you have a specific question just to know that those resources are available I think is really important because the day-to-day gets busy.
Uh each week we highlight students or staff who have been caught being amazing. We give out t-shirts, pencils, stickers. Um we have little bees from Greenfield Savings Bank that kids love and really just try to recognize them for all the good that they're doing in each day. The third standard is standard was around family and community engagement. The goal was to provide access in multiple formats to families and community members with engagement opportunities at each school. Some of the highlights we've uh taken up are my weekly parent updates in using S'more, the radio spots on WHI and Bear Country, the numerous community and family events and site visits, and our transportation and translation services. I try to highlight for folks so they know where to find me in my where's the superintendent going to be next in the parent update. I will be at the band concert tomorrow night at Greenfield High School.