>> Could you go back a slide there, Lindsay? Thank you. Uh one thing we just wanted to tie together um just between the two presentations that um we appreciate uh the support to sending interdisciplinary teams for these PD opportunities. Even hearing from Louie earlier and he talked about his experience uh um with a professional group. Um it helps us get the most effecting effective strategies uh to strengthening uh our all of our teaching and learning throughout the district. um they go beyond individual growth um and kind of gets us working in that um continued continuous uh improvement cycle that we want that builds that shared vocabulary common frameworks on the instructional side um in a unified vision for implementing these practices. Um as we know uh and try to work with our teams when our teams learn together um the knowledge doesn't stay siloed. It allows it to flow throughout our building and helps enh enhance our culture uh going through department practices, instructional planning, uh all the ongoing curriculum development uh that we're using.
This is exactly what he was looking. And then if that wasn't enough on page 38 through 43, we summarized it again and we summarized what each of those count accounts make up. and gave you a brief description on each one of those accounts. And then on page that that's not new. On page 45 through 47, we explain the revenue that comes in. And then on page 48 through 49, we explained open choice funding. And then 50 to 51 we explained the small capital large capital and then the last pages are the narratives and then we align the board of education goals uh with the priority highlights in in the budget. Th this budget I is a budget that will move our district forward. But if you're asking me if there's any new initiatives in this budget, there's not. It's to move our district forward in a way that um our our students will continue to grow and we'll be able to provide an environment for our staff to really educate our our children.
Either going to school, going home, or in school or the weather climate, I don't know. But I always noticed that it's always kind of hard to grasp that that last gold um for that purpose. >> Thank you, board member. >> So, just a a few questions. I understand that we will have some time to dig in and go in depth in um April. Um would it be possible for us to get a general update in one of our upcoming updates? I know that when we have been having as we've been having conversations in regards to dual enrollment, we've talked about how there tends to be kind of a lower kind of scoring on the on the early part of the program. I think the slide is seven if if we're able to turn to it. Um, but that as they progress, we we see them, you know, even catch up and exceed the rest of the population.
So >> yes, >> and language usage all grades were in the 65th percentile. And for science, we start testing science in grades third through 8th. The state tests our students in fifth grade and eighth grade. Also in high school, I believe it's 12th grade. But um it's when they get tested in fifth grade for science through the state testing. It's called a sign. And you'll start seeing that in our weekly family. They are being tested on science standards that have been taught in third, fourth, and in their fifth grade. And when they're tested as eighth graders, it's the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade standards they're being tested on. So for science, we're doing pretty good. Third grade 67 percentile, 62nd for fourth, almost 60th, 58th, for fifth, 53rd, and sixth, >> 64th, and seventh. and eighth grade who is going to be taking that state test is already in the 70th percentile for science.
First, I would love to bring our team up. They are all ready and waiting. You guys look so official back there. Come on up. You don't have like a walk up song or anything like that? >> We do. >> Great. Next year. >> Okay. So, we'll start uh right to left. Here we have Julianne Shelton. She is our secondary school supervisor and helps with financials. >> Thank you. >> Woohoo. Then we have Linda Price and she is new to our department. and she is our new department admin and she's doing a great job and she's excited to be at her first board meeting ever tonight. Next we have Michelle Shear. She is our area manager for elementary schools and also a department buyer for the nutrition services. Um and then Jessica Turnbo. She is brand new. This is her sixth day on the job. Seven.
Um, I think again I I'm in support of all three of them. I really appreciate everyone being interested and being passionate about this district. >> Um, just if I can just go back to Lisa's point about the process. I just take it back in my head. So last time we did this, I think was actually before the election was yours. We appointed you when I think Bob vacated. >> Yeah, but I was the only >> But you were the only one, right? So before that, >> we appointed Bob. >> Before that, it was a while ago. >> We appointed Bob >> when Susan left. >> Correct. But we had a vacancy for months. >> He was again the only one. >> He was also the only one. >> Before that, me, Adam, me and Adam. There were six candidates. >> There was a bunch of candidates.
Um you know, uh at the end of the day, we want to strengthen our practice, our teachers practices, uh with these initiatives, uh from safety protocols to instructional technology. Um we look all that commonality is to remove barriers for student success. Um so these shared experiences are just so important to us uh so that we can help GLTS remain at the forefront um especially the future of focused career and technical education that uh Panota and her team uh just talked about.
The as I stated before there's nothing new that I haven't presented to you before. There's no hidden surprises. This is what I present. It's now just shown to you in in number. No, Mr. Daniels. Thank you so much, >> Dr. Go. I want to thank you and the entire team for putting this together. As you can see, you've taken lightear steps ahead from what was already an award-winning budget book into something a little bit more even comprehensive. So, I want to thank you for that and for your talk tonight. So, as I mentioned, if there's any clarifying questions, um I think we can entertain those if there's something that sticks out. But if not, I I just want to remind the board as you put together your questions, and I you hear me say this often, but uh the the board of education's job is not to run the district.
And so, just looking at at uh our ELA kind of scores that that we're seeing uh uh meeting or exceeding standards, I see that we have 21% for our uh dual language immersion >> and that's compared to 34%. I would just be curious to know how that how that might break down across the grades and and and then how does that compare um maybe at least across the state to the extent that that data is is available just so we can see is is that happening. I don't know that we've done that I've ever seen like a more longitudinal um uh projection as we've started to see these students enter into the upper grades. So I I would just be curious to um to see that in a future report. Um, and then on slide 10, if I'm looking at the 2025 graduation rate, it says that 94% uh, Sierra, 89% is AHS, but then the the overall AUSD percent is 88%.
So we're doing really good continental very very good and the overall percentile for science is the 62nd percentile. We are almost about finished the hard work of Mrs. Lena Zel who's our English language teacher and coordinator and she's also the Azala district coordinator. Azella stands for Arizona English language learner assessment and that testing is almost over well she's pretty much done with testing but the window closes March 13th in case there's any students that have have to continue testing because they were absent but she we would really like to think this is able it's really rolling in hard work to do these state tests it's about two whole days and I'm not joking just for her herself to do all of the online training she has to do and then for those that are helping proctor they also have to do online trainings myself and Mr.
She's still here. Seventh day on the job. She's loving it. She is our new registered dietician and the junior high supervisor. And then we have Rachel Bratton, uh, our elementary school supervisor, SNS, school nutrition specialist. So, um, we are really excited to be here tonight and they will be our servers bringing out all of your options tonight. So, thank you very much for taking time to do this. Um, in addition, because Michelle Shear is the buyer and the one who determines how we're going to use our commodity pounds, they always I always say commodity dollars. Like, no, Bonnie, it's commodity pounds. Um, she will be she will be sharing um her process. So, just so you're aware. >> Yes, it's going to be an exciting evening. So, we will start first with some statistics because I did hear that you love your numbers and statistics and these are all really good news and uh celebration points too.
Correct. >> And so the process was they all went through what we just went through. >> Correct. and someone made a motion to appoint one person. That person was discussed, voted on, that was a positive vote. Someone made a motion to appoint the second person who was you. >> Correct. >> And that discussion was had and that received positive votes. >> And so then that was it. That was the two that were appointed. So that's that's the process that we followed in the past. So that's the process that we're doing here. So I know we're part in the discussion right now, but I just want to make sure that that was perfectly above board clear. We're sticking with the way we've done in the past. >> Yeah. But we you can talk about other candidates. We're in discussion right now. So I also >> motion on the floor to a point, Jackie, right now, >> right?
So thank you for supporting the work and open up for any questions you have as well. >> Any questions Mr. Lavoy >> uh can you uh talk a little bit about CTE group that went to the uh after the time that you >> after the time that you spent at the conference uh what are some of the things that you took away that might have had some uh uh implications to what we were already doing? Did we change the directions? Did it solidify what we were doing? Did we introduce anything new in terms of the work we're trying to do? How did the support the actual being at the conference support your understanding and knowledge that makes you a stronger supervisor or a leader for the particular programs that you oversee? Uh how does that support that? Do you think there was a a benefit in that way?
It's to make sure our district runs well. So, as you begin to formulate those questions, if you kind of think that in mind, um you're certainly entitled to get into whatever detail you want to. But the fact of the matter is what we're looking to do is make sure that the uh the district is being run well. We're before we're not we're before the board of finance in March. Aren't we? >> It's on the PowerPoint. >> Yeah. >> But the the goal is for you all to approve a budget, adopt a budget on February 26 and then a few days later we have to send it to the board of finance and I believe you present one March. So, is there anything you haven't heard you heard here tonight that you'd like to um get clarified or something that's sticking out to you that you need a little bit more explanation to help you understand the budget more?
I'm just curious, is that a could that be an an error or or or h how would our the average seem to be lower than both of the the the two schools? Um which that we can we can get a uh like an update in that in the future. You wouldn't have to answer that now. Um, on slide 17, would you be able to speak to I mean, I'm I'm seeing on middle school dropout it says 1%. And I'm just trying to understand does does that mean like as we might think it what that means or is that is that something else? what would what would constitute a middle school dropout rate and be because I would say that 1% is, you know, is is 1% more than uh would be acceptable for us. And so I'm just I'm I'd be curious to know how or why or what that what that means.
relate how to do online training. So I'm some of you may be familiar with all thoseella training and she is doing a phenomenal job so organized and our students have been you know doing their best it can be very grueling state testing and our our kids are really showing what they know and how far they've come. Results will be available late May early June. So if you have students that are doing the Azela testing you will be getting those results again late May or early June. our Arizona Educational Foundation. So, here's some updates. We did the A+ application. And I just wanted to talk a little bit about students taking the lead. Our students here practiced with a few parents that pretended that they were new families coming to the district. And they only practiced twice. They were super nervous. And these are students from elementary all the way through 8th grade.
We had 2,447 154 student lunches served in uh the 2425 school year, which was an increase of over 240,000 more meals than the year before. And then we had 432 297,000 uh breakfasts which were also an increase of about 20 something,000 24,000 uh from the year before. Uh the reason I like to highlight that is because it's not that necessarily enrollment is going up, but if participation's going up, then maybe we're doing something right. if the students are choosing to eat our meals and then they are getting nourished to be able to learn in the classroom during the day. Currently 9,743 students are qualified for free and reduced price meals through the national school lunch program which is a great benefit to those families in our district. So that is quite a large amount. The nutrition services department is a $15 million operating entity with over 200 employees and we are the largest restaurant in town and I said that last time so I wanted to add a caveat to that and that is we are also the cleanest restaurants in town.
>> Yeah. So I also agree with Jess. I think that all three would be um really good. I feel like they all bring something different to the table. Um, so Tara, are we able to like say or you just >> We're discussing pros and cons for appointing Jackie, right? >> Okay. All right. So, I think Jackie's PTO experience would be a really positive um for the committee. Um, and I do remember the budget that she worked on with Boilston and she did attend a bunch of the Fincom meetings and >> yeah, she ran the whole show with Lake and Kyle was here and the whole presentation for both towns was great. >> Um, yeah, I agree. I think all three were great. I think Christina, your package that you submitted to us was very professional. Really enjoyed that. >> Um, unless anyone has anything else to say, we'll take a vote and we'll see how the vote goes.
>> Yeah. So I can speak to the um curriculum development piece. I think um so um we always want to make sure that for teachers when we're we're doing any professional development that it is relevant and it is connected. It doesn't seem like a bunch of random you know initiatives being thrown at them. So um we are embarking on a curriculum sort of redesign process and had a lot of those steps already laid out. We're also we've been doing schoolwide PD with um uh a consultant who specializes in artificial intelligence in in learning. Um but I think for me the biggest thing that came out of it was uh this is how these two things can can can roll out together. Um and we were able to connect with people there who were doing the work in different ways in different parts of the country.
>> Super quick question. Um, for the voluntary early retirement program, we intend to replace the retirees at lower steps. Do we have a better idea of when we might have actual numbers for that? >> Yeah, July, August. Um I won't there's a few positions that out of the five one will definitely not 1.2 out of five will not be filled due to attrition. Nobody's going to lose their job. Um but we'll have a better idea of where we're landing in July and August. The there two positions that we're down to psychologist school psychologists. I'm going to post those right away. Um, but the other ones, uh, we'll wait a little bit because what I I need to see where we are with the a budget with with the town, >> but school psychologists I know we're going to need. >> No, no new personnel. >> No, >> Lucas.