Maybe they don't feel like they can ask the question while you guys are here. I I There are a lot of nuances. Yeah, I completely understand what you're saying and I think that's why at open enrollment we do try to stress our numbers are on the back of on the back of their booklet guide. So, we let them know they can always reach out to Daryl-Ann or they can call us directly, you know, especially if you're not getting what you need from the carrier at that time or if you've reached that point of frustration, letting them know, "Please don't give up. Just reach out to one of us and we'll we'll take care of that and we'll make sure that that individual gets what they need." Okay. Thank you. And then yes, I would be interested in seeing the information that you can provide on any kind of assistance.
We put a lot of kids in. We're We try to be really competitive for when they open up. Uh it requires a GPA of like two 2.5 2.6 something like that. >> 2.6 I think is what >> I think that's what it is. >> All right. Thank you.
>> [laughter] >> And >> to do it. Did we know about the career fair at the middle school? I like I mean, I can't say we didn't cuz I might have missed not read something cuz I would have liked to, you know, about that. I don't know. I think it was put out. Was it put out? I don't remember seeing it. >> if we passed it along or not. Well, it was definitely a phenomenal event. We We don't get the news about it. I'll blame it on the person. I'll blame it on her. Okay, you >> [laughter] >> But also, district didn't share with us. No, [laughter] district didn't share didn't share with us. Okay. Oh. Yeah. I think you'd like to present. No. >> [laughter] >> I do want to come. I would I would like to. Thank you. Is that Okay. All right.
>> Yeah, I'll get it. Appreciate it. Anything else from the speakers Sorry, go ahead. How do we want to Yeah, they'll they'll make sure we get it. Okay, we'll see it. Sorry, Miss Gibbons. I was just going to point out a I really appreciate that you do take the time to meet with people if they have questions, but Juan brought up a good point. A lot of people don't think about these things until something's happening in their life and they're trying to figure out, "Okay, what do I need to do?" And I think about my daughter who just started working for BUSD. She was struggling trying to figure out some of this stuff. And she's like thinking about what do I need to provide or what do I need to get, what kind of insurance to get. Like she had a lot of questions. But thinking about all those young people that we get coming in that are first-time employed or adulting on their own trying to figure that out.
Any questions, comments about this? All right. So, we need a motion to accept. Yeah, it's to our benefit. Uh item 3.6 as presented with the IGA uh for u our CTE classes. I have a motion to accept item 3.6 as presented. >> A motion from Michael, a second from Bridget. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Are there any nays? >> No. All right. You said that. I didn't say that. You know, >> we're going to do we're going to interrupt the regularly scheduled agenda because Anna Cox is here and we want to recognize her. I did I missed you when you walked in and I missed your husband. Like he's he's hard to miss. He's hard to miss. So, we'd like to recognize you right now. Yeah. He can't hear anything. So, >> so I can say whatever I want to. >> All right, Anna Cox, come on up here.
Thank you so Thank you. Thank you. Very good job. Excellent. >> Thank you. See, it was more good news. Yeah, that was really good. >> That was excellent news. Great news, right? Okay. Do we have any old business? You have any new business? I have one. It's a new business. Again, I mentioned that we were acknowledged to be a highly effective board within the state of Illinois, one of one of a few, which is a major accomplishment. And I would like to continue on that path being a highly effective board. And being said, I will and I have been looking at different ways that we can continue making things better and formulating ideas. So, I'll be reaching out to each and every one of you over the next week on an individual basis to share some things with you and possibly take action at our regular board meeting to make the things that I'm looking to propose to you come to fruition.
So, it would be really good to kind of go over that information. We definitely will. Thank you. Am I too old to say it? Anybody else? No? Yeah. Well, thank you. Have a good evening. Appreciate the opportunity to be here. >> Thank you. >> [applause] >> Number seven this evening is our barbecue and ice cream district governing board financial report. Uh Miss Clementina Carlo. Which one? District governing board I did an analysis earlier. Financial and data. >> Good evening President Buendia, governing board members, Superintendent Diaz, and everyone here. Um okay, I hope you had an opportunity to review the student activities and auxiliary balances through March 31st. The total revenues in student activities for March were $1,019 from BHS basketball concessions and the community day event. There was no expenditures in March for student activities. The ending balance for all clubs on March 31st was $105,873.43.
So, Anna was nominated by a staff member. Um, Anna every Monday does our jocking jackets program. She has hundreds of little kids of varying ages. And she does so much for the jogging jackets program. She does work at home after hours to make sure that they their time is logged and they have the medals that they need and she does a lot for for the jogging jackets program. Um they the kids are just excited to to have something to do after school. So we're grateful that she does that for us. Um, I asked a couple people just some some synonyms about about this awesome lady and it goes with the the theme tonight that she does not like to be recognized. So, she she does not want to be up here. I know. Um, she's dependable. She's willing to help out with anything that's asked of her.
Okay? That's the new business. I don't want to get into a detail cuz I'm still working work in progress. Everybody okay? Uh I have I have a question. Yeah, go ahead. Uh what what day of the week is graduation this year? The week of the graduation? >> [laughter] >> We know. Yeah. Eighth grade is Eighth grade is uh May 20th. I just have that date. I was going to put that in the FYI this week at 6:00 and then the other one is I think the week after, the other Wednesday. It's 28th. Thursday. May 28th. >> Thank you. That's it is. Woohoo! So, May 20th >> those? May 20th and the 28th? Yes. Which one is first? Uh middle school Middle school is the 20th and then 28th. High school. Is high school and we will send out advertisements for you on that to make sure it's on everybody's radar.
The student auxiliary account had revenues totaling $323.13 from activity fees. The expenditures for the month of March totaled $761 and 94 cents for sports supplies and an official fee for [clears throat] Baba Kimbrough Middle School basketball home game. The ending balance for the student auxiliary fund on March 31st was $8,655.36.
She donates snacks every year for testing. So, um I I just call and they're there. Our snacks arrive in big boxes and Mr. Cox helps bring them in every year because they're heavy and there's lots of them and both of them are are great with that. So, every year testing snacks because of these guys. Um she's so patient. She's loving um she cheers our kids on in this jogging jackets program every week. Um, she makes kids feel like a million bucks. That's that was the final comment. So, thank you for all you do for for Blige Elementary and for our district. Thank you, Anna. I know the Cox family is part of the backbone of this community and we appreciate you and everything you do, the hours spent. Thank you very much. Okay, right back to the agenda. Uh item 3.7 a recommendation to to to approve the junior leadership program the JLA program goes on every summer and uh Beth Shiml is here to explain what that is and how well it's been run over the years and I know it's been run extremely well.
Okay. Uh eighth grade is it the high school? Uh No, we're at we're Eighth grade is at the middle school. At the middle school. It was at the middle school last year. Right? Yeah. Was it? Yeah. No. No, it was at the high school. It's always been at the high school. It's always been in the high school. Yeah, I'll clarify that. We have to speak So, she just left too, so I can It was a topic during our operations meeting. I'm pretty sure the middle school graduation is at the high school cuz there was some discussion about Yeah, it's the end of May competition gym cuz Yeah, well, we'll talk about that in cabinet, but In the high school Tilly Park. >> Oh, I thought we were doing it at the stadium. The reason the reason because we have concerns about rain and especially with our weather and it limits uh people bringing their families.
Are there any questions? Questions for the student club balances. >> [clears throat] >> Go ahead, Ms. Carlo. Okay. So, um attached was the budget expenditures through March 31st. As of March 31st, the expended budget across all funds was 70.67%. And that includes expended and encumbered, leaving a remaining budget budget balance of 29.33%. The average expenditures percentage through March is 75% and BUSD has spent 46.15% of its budget to date not including encumbrances. All the expenditures are within approved budget limits and the organization's financial position remains strong.
One year they brought tears to my eyes with all the things that they had done. >> Well, good evening. My name is Vicky Solomon, executive director of Nexus Coalition. And uh this will be Beth's 19th year that she has been running this program. If I >> I started at 20. So just >> Yeah. She doesn't age at all. >> Yes. When she graduated from high school, she started this program. >> Exactly. We got her when she was a junior in high school. Phenomenal program. It's amazing to me, too. Tears come to my eyes every time I think of everything that she does and what she does for the youth. Some of the highlights that they do, um they have bottle rocket, team building. Uh we do keep a clear mind with drug prevention. We do yoga and mindfulness. We have field trips to Redhawk Ranch.
You're all good. I just Wait, the stadium does? Why does that limit people bringing their family? Well, it does have Yeah, people on the outside chairs only, but I think the predominant reason is for rain. Okay, cuz I was saying shouldn't cuz we never we didn't even give out tickets for the stadium when we did it before. Not here, but I think I've had a couple that we had it outside. And the way the weather is looking these days, I am telling you I don't want to >> [laughter] >> And it cost about the same. Oh, really? Yeah. Yeah. No, it's all good. I just didn't know where it was being held. Okay. All right, great. Uh Uh Well, this is So, that was new business. Any other new business? Okay. We do have a reason to go into closed session as soon as I find the reasons for it.
Are there any questions? Questions to the uh report. Thank you, Ms. Carlisle. You're welcome. And then I believe we can move into the Arizona Auditor General FY25 school district spending analysis. Yes. Okay. The next slide. I'm not sure if you had an opportunity to review this. Every board member should have received the information. Um it's a lot of information. Um go to the next page, please. And um when you go to the link, it really expands. You can uh see that on the overview, the next page. There's six different categories. Um There's are six categories reported on the AG spending analysis and each category you can actually, when you're on the website, expand. So, you can see that total spending um the overview is that the state's total spending continued to increase, but at a much lower rate. In fiscal year 2025, districts spent 300 million more than in fiscal year 2024 and directed the added spending to non-operational areas such as school construction.
We have um connecting with the elderly at Sulttera. We have choices, coping and safety. And just a plethora of crazy amazing things. Hawking with or hawk hike with a hawk. There we go. Hiking with a hawk. >> And that's one of our Blige graduates, too. >> That's one of our Blueridge graduates. He actually is the one that does that hiking with a hawk. Um goal setting. Um lots of different things. But I'm going to turn the over to her because I want her to say just a little bit about the program. I love the fun side of it, but there's so much more to that program. Thanks. No, and just a thanks to the Nexus Coalition because it would have never happened without them. So, right back to you and we appreciate you guys um supporting it through the years because it is our 19th year.
I have it here. Mhm. Okay. I would like a motion to go into closed session for the import appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of specific employees. Moved. Moved by Bill. Second. Second by Dr. Hall.
We don't fall in that category, obviously. Um there's instructional spending, per student spending, student enrollment, average teacher salary, and school district efficiency. Next slide, please. So, despite the expiration of the COVID relief funds, operational spending continues to increase, as I stated before, but although at a significantly reduced rate. So, this you can see this on this chart, and this these slides are statewide data. And we'll be getting into the BUSD. If you can go to the next one. So, you can see that the instructional spending was the lowest since the inception of the monitoring that began in 2001. Again, 2025 was the lowest in the since they started monitoring this. Next slide, please.
Um what we really try to do is kind of target some of those kiddos that don't have as many opportunities um as well as the ones that have leadership. So, just a cool experience to see two weeks with the kids and challenging them a little bit in their thinking. Um, making sure what their thoughts are and what might be kind of preventing them from being in leadership roles and noticing the quiet leaders as we did tonight. Trying to get those kids to step up a little bit. Um, kind of a cool side note, we read or go through a a book. I think it's been part of the program all the years of it. Um, Linda, she's the author and she wrote a new edition of the book. So, this book takes the kids through just challenges in life and her own personal challenges. Many years we've gotten to meet with her and she talks with the kids, but she did a new book and in that book is mentioned our junior leadership academy.