Um, so I would have stayed home this morning if that was the case. I'm just kidding. I would have come and face the music. Um, but what I wanted all of you to know is the commentary from the board on Tuesday night was how proud they were of this team and the work that's been done. So, um, I think I'm trying to remember. I'm pretty sure and if it was, you know, off mic that night, I'm not revealing anything cuz it was either something that Sophia said to me or something she said on mic. But it it reflected the sentiment of the entire board which was that they were very proud and impressed because it felt like the options that you're kind of finalizing this year really have been um out of all the years that they've been kind of I guess it's been two for this five this five members of the board but probably going back a little bit before that they feel like this is the deepest level of work that the team's done because the options that are there really span a variety of challenges that we've been dealing with in the district for years and try to um make improvements to those challenges to the benefit of our staff.
The chapter was also recognized for hosting successful blood drives and meeting donor goals, as well as for fundraising efforts for the HOSA National Service Project. Students competed against peers from across Arizona. A special congratulations goes to Elise Vianova, who earned first place statewide in researched persuasive writing and speaking, and will advance to represent Desert Sunrise and Arizona at the HOSA International Leadership Conference this June. Next school year, the Boys & Girls Club at Almer Farrell Innovation Academy will expand to serve students in grades K-8, becoming the first location in Maricopa to include middle school students. This program will continue to serve elementary students while opening the new opportunities for our middle school students to stay connected and involved after school. Following up on her recent nomination, Maricopa High School senior Michaela Armstrong has been named the Arizona Republic's High School Athlete of the Week after a standout showing at a statewide reader poll that drew more than 29,000 votes.
So, I appreciate your your dedication to that. Also, there were some individuals that were mentioned there as well. Greg Bevington and Robert Dane both made the exemplary honor roll, which means you're exemplary for more than one year in a row. Rex Betsner uh was commendable and Tim White and Alan Wilson were both on the distinguished list. So, appreciate your commitment to to training to be better board members every day. Um after we're done, let's get a picture. I'm going to send a press release with the picture to the paper. So, let's get a picture of the board together and we'll do that. So, thank you very much. Good thing I shaved. Good thing you shaved. >> [laughter] >> Brings us down to item 3.1, approval of minutes, regular meeting dated March 18th, 2026. I'll entertain a motion to approve the minutes as [clears throat] written.
Um again, like that. How fast do you think those folks were going? I mean, they're kind of downhill. >> I estimated at about 40, 50 miles an hour maybe, which is so fast. I mean, just to have that little wheelchair, I it's fantastic. >> There's nothing between you and the road in that in that machine and like the the nerves of steel, those those incredible athletes like I hats off to them. I don't think I'd have the guts to do anything like that, you know? So, >> and just think about the arm strength, too. I mean, it's all like so wonderful. >> All arm strength, leg strength, you know, the whole whole nine yards. But, but you know, it it's interesting. And we were talking a little earlier about the the crowd size here in Ashland and we've got we've got a good number of people lining the route but you know we've also got a good number of runners.
So thinking about um heat, electricity and buildings, things of that nature. Um school supplies um and and and the like. Um so for me, I'm trying to fix this this structural deficit that exists every single year. Um and we can do that by not having to rely on the one-time funds because those are going to dry up and they're going to be gone. Okay. Well, you know, I I I'm sorry. Go ahead. >> No, no, no. So, so we're here because we're here because there's no revenue, right? The revenue stream doesn't exist at the state level, nor at the at the local town level because of Prop 2 and a half. Um, it just limits the amount of revenue that we can create. We've grown as a community. We have more needs as a as a school system. Uh, and you can pinpoint a lot of different places.
Um, they do have a few items that are on here. Looking through some of the fine print, they do have an 8 to 10 week lead time and if that time is shorter, they do have it documented that there could be an additional cost to that. Um, you know, kind of with the um immediate need for this and trying to get this done this summer, they were not able to send a representative out. That always kind of makes me a little nervous because they don't have they didn't bring somebody. They weren't able to get somebody here to actually um actually look at what we have. Um Kayla on here. There she is. Maybe. Hey, Miss Kayla. Can you hear me? Can you Can you hear me? Miss Kayla, how about now? Can you hear me at all? No. Okay. How about now? Anything? You got me?
>> Um, not necessarily about the film festival, but more of just a shout out to my students. I'm very, very proud of you and happy for you. Um, especially my graduating students. I'm so happy for you. >> A real tearjerker. Oh my goodness. Oo. If you can't see it, I'm crying behind my sunglasses. Isn't that right, Robbie? >> Yeah. >> Yep. His mustache is about to melt off. Oh, Miss Hester. Oh, Miss Hester. Is there any particular films you're excited to see tonight? >> Um, I'm excited for all of them, but I am really, really excited for the bloopers for the last couple of ones at the end. >> There's a whole bunch, but I can't say too much. Oh, niche undercover underground. >> Oh, they're they're calling me. >> Oh, there she goes. Oh, and she's >> gone. >> Flew right into her seat to watch this amazing film.
So things like um you know kind of tackling compression again right in some different ways and kind of looking at a bunch of different groups um you know and you know from my comments seeing the range of things from dealing with compression for specific groups like nurses to some of the broader compression for certified teachers to looking at compression issues that were created with the fixes last year that sort of $500 minimum because there were some people who felt underserved, right? Like there's a level of depth of work in all of that that is really impressive and and the board recognized that. So I wanted all of you to know that. I think the other comment that they made that was more specific um it was related to one item on there. Do you remember what it was Joel? >> Oh >> yeah. Yeah. um the options for special education and some of the specific populations and and I think that's partially because if any of you who have really had insomnia and you've gone back in time to watch the board's original wrestling session with what goals they should be setting for us as a district for our student outcomes focused governance goals.
The uh That's impressive. >> [applause] >> Armstrong earned the honor after securing first place in the triple jump at the 72nd Annual Kiwanis Invitational with a mark of 37 ft 11 and 1/4 in, a well-earned recognition for her performance on the track and her leadership beyond it. Members of the Maricopa High School Alliance Club visited Desert Sunrise High School during lunch periods to connect students with certified therapy dogs. Students had the opportunity to interact with the dogs as a way to focus on wellness and reset during the day. The visit reflects how community partners continue to show up and connect with our students in ways that make a difference day to day. It's safe to say the wagging tails were a hit. And that's my report. >> [applause] >> Thank you, Dr. Lotman. All right, we're going to move on to our governing board member reports.
So moved. Second. Second. >> [clears throat] >> All those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Brings down item 4.1, 4.2, financial business. We ask for your [clears throat] approval checks dated 3/27/26 amount of $514,024.71. Checks dated 4/10/26 amount of $456,739.95 and accounts payable from 3/19/26 to 4/22/26 amount of $1,281,856.95. Ask for your approval as presented. Okay. I'll entertain a motion to approve the financial business as presented. So moved. Second. Second.
I from what I understand there are about 4300 runners today in the in the marathon alto together. um >> altogether and you mean the total amount of runners? >> I think so. >> 30,000 30,000 people in >> qualified I'm sorry qualified people I'm not sure but qualified >> qualified. So there's a little controversy in the running world about um who gets to run Boston, right? So, I'm sure a lot of people have been seeing um you know, or you're a real marathoner if you don't qualify because if it some to get people familiar with the process, you can apply to run and you have to have a qualifying time and there are different marathons you can do to submit your time or you can run for charity. >> Uh and then people get charity bids and they raise money. So, there's been a raging debate online about like who's a real marathoner, people who who make those qualifying times or people who are running for charity.
Transportation costs are are through the roof. uh our out of district special education costs um that are not controlled locally uh are through the roof. Um and there's just not enough state funding coming back into the communities to help pay for those things. >> So, I was going to ask you about state funding, but you know, a lot of folks have have been curious about how state funding and federal funding may impact this ask. You know, are there implications here? Have conditions changed at all or or are things pretty much staying the same or Yeah. Can you speak to that a little bit? >> Yeah, it's a great question. Right. So, um currently, uh chapter 70, which is the state funding formula for education to communities, um that was modified a number of years ago, um where Ashlin benefited greatly, right? We we had we saw a couple years where our chapter 70 funding went up over a million dollars uh coming into the town partly because of the way the funding formula was readjusted and two we had increased enrollment and with more kids we were able to get more funding uh through chapter 70.
Okay. I can't hear you at all, but I got you on here. Uh, let me turn my sound up, maybe. Nope. I'm up to 100%. You still got me? Can you hear me, Kayla? Yeah. Okay. Um I'm going to go ahead and keep going and if we're able to kind of figure that part out. I think we do have a way on here that we can um type back and forth though. So >> yeah. Okay. Okay. So Kayla, we're going over the light um the lights for the football field. So, we're talking about the game day lighting uh bid that is on our board notes. Um so, just kind of moving down here. So, so they were not able to send a representative out. That always makes me just a little bit nervous just because they didn't actually were able to have somebody come out and actually step foot on what we have and, you know, look at it with their own set of eyes.
>> She's so excited. She cannot wait. >> The thing is like there isn't really much of a view to get here because it's just Why are we starting at 6:00? Tell me. >> All right. Three, two, one. Go. >> I see a fish out there. Let's reel her in. And here she comes. It's our own Giana. Gianna. Hello. Hey, guys. No. Do you have any fun facts you want to tell us about your film festival project? >> I don't want to give too much away, but I would very I would very say I would say that it's very funny. It would definitely like make people laugh, get people involved, and I'm really excited for people to watch it. >> Oh, how exciting. Oh my gosh, I just can't wait. >> Oh, I'm like buzzing with excitement. You got to be here. >> Oh my goodness.
There was a big battle between whether the special special education subop or the black student population would get its own specific goal as a subop. And ultimately our black students went out because of that 0% for as far back as you could see, right? Like that was just difficult to ignore. But the conversations continued about how important making improvements in our special education space were. And so they really appreciated seeing the depth of thought in that recommendation for those three days that um you know could potentially allow services bless you to reach students sooner and also provide better support to our special education teachers. So, um, so I am going to take a moment of personal privilege, which I rarely do as a superintendent, and just kind of give a little bit of a we'll call it like a micro pep talk, but the the personal privilege is actually very often people doing these use sports analogies.
Member Rothschild. No updates for this evening. All right. Member Owens. Nothing this evening, President Cuchary. Y'all slackers. All right, um I just have a couple. Um I was able to attend the underclassmen awards over at MHS um with member Rothschild. So, you did have something to report. >> [laughter] >> So, uh it's really nice to see um the number of kids achieving these academic successes. Um and I'm just so proud of everything that they they accomplished. And so, to be a part of that, this is coming into my favorite time of the year, even though it's the most insanity time of the year, but just to celebrate all of our students and their successes um is something I really look forward to. That's the bonus of being a board member. Uh and then um member Lopez and I were part of the Parents Day at the Capitol.
Any questions or comments? Any additional questions? Want to talk again? Hearing none, all those in favor signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed, same sign. Motion carries. Item 8.1, facility Mr. Kidd, are you there? >> [clears throat] [clears throat] >> Um we made it through spring break pretty well. It's always a fun time at this time. The high school staff is you wouldn't believe it, but they're busy getting graduation stuff started. Uh everything from scrubbing the stage floors down and getting them ready. So, they're they're be they're pretty busy with that. Um we have a a lot of the head custodians are working on their summer list and how we can utilize other staff from the high school, which uh um they're getting pretty excited about it. They don't get to spend a lot of time from building to building. So, they're getting pretty excited. During the spring break, we did the main entrance, did the LED lighting, and did that in house, which made a big difference at the high school.
Um, I don't know if you have any thoughts on that. >> I do. >> Oh, there's got the state police. >> I say they're all marathoners. All of them. Anyone who runs this race. >> And here are safety officers. >> There's a Massachusetts finest coming down the road here on 135 uh state police and they're think I think those are Harley's. I'm not. Yeah, I think those are Harley's. I'm not sure. Um they're giant bikes. That's all I know. I'm not >> They look kind of great. >> Face this way. >> Sure. >> This So this is like the opening opening. Okay. So these are women.
We've leveled off uh in terms of enrollment for the most part uh and the state's um funding formula has finally kicked in for for districts. So it's it's that's leveled off as well. So, currently the way the um the the House budget sat uh and and it's ever changing until July when we finally get a a budget coming out of of you know, Beacon Hill. Um we have um about $75 per kid is what we're getting. So, it's about $240,000. Well, okay, that's what we're getting for aid for public education. $240,000. I I just told you. I mean, just salaries alone are um millions, right? Um for for the entire organization, $48 million budget. Um, and with that limit, it's very difficult for us to to stay um to stay afloat without using those onetime funds and without asking a community to to have a operational override.
So, um, their bid is included on here. It comes out at $231,118. Um, so I'll let you guys kind of look through that one here in a second. The second bid is a company from Austin, Texas. That's Techline Sporting, Techline Sports Lighting, sorry. Um, their price only includes a 10-year warranty. Whenever I visited with the gentleman yesterday to try to get apples to apples on what a 25-y year standard warranty or a 25-y year warranty um would look like, uh he said what they normally do is after 10 years, if you want to extend the warranty, then there's an additional cost to extend it out. So, this one does not have a 25-year warranty um for their product. They do have a 4 to 6 week delivery um and then 3 to four weeks for installation. And again, they weren't able to send a representative out as well, which kind of makes me just a little nervous.