and finally what they're most proud of while at Burlington Middle School. I would now ask the first row to please stand to receive your awards. Our first eighth grader, Jace Allen. Jace was on the high honorable all four quarters. or receive an academic letter and was above or at the 90th percentile in math. Jace is most proud of his athletic growth in sports this year. Jace [Applause] Allen Ivy Becker. Ivy was on the high honor roll all four quarters and will receive an academic letter. Ivy is most proud of trying and keeping up for new grade keeping up with her grades. Ivy Becker, Michaela Brandon. Michaela is most proud of the growth she has had in her learning. Michaela Brandon, Lane Bryant. Lane is most proud of keeping up with his grades. Lane [Applause] Bryant. Tessa Carter. Tessa is most proud of being able to make new friends.
There are going to be situations that you're going to have to adapt to. Your mood is going to fluctuate. There will be highs and lows. But at the end of the day, you have the keys to the car. You get to decide what your vehicle looks like and whatever successes or failures you have along the way are just part of the journey. So get in that vehicle and start up that engine. That engine is your discipline. As you navigate the roads of life, remember that you will find that purpose. I just mentioned that gateway. This moment is the gateway to your purpose. If you've got everything worked out and you know what you're going to do, can you give me some tips, please? But if, like me, you haven't quite gotten everything situated and you haven't figured out your whole life, that's okay. There is so much beauty in the unknown.
Thank you for you spend so much time at the school volunteering, setting up and cleaning up for things like school dances, class parties has made a huge difference for us. I couldn't have done it without all you guys. To my fellow classmates, wow, we did it. We have shared so many memories and even though standing up here feels a little emotional for us, I wouldn't trade our time for anything. Our friendship and spirit has made these years truly special. As we move on to the next chapter, let's carry the Cole spirit with us. Let's remember the lessons learned and the memories made here at Continental School. Congratulations, class of 2025. Once a cole o, thank you. We are fortunate this morning to have our continental orchestra led by Mrs. Cincia Bleti play two short pieces for us. Fantasy on a Japanese folk song and Russian music box.
I'll talk about those in just a little bit. But um so when all is said and done, uh they calculate how much they believe that our students need to be uh the dollars needed for education. Um, and then they apply that to our tax base. And that tax base is, uh, how much do our taxpayers pay to help fund the 32 million, I believe, is what it ended up at. Um, based on our tax base, the amount levied on the taxpayer is $9.3 million. So of the 32 million our taxpayers uh can pay 9.3 million. So the state pays the rest through equalization funding which means the t the state goes into the general tax collection bucket and says out of that general bucket uh 25 million needs to go to Kraton in order to get them to that funding level. And that's kind of how the funding works in Arizona.
They keep building their sports and a lot of it has to do with their junior high programs cultivating that. So, please give them a hand and congratulate them. You guys would shake hands [Applause] right here in the middle. Greenfield Junior High. I think we only have one attending if that's correct. Is that you? Yeah. This is Ryder, correct? Tell everybody your first and last name, grade, and your favorite sport. I'm Ryder Francis and my favorite or I'm seventh grade and my favorite sport is football. What's your favorite position in football? Wide receiver. Nice. Nice. How many touchdowns you have this year? I know you know. Well, I didn't do very good. Let me help you out with your acceptance speech when you get awards. All right. Say, I had 20 touchdowns. I had 20 touchdowns. That's about right. Hey, stay up here. Congratulations. [Applause] Congratulations.
Chase it. Get there. And when you get there, go further beyond, further than you ever thought you could. In time, you will realize just how far you have come and how far you could go. Never give up. Don't quit. Not until you become the person you want to be. Thank you. [Applause] Students who are academically ranked in the next two to 3% are honored today as graduates of high distinction. Please acknowledge the scholastic achievements of the following students as they stand. In our top 2%, Alani Lee, Marilyn Perez Lopez, Mi Ray, Ava Tran. In our top 3%, McKenzie Hatcher, Angel Lopez, Augustine, Isabella Paul. Finally, I wish to acknowledge those students who are ranked academically in the top 10% of this class. While I will not present them to you individually, let me draw your attention to their names which are marked in your commencement program.
The truth is not every dream will go to plan and that's okay because the real magic does not lie in the dream itself. It lies in who you become along the way. The person you've always dreamt of becoming is already taking shape in real time through every challenge and decision you make. And yes, even the bad ones. Uncertainty exists because your possibility is unlimited. It's not there to stop you. It's there to reveal just how far you can go. So, class of 2025, take the risk. Step into the unknown because that's where the best part of our lives are waiting. Thank you and congrats. [Applause] Hi, I'm Naomi and I'll be the first to admit that no part of me is original, that I'm the combined effort of everyone I've ever met. I think of the years I spent following in my older sister's footsteps.
And it's my understanding that students from BHS were granted over $800,000 uh in awards. Is that accurate? Yeah. And that just blows my mind. So, the BA was thrilled to be part of such a wonderful night. Uh, and finally, to our members, uh, union educators like you are the backbone of our district. Thank you for everything that you've done this year to lift each other up, advocate for what's right, and to support our students. Enjoy your well- earned summer vacations. Uh, congratulations to the class of 2025. Go Bulldogs. Solidarity forever with our brothers and sisters in BESBA. Good night and good luck. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Ray. Next up, we have the best president, Kevin Bman. Kevin, good evening, everyone, and thank you. uh our last appearance here for uh with you tonight uh for the uh uh school year and it's been a very busy year for BESPA uh we you know began the year by celebrating Greg Bowler and Tory Prior's induction into the Betavia Hall of Honor uh with the class of 2024.
So, not only are we using AR, five essentials, those those statewide, but how are we also using some local indicators so we can get a full picture of our students growth and success? And again as I mentioned um under shared accountability is um reforming the mandate process to ensure implementation procedures that are flexible and also um don't leave out local decisionm and then predictable funding um Mr. Shepherd's um favorite area um to make sure that we are protecting the integrity and ensuring that the promises made at the state level continue around evidencebased funding that we ensure that we have equitable statewide funding sources for our capital and safety needs. If you remember um when we were going for the referendum, the referendum option is really one of the only options that school districts have in regards to ensuring that we have funds available for our capital and our safety needs and giving districts more financial flexibility at the school at the district level.
I shall serve as education's key advocate on behalf of students in our community school to advance the vision of community consolidated school district 26 and I shall strive to work together with the district superintendent to lead the school district forward fulfilling the vision the board has created fostering excellence for every student in the areas of skills citizenship ship and personal development. Congratulations. Congratulations. Uh next up we have the uh sign die of current board of education. May I have a motion to adjourn to the meeting sign die? So moved. Second. All in favor? Yes. Okay. This meeting adjourns at 6:24 p.m. Okay. Right. Next, we'll move to the organization meeting. I will be acting as president proim until the new president is elected. I also will as the president prom will appoint a recording secretary prom and so therefore I appoint Mrs. Laura Dorfler to act as recording secretary pro Tim to the board of education.
Um we were able to pass that referendum which negates that purpose uh for now. Uh so it's going to allow us to essentially reinvest those funds to maximize on our interest. Uh number two, at the time the FY25 budget was adopted, there was uncertainty surrounding the Maplewood property. Of course, with the IGA with the the village, the the proceeds there, uh the the 5.525 million uh for the the the property, uh the the purchase of the new property for the transportation site. Uh that all is equated into the uh amended budget uh as revenue for the the district. Um our beginning cash balances for the education fund, transportation fund and IMRF, social security fund were updated uh to match the findings of our audit. Uh so uh they were updated uh there. I think we had to update them just slightly higher. Uh we also updated the interest earnings.
Wow. I'll just take you back a little history. Coach Franklin, I've been knowing him for 30 years. And one of the nationals, the first year that I met him, went to the nationals, it was at AAOU, actually. It was a summer track. That was 1995 there about to North Carolina. And his family and his in-laws are just dynamic. They bring a lot of key players in different capacities, especially track into the district. So, good job, Coach and Coach Lee over there, too. All right. Good job, guys. I hope you like the new track. All right. All right. Not now. Not with dirt. Okay. We're going to get it off PayPal. So, thanks, Coach Ki. Thank you all for all you do. Sorry. Okay. Are we quick moving on? All right. We're going to continue on. Um I've asked Dr. Luna to take those pictures for us.
Picked up by the third baseman. Throws across. Gets him out. Nice throw. Good job all the way across the field like that by Ben McKay. JP Duffy did a good job getting that ball. It like literally reached out, caught it just as it hit the ground. Went out here. Now Mo's at bat. That ball's in there for a strike. Nice hard pitch there. Laka seems to be picking up speed a little bit here as the game goes on. It gets a little bit looser. That ball's a little high. That ball's ripped right through the gap, backed up by the left fielder. Gets the ball quickly in. Nice hit there by Moore. [Music] Right between the shorts stop and third baseman. No chance of getting that ball. One out. Runner on first. Now we got Nelson at bat. was taking a very healthy lead over there.
Um and then we just set the parameters and everything and then um it it pays through this company and then they send us revenue. [Music] Is is it something that's like a break even convenience thing? Do we it cost us money to do it or we make money to do it? Um probably I mean we off we had it for free for a long time. We started charging. Um so we are making money. I'd have to look at it, but I would say that this it would be covered. Um, we're we're covering our cost for it. Okay. Thank you. All right. Can I have a vote, please? Any further questions on that? Vote, please. All those in favor? I opposed. Thank you. Donations We have 2009 Ford Fusion valued at 65.88 donated by John. We have 2007 Honda Pilot valued at 3225 donated by Steven Martinez also.
Tessa [Applause] Carter, Rodie Clark. Rodie is most proud of the friendships that he has made in middle [Applause] school. Cassidy. Cassio was on the high honor roll all four quarters and will receive an academic letter. Cassidy is most proud of being able to finish the year with good grades. Remington Cole. Remington was on the honor roll all four quarters and will receive an academic letter. Remington is most proud of being able to compete in basketball this season without getting injured. And Gavin Chris is not with us and he is most proud of his final in math. Mackenzie Krooks. Mackenzie was on the high honor roll all four quarters and will receive an academic letter. Mackenzie is most proud of learning from her mistakes and growing from [Applause] them. Charlotte Deck. Charlotte had all A's all four quarters will receive an academic letter. She was top 5% in ELA, top 5% in science, top 5% in social studies, and top 5% in career and life planning.
As you navigate along that journey, remember that those stops along the road are always worth it. That path might be winding, but there is beauty in those bumps and those wines. If you got if you flew straight to your destination, you would never get to witness all of that beauty. And there is always a reward at the end of the road. Finding your purpose can be a little bit intimidating. How do we how do we fit you, beautiful, unique, incredible you into one tiny box and call it a purpose? Your purpose must be something that you contribute, something that you um that satisfies your goals and your dreams and that you're able to invest in. But maybe not always. Moments like this, your graduation, they can bring mixed emotions. It's it's a bittersweet moment and there's some uncertainty in it as well. You may want to pursue higher education or you may want to get a job or you may want to take some time off.
Eighth grade students who will be playing with our orchestra include Charlie Ortega, Journey Kirk, Vicky Freeland, Angela Kesler, Isabelle Zimmerman, and Jayen Heert. [Applause] Good job. Ah! Oops. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] [Applause] [Music] Bye-bye. [Music] Oh, hey. [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] Oh my [Applause] [Music] Hallelujah. [Music] I love you. [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Please welcome my fellow classmate, Brody Smith. Up. Hello families, friends, and teachers. This this has been an exciting school year. I want to express how grateful I am for the school and what it has meant to me and my fellow students. We are thankful for this opportunity and how good it is to be speaking in front of you all. Eighth grade is an important milestone. We never knew this was going to happen so fast and we looked at our parents. It seemed like yesterday it was the first day of school, first day of meeting each other.
they have that equalized funding formula so that every district has the same piece of paper and it is calculated the same way. Uh but not every district has the same assessed property values. So high property values would mean less support from the state and that the taxpayers can handle more of the tax burden. And then low property values means that the state has to step in and offer equalization payments in order to bring you up to that $32 million level. In Kraton, um 27% comes from our taxpayer base and about 73% comes from equalization. When we were talking about that per pupil and how much it costs to educate a student, I'll let you know that Arizona is currently ranking at 47th and that's a step up. We're usually at 48 or 49. So, um, we are in the bottom of the ranks when it comes to per pupil spending in the United States.
Right here in the middle from Mosquite Junior High. Can I have their athletes? Mosquite Junior High. Whoa. I said junior high. That's awesome. All right. Well, I'm going to let you introduce yourself. Remember name, grade, and favorite sport? I'm Albert Valier. My favorite sport is basketball, and I'm in I'm in eighth grade. My name is McKenna Shamoy. I'm in seventh grade, and my favorite sport was probably track. Nice. Wow. Um, congratulations. Did your teams win any championships at all this year? Come close. Our football team. Football team did. All right. Well, I'm keep playing basketball. You're in eighth grade. Yeah. And where are you going next year? I'm going to mosquite. Uh, I'm going to Mosquite. And you got one more year to go, but then you're going to go where and run track. Any idea? I don't know. Either Mosqu or Gilbert. Mosqu or Gilbert.