They achieved the ASBO certificate of excellence in financial reporting for the fiscal year ending in June 30, 2025. Um this certificate of excellence program uh is a testament to uh our commitment to transparency and high quality financial reporting. there's two different um uh awards that they can receive and and they have uh routinely received those awards both of those awards throughout the uh the last decade or so. So, congratulations. High school recently had some success on the math contest. Um the math club sponsor Sonia Buck John Dani um had the kids uh participate in the Pasco Kaye Permit Canada math contest administrated by the University of Wateroo. Um, Drexton Claire uh received a score of 97 in the Kaye contest and a score of 95 by Emma Brighton in the permit contest. Both exceeding the rigorous metal cut uh metal cutoff scores. And so it's just an indication of their success in in math um and the job that she's doing with these kids up at the high school.
You know, Denise's mom was a regular has been a regular fixture at the school. Um and you know, that was how Denise approached her work and her relationship with Pumabute, her students, and her colleagues. I mean, her colleagues are like sisters and family members to her. And you know, Denise would bring her mom to the great pie pickup. And I could just hear Denise saying, "Come on, mom. Get in the car. You're going." You know, because she That's how family works. It works when you when you make it work. And um you know, she's in a better place now. Um, but we're struggling mightily without her. Um, and we're going to miss her a lot. And, um, you know, our hearts are breaking for her family. Um, her mom, her siblings, and the Pimabute family. Um, and we extend our deepest sympathies to all of them.
The rule set, if you will. >> Yeah. All right. So, the rule set for this particular round is a 4v4 crew battle, which is when players from opposing teams take turns fighting in one v one matches. When the winner of a match carrying the remaining stocks, which are their lives, to face the next member of the opposing team, coaches must disclose with one another in private the fighter for the first player on each team in the set. And after a player has lost the game, they will be eliminated from that set. So, they >> So, it's like an elimination battle. Definitely. You could play every person on Purdue's team if you stay alive the whole time. >> That is true. But only >> How rare would that be? >> Oh, it depends on the other team you're playing against. depends on the other team. >> Purdue is a tough team as we know.
Um, and extremely proud of all all three of them. They're all going to do go on to do great things. The one that's here tonight that I'll talk about, um, Zayn Skinner, he's a senior. He's done everything we've ever asked of him. Um, excels in the classroom. He was phenomenal to have in the room. Uh, always super positive. Kids fed off of that and, uh, we're very proud of him. He's going to go on to Indiana State University next year and major in either psychology or social work, right, to uh to be work in the mental health field. So, we're extremely proud of him. He's a great representative of of our program. Um the other two, uh Owen Cowwell, he's a junior. Uh his plans are to uh continue on and go to Purdue and major in uh chemical engineering. He's a very very bright kid.
Um, you have three minutes and >> understood. Yeah. >> So, that's why I typed to make sure I'm uh, organized. >> Excellent. Thank So, thanks for uh taking the time for me to be heard tonight. I'm a fourth generation Ashlin resident, third generation graduate from the Ashland public schools, and I have one child in the first grade and one entered into the school system in a couple years. Um, with that, I have vested interest in the growth and constant state of improvement of the educational system here in Ashland. Uh, I know a significant factor in a school's budget is special education. Another subject I'm passionate about in also being a product of that system, too. uh two names that stick out in my educational journey, Arlene Ager and Jane Holden. Um without them, I'm not sure I would have had the same experience in the same educational journey.
I mean, I suspect you do want volunteers to come in, but it was a really difficult process. So, I would just ask you to check that out and and um see if there ways to I don't know what's within your purview, what the state says, etc. So, just check that out. Secondly, I want to talk about um what is happening at the state level where the governor is pushing very um hard and fast to basically bring back the MCCAST 3.0. They're calling it something else. Um they're talking about it as endofcourse tests, but these are tests that are standardized that are prepared by the state, scored by the state, and everybody does the same thing. It's basically MCCAST 3.0. And they're going as fast as they can. And um I would urge you collectively and individually to contact our legislators uh this the the panel of education the the education committee at the legislature to say slow down.
I mean, I suspect you do want volunteers to come in, but it was a really difficult process. So, I would just ask you to check that out and and um see if there ways to I don't know what's within your purview, what the state says, etc. So, just check that out. Secondly, I want to talk about um what is happening at the state level where the governor is pushing very um hard and fast to basically bring back the MCCAST 3.0. They're calling it something else. Um they're talking about it as end of course tests, but these are tests that are standardized that are prepared by the state, scored by the state, and everybody does the same thing. It's basically MCCAST 3.0 and they're going as fast as they can. And um I would urge you collectively and individually to contact our legislators uh this the the panel of education the the education committee at the legislature to say slow down.
Whiting is our library media specialist um was an upcycle She had an idea for an upcycle center, recycling clothes and having students work on those things. So, I don't want to take anything more from that. I'm going to introduce to Jackie. She's going to introduce our students. They're going to talk a little bit about what they do and you got a little present at the end. Hi, I'm Jacqueline Whiting um and as Dean said, I'm the teacher librarian at Wiskaneer. And before I share with you why I wanted to create an upcycle center, I want the two students who are accompanying me tonight to just talk to you a little bit about why they like the upcycle center and they're going to show you some of the things that they've learned how to make. Um hi, my name is Anna Clifford and I'm in sixth grade.
You may also email Larissa Durr prior to 12:00 p.m. on the date of the meeting if you would like to address the board. Your email will be read by a staff member at the meeting up to 3 minutes in length. There will be no board discussion and no action will be taken unless listed on a subsequent agenda. The public may also submit a request to address the board on each of the remaining items on the agenda as those items are taken up by specifying the agenda item on the public comment request form. Unless otherwise determined by the board, each person is limited to 3 minutes per item. First, we have We have uh Brooke Allen. >> [clears throat] [clears throat] >> Not 25 anymore. Press the button. You there? Check. Good evening, everybody. It's really good to see you here. >> [clears throat] >> I showed up to see one of your guys' board meetings.
It's like, you know, you guys need to be acting timely. We have such a backlog. Okay, the other question is, does the principals know about this program that they can utilize it? Um they don't utilize the job order contracting directly. The um OFO uses it when it's um responding to projects. No, but I thought that was the whole the whole purpose of these small contracts uh that principals can for small items go right to right to the contractors and not have to go through the whole process. Isn't that the whole purpose of this? If the if it's a um school initiative project, um we have guidance out for um the principals and the CASAs that they've reviewed and if it's a school initiated project, they can go through that process and coordinate with our office, OFO, and it might go through a job order contracting which helps expedite the process.
So uh we have support for teachers but also for our uh administrators. And we recognize that each site has a unique need. So our plan is trying to meet the different needs for all of our 31 elementary schools. So uh we are providing quarterly release days. We're going to continue to do that next year where we bring our teachers to provide uh professional learning but also planning time with the coaches and all the support that they need. We want them to be successful and that is our goal to make sure that our support allows them to deliver instruction, implement uh with success. And with that in mind, we also added the one-on-one coaching assignments. So we have one coach serving three schools right now um because we know that once the PD is over then the teachers go in there by themselves right so we want to make sure that the supports not only when they come to us but the support also goes to them so the coach has the role to come and meet with planning coaching um principles have been very generous and even given additional time for meetings for planning and it's the idea is that each side has their little design team for to meet the needs of their schools.
Uh the robotics club at the high school received a grant. Uh Kyle Young was able to secure the Gene Hos Foundation 2526 compet competition team sponsorship grant in amount of $3,000. Um it's uh help it will help uh support the robotics club by covering competition registration fees and purchasing essential uh materials. Uh the marketing department also got recognition. They were recognized by the Arizona Department of Ed for their work highlighting the career and technical education programs throughout the district. Um, as a result, AD will feature the Comb's video reels and alumni highlights uh in their official so social media channels. Um, if you saw in February, there was any number of uh different vignettes and and social media post about different alumni and the success in the different programs that that we performed. So, Mandy and her team did an outstanding job. So, we just want to thank them and let them know about the recognition.
And um I invite you now to join me in a moment of silence in remembrance of Denise Palmer. Thank you. Um, you know, President Coutree, um, it's moments like this that remind us how personal our jobs are. Um, and we really notice that our staff gives 100%. And that's across our district. And it's that same care and commitment that um, and our our thoughts about Denise and the example she set that guide our classrooms and our campuses every day. And so with that in mind, I have the rest of my report. And I want to share a few updates that would that make us proud. Um, in Maricopa Unified, Air Force Junior ROC cadets from Maricopa High School and Desert Sunrise stepped into the world of aviation during a visit to Chandler Municipal Air Airport. 50 cadets toured the air traffic control tower and explored a civil air patrol Cessna 172, getting an upclose look at how aviation operations work.
Number two seed in this year's tournament, but if you're familiar with Purdue and their performances in tournaments, >> might choke. We're we're just going to have to see what happens. >> Alrighty. And after a player has won a game, they must continue with the same fighter until they lose within that set. And any stocks that a player has lost must be relinquished at the beginning of the game. They must do so by jumping off the edge, essentially losing their stock. So if they lost the stock in the first game, they have to jump off because you you can only keep the stocks you kept, you know, by the end of the round. >> Yes. >> Yeah. And this can get very intense when both characters don't have a recovery and they're falling towards towards the blast zone which makes you lose a stock. >> But what are the odds we see that tonight, Jordan?
Um, and then the other one is Drew Zuckwart also. Uh, these kids, I'm decently well educated, but they, uh, make me look silly sometimes. So, um, and it's great to be around kids that are that are that intelligent and take these things very serious, not just through wrestling, but um, through uh, the academic side as well. They have their priorities in check. So, uh, Zayn Skinner, first team academic all-state senior. Take your tag off. >> Take the tag off. Savannah and next. Uh so we're uh we're recognizing our whole team tonight. Um good players follow instructions, great players understand situations, and obviously basketball is a situational game. Um and our players were so good at that. And and we were so su successful because of that. Uh we were I mean we were we finished the we finished the year six in the state. We were in the top 10 all year.
Um early in grade school, simply it was very simple just to hold a student back and uh thanks to the tenacity of my mother and the encouragement of um Miss Arger and later on Mrs. Holden in high school um I just don't think my educational value would have been the same. Um with that um he had to fully support the operation two and a half override. Um you know I I understand the demand of the schools, the town uh and the need you know two and a half uh tax increases and way inflation goes uh they just can't the math doesn't equate up. So I completely understand that. Um towns like Ashland almost demand dual income households. Um extended day programs to me are a must in our school systems. Um, with that, um, our daughter was not accepted into the extended day program next year.
There's so many different moving parts to this and the fact that they're trying to move so quickly means that it's not going to be well thought out. the state. Um, we voted pretty decisively that we don't want those high stakes standardized tests to be part of graduation. She's trying to bring them back. So, I would urge you to be active in that. Um, the third piece is well and connected to that is making sure that you're arguing against any unfunded mandates. Lord knows uh we don't need more of those. Um the third piece is that there is um talking about funding the um the insanity of trying to figure out how to fund the schools that we are dealing with here. There are at least 270 other districts having the same conversations right now. There is not enough funding that is going to schools. There are 270 districts or more that are in hold harmless which means that they are essentially drowning.
There's so many different moving parts to this and the fact that they're trying to move so quickly means that it's not going to be well thought out. the state. Um, we voted pretty decisively that we don't want those high stakes standardized tests to be part of graduation. She's trying to bring them back. So, I would urge you to be active in that. Um, the third piece is well and connected to that is making sure that you're arguing against any unfunded mandates. Lord knows uh we don't need more of those. Um the third piece is that there is um talking about funding the um the insanity of trying to figure out how to fund the schools that we are dealing with here. There are at least 270 other districts having the same conversations right now. There is not enough funding that is going to schools. There are 270 districts or more that are in hold harmless which means that they are essentially drowning.
For the past few weeks, I've been going to the upcycle center, which is a place where you can sew things like for example, I made these hair bandanas. And there are other things like shorts and um flowers. Um this has taught me how to sew better than I could before and helped me use my creativity to make something new. It is super fun and a great way to spend your ELT. Thank you. Um hi, uh my name's Isla. I'm in sixth grade. Um like Anna said, um the upcycle center is like really fun for when you're free during your ELT session. And like Anna, I made a hair bandana. And it's going on your hair. It's super fun um cuz I also put it on my dog. Super cute. And I also made some pajama shorts during my past few ELTs, which I just finished up.
You guys see Julie at one of my board meetings, it's it's great. Um I guess the biggest reason I came was because of all the hubbub that was going on and all of this stuff and mostly I guess I just wanted to say that we are all here for kids. Right? I sat here before and we we all cross paths in public and to just speak kind words to everybody in our frustrations. Every time I have spoken words of anger, I always regretted it later. So this is not their fault. The state is cutting everybody's budget right now. And they are left with the bag. You know? Los Angeles Unified everybody is striking. There's not going to be any kids that go because they need we need to stand up to the state. This is the fifth biggest economy in the world and we have to cut.