The funding will advance lessons on renewable energy and electricity, hands-on classroom experiments, and a student field trip focused on real world energy concepts. Thank you to ED3 for continuing to invest in STEM learning for our MUSD students. State Representatives Teresa Martinez and Chris Lopez provided updates and perspectives on key education is issues at the MUSD legislative forum. The conversation addressed important topics including statewide literacy initiatives, the potential new renewal of Prop 123, and a proposed plan by the governor to increase funding for school facility maintenance and construction. The panel was led by Rebecca BBE of Arizona School Administrators along with Chad Whittle, MUSD legislative committee chair. To stay informed on legislative updates, visit the MUSD legislative committee web page using the QR code on the screen. And I saw Rebecca BBE last week and she commented on the effectiveness um of our event, that evening event, and has shared our document that, you know, we summarized some legislative initiatives uh with several other districts as a model for how they could establish that kind of a an event and and relationship for both parents and legislators.
Let us stand for the pledge of allegiance led by Janine board member and with our mission statement following by our board secretary Jamie. Alex if you can go on mute please. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Our mission statement is to engage and empower our students to positively impact their community and future. >> Thank you. Thank you both. We do have one public comment that was submitted electronically that is from a John Buda and his comment is as stated I just watched your November board meeting. One of the members asked if I had ever attended a board meeting. I have attended a few of the meetings firsthand to listen. For the school board awareness, I include this link which talks about the public's frustration on the amount of our property tax money goes towards 2011.
I think there's a couple thoughts there. I know Mrs. Boon, Mr. Campbell, and I kind of kicked these around. Yes, you kind of kick the can down the road a little bit when you don't do that, when you don't replace buses. We we are a massive district um, in terms of geographical size. Um, so yes, we do put mileage on miles on buses, but we we utilize our activity buses for a lot of our trips. And so we don't necessarily I mean, when we trade in a bus at 10 years old, it does not have a ton of miles on it. Um, part of that is also with the inspections. We talked about that. So any bus that's under 10 years of age, um, we have to do an annual inspection. After 10, you have to go to semianual inspections. We are very fortunate, um, that Mr.
Proud mom Sean as well too um is with us. Um but also a lot of people thank her coach Dave McCarthy, our athletic director Julie Lou Julie Lee who completely organized the event. Um, and I hopefully some of you got the chance to see um the in the newspaper or never mind being at the game itself, but um it's quite an accomplishment for a sophomore at a high school to score her a thousand points. So, congratulations to her. So, we want to recognize her with a certificate of her scoring her thousand point um on on January 20th. Again, congratulations. And this is just a little something from us um school committee and admin team to congratulate you and keep up the great work. Congratulations >> and her parents put a big spread out afterwards. >> Yes. Very impressive. Thank you. >> You want You want to show people what you got in your gift?
I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. >> Um, moment of silence. Uh, folks, we had two, uh, faculty members that have passed away, one in December, one in January. Um, I'd like to remember Pat Row. She was a cosmetology teacher from 2001 to 2015. And uh also one of our principles, Mary Beth Sullivan, who was an English teacher, an administrator, and a principal. Uh she spent 22 years here. If you would keep them in your thoughts, I'd appreciate it. Thank you. I think uh Mr. Lavoy would like to say a few words before we get started about Mary Beth. So uh Mary Beth uh for myself was a very good friend. Uh I worked with her uh probably about 15 years maybe a little more than that 17 years. I worked with her when she was a instructor and uh worked with her on many many committees.
With that, we start with the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you, Lucas. Well, tonight it it's it's exciting that we're going to be able to hopefully fill the the board seat that was left by uh Clinton Rucker. And um I am going to ask um Michelle Kul to just give you a little background of the subcommittee and the process and what we went through. Russell, if you'd like any commentary, you can chime in there, too. But Michelle, I'll turn it over to you. >> Sure. Thank you. Um, okay. So, we posted the position on January 21st and we had a deadline of January 30th for all applicants. We received nine applications total, three of whom withdrew before the date process.
>> I pledge allegiance >> to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. >> Kate >> here. >> Miss Cooper >> here. >> Dr. Cronin. >> Lauren >> here. here. >> Cindy >> here. >> Sherry >> here. >> Sean >> here. >> Minimi >> here >> and Louisa >> here. >> Okay. So, due to the impending weather uh spotlight your school for Ellsworth and the presentation item will be rescheduled to a later date. Um the action items uh with the exception of the superintendent's budget will be tabled to the next meeting. Now we will proceed with our recognition for our Connecticut teacher of the year, Brian Bettish. [applause] Mr. Bettish, can you please approach the podium? [laughter] >> Scotch. >> So, it's not every night that we get to eat kiche or have lemon bars.
Maximum speaking time is three minutes. Thank you for your participation. Moving on to item 4.1, pledge of allegiance. Will Marisella Fonka, principal of Magnolia Elementary School, please come to the podium. Good evening, board president Benvitas, board members, cabinet and community. I am Marcela Fana, the proud principal of the Wild Magnolia Mustangs. I am thrilled to share a few highlights tonight that showcase how Magnolia Elementary is helping our students be academically driven, socially connected, and celebrated at every turn. At the heart of our work is academic excellence. Our instructional leadership team works diligently to refine practices to ensure every student masters our core writing standards. Through one-on-one data chats, teachers partner with students to review progress, set goals, and celebrate success, empowering our students to take ownership of their learning. But a school, as we know, is only as strong as its community. This year, we proudly launched the Magnolia Parent Booster Club.
Can I have Evelyn Cortez come up? So, it's such an honor to get to recognize you as student of the month tonight. You're an awesome student who always does the right thing. You show great leadership and we're just proud to have you among our student body. I'd like to share a few things some of your teachers said about you. Mr. Fergen said, "Evelyn is amazing. She has perfect attendance, great job. She asks great questions, volunteers her time to help classmates, and is involved in extracurricular activities. She has a great smile, and is respectful to all. She is the perfect example of what we want BR students and future graduates to look like." Good job, Evelyn. Keep it up. Also, Mr. Meadows shared some thoughts. Um, he said, "Evelyn is one of my favorite students. She is kind to everyone and is respectful to other students and myself.
So, if your district elects not to move forward with a bond election, then you can see here you've only got about 9.3 million. You got 1.2 coming off the books here in about four months. you'd be down to about eight I'm going to round numbers about $8.5 million in outstanding bonds. Okay. Okay. Good news here. The bonds that are currently outstanding on this page, the principle and interest on those bonds is here. So, you got about a million six for the next couple of years. Okay? you're going to have a prior bond issue uh come off the books, then your debt service is dropping down to about 750,000. So, we've modeled in some bond issues to minimize the tax rate because we know that's very important to your community, to all of us. As we decide what to do here, we have to be very careful what our additional new tax rate will be associated with a potential new bond.
There were two districts the previous year that were high risk and then there were seven approaching. So, as you can see, some of these districts got a little bit, you know, worse than than what they had at the beginning of the year. So, those high-risisk districts are going to be Analopee Union. So, they've been a high-risisk district since 2023. And they are also one of the two districts that are in receiverhip. Hayden Wkelman, Isaac. Isaac being the other district that is in receiverhip. And just so to make sure everything's clear, receiverhip is when the state has come over and taken over the district's finances. Uh Joe City up in Navajo County, Palamino's, Santa Cruz Elementary, Sierra Vista, TUSD, and Wilson. These are the current high-risk districts. And districts that are approaching the high risk are Balls, Chino Valley, Fountain Hills, Haidider, Mammoth, San Manuel, Brown Valley, Sacatone, Scottsdale Unified, and Young.
And so tonight we're going to share a portion of what we discussed today. Obviously we're not going to be here for seven hours. We have food waiting right after from uh Natalie and the uh and the crew. But uh we do want to share some of the the movement that we have seen from our middle of the year data analysis and some of the discussion today along with some of the steps that we've taken the actions that we've taken to lead to some of these results. So I'm going to turn it over to Dr. Cox and Mr. Burcher who are going to kind of walk us through what we've witnessed over the last quarter. >> Okay. Thank you so much for the handoff Dr. Ryan. The first thing I wanted to point out, if we can switch to the next side slide, is everything we're looking at is going to be middle of the year comparative to different fiscal years.
Did yours work online? >> Okay, perfect. Does that count? Do you have it? So, is it five? Perfect. Motion carries 5-0. I appreciate it everybody. Mine's not working. [sighs] >> Mr. Lennonheiser, we turn to you. President Wade, members of the board, as we start our superintendent report with Higgley Hafings tonight, um I would like to ask the members of the audience as we go through this tonight, uh there will be multiple different presentations. We would appreciate you, uh staying in the audience until there will be a time when then we dismiss you before we get to the business part of the meeting. So, we would appreciate that if you could help us uh throughout. And just a reminder for those of you who are called to the front, you might be asked to um share who brought who you brought with you tonight. So, just be prepared for that in case you get a microphone shoved in your face.
So, I thought that was cool. Uh, Maricopa Unified School District recently hosted a parent university workshop with our community partner Doves Network, which stands for domestic violence education services to help families navigate online safety. Parents learned about warning signs of online risks, effective privacy set settings, and parental controls and strategies for talking with teens about social media. The session also covered healthy relationships, the role of social media in teen dating, and ways adults can guide safe, respectful choices online. For additional resources, visit dovesetwork.org. Desert Wind Middle School students took center stage this weekend at the Southern Arizona Orchestra Festival with seven talented m musicians selected to participate. Nearly 30 schools from across the region gathered for a full day of rehearsals that culminated in a concert that showcased the outstanding performers chosen by their teachers and a panel of judges. Adding to the excitement, Mr.
I would like this link read at the next meeting. I >> I'm sorry. I know you didn't Didn't we do that one already last board meeting or is that >> I This is This is dated January 23rd. >> I I >> I could have sworn I could have sworn there were some comments. I think there was an email submitted and I think we >> I'm not sure. No. Well, it can't with this being dated January 23rd, right? We had a meeting before that, right? >> I think >> he's submitted >> maybe submitted this. He's already submitted a public comment and kind of started exactly the same way. >> Maybe that's what it was. >> Started the the public comment the same way. >> Okay, that's correct. >> So, he want us to read this link at our next meeting which is today. Your capital projects needs to stop unless you get our approval.
Campbell is going to work here forever. And so he he's able to keep our buses just, you know, running great, looking great. Um he he was tearing one the whole like rear end pretty much apart all by himself. Um and so, you know, a lot of districts don't have that luxury. So if you see Mr. Campbell, be sure to tell him thank you. Um because, you know, he's able to do a lot of things for us in house that just normally wouldn't be happening. Um we just had bus inspections actually last week. Two weeks ago, Phil, I think was it two weeks ago? Is that right? Um everything went great and um and so appreciate the work that Mrs. Piery does as well um on on several of those things. But um just kind of looking at that and thinking, you know, that gives us obviously a lot of flexibility in um if we if we just wait.
have to put pressure on you. Sorry about that. >> Oh, we got some candy. Some shaking flour. >> Got basketball. >> Absolutely. >> Just some small. That's it. Don't be looking anything. >> That's all it's just something to to thank you and to say how proud we are on you. So, congratulations. >> Thank you. Thank everybody. >> Okay. >> Our next item is the consent agenda. Before we get to that, I want to ask Jess if you want to make an amendment to the meeting minutes for January 20th. >> Um, yes, please. So, I would like to make a motion to amend the January 20th Zoom meeting. Um I unfortunately lost connection frozen during the vote. I did email so it's um >> public record. Thank you that it did go vote by as well. >> All right second. >> Anyone want to contest discuss it?
She was always one of those uh leader teacher leaders who always took uh responsibility for anything that wasn't getting done or needed to get done regarding development of curriculum or committees. Uh whatever the committee was that we where we we needed a teacher leader to engage with administrative team, she always stepped up to the plate. when we first started uh our uh ninth grade exploratory program, she was instrumental in getting that off the floor. I worked with her very closely on that. Uh it was extremely successful to the point where we are today doing some pretty amazing things in that program. Uh she became the principal uh of the school. I didn't spend a lot of time I was worked with her when she first started as principal uh but not through her whole tenure as principal. Uh she worked with our uh Frank um Frank Verska uh as the superintendent and was extremely instrumental uh keeping the school running through some very difficult times when the school was being renovated.
Um, on February 5th, the appointment committee, which was comprised of Mr. Daniels, Mr. Bush, and myself, introduced five very qualified and passionate um candidates. It was really nice to to see everybody, and they were all great candidates. We had one no show. Um, but we were thoroughly impressed by all of the candidates, but Miss Lechance rose to the top because of her qualifications and the value those skills can bring to specific challenges currently facing the board. Um, most notably, she brings experience in the state school's construction grant program with policy development and strategic planning at a time when our district is facing aging infrastructure and the resulting budgetary challenges that go along with that. um her familiarity with state statutes and regulations along with her extensive experience working as an attorney for the state and the general assembly, the department of banking and the department of administrative services will benefit the board tremendously.
Yes. Um, for those of you who came out tonight, uh, on behalf of Brian, I want to say thank you. Just the number of teachers that are here from Rogers Park is a testament to their belief in you in this role. Um, but also just the friendship and collaboration and the trust that you've engendered over the last, you know, decade. Um, I had some nice conversations about, uh, for those who may not be familiar with you, um, just how much you've brought to Rogers Park. Um, the legacy that in your short tenure there and is is is evident. Um, the number of students that have come back to just talk about how you've empowered them and and the way that they feel about themselves as a result of having spent some time interacting with you. and you know, you've had there's a tremendous team behind you at Rogers Park who do many of of the same um types of things, but um you rose to the top of the heap, not just at Rogers Park, not just our district, but clearly the state also saw it as well.