The board requests that all comments be limited to 3 minutes or less, and that the public refrain from the use of speech or language that is offensive or inappropriate pursuant to board procedure 3-203. And our speaker card is Rosemary Faranda. I'm here today because of an ongoing unresolved issues our family has had the last 3 years at Saddleback Elementary and within the ESS department of the district. My son has been a student since preschool and had an excellent year in 2021, and since then, we've had mounting questions. On numerous occasions, in meetings with the director of ESS past and present, and also the superintendent, and explicitly in our son's IEP meetings, I requested his student file. And I've been told by certain staff that I'd receive them. To date, I've only received attendance records and medical records that I have provided to the school. The lack of records at this point is certainly concerning and at the very least delinquent in nature.
Ask you to be here by 9:30. Also, if you have special diplomas that you would like to pass out, let Montana know ASAP. Thank you, Greg, for bringing yours in today. Uh today I spent all day at North Miami um with the honor of of judging the Cole Porter uh scholarship. If you don't know what the Cole Porter scholarship is, pretty neat thing, right? So, um Mrs. Dobbs and her family uh sponsor this as as being part of that lineage. Um and they asked community members, Senator >> [clears throat] >> Holdsworth was there with me as well, community members, superintendents, [snorts] and teachers to come watch people audition. Uh today you see up there Jake Merritts. Uh Jake Merritt uh, received a $10,000 scholarship today. So, he is uh, in our theater program. Phenomenal job. Uh, and we have somebody in our audience, uh, who I think we probably campaigning last next year cuz his daughter also received a scholarship.
If we miss the window where it could have helped recruit. >> Yeah. And I think we're all good with saying >> if meet and confer recommends to move forward with it, it it seems like I think the special ed department is okay with moving forward with it. exec is okay with moving forward with it. I think we just need to kind of have a like let's move forward with it and and do it. >> Okay. So Joel, if you wouldn't mind on that option spreadsheet. So it would be a costneutral stipen amount. I think you got to think about right because if you if let's say you did $10,000 hypothetically and Ariel I don't know what will you cheat but let's say you were a resource bed resource >> but you only did it for one year then that money would go if if you only do it for one year then she might not make she or any other teacher might not make that money moving forward right >> right >> yeah so it's messaging too I mean we'd have to see if it does it have any fact >> I just you got to we have to think about that when we evaluate through the standard.
According to the Arizona Department of ESS website, records are to be maintained for four fiscal years after a student's final enrollment in a sped program and is no longer receiving services. Our son has not had an interruption of services nor final enrollment. The accountability in this school district when it comes to upper level positions is essentially nonexistent, and a true worry, something needs to seriously be investigated. And on that note, withholding records for 3 years, what is the reason? I'm here to demand answers. Perhaps an audit should happen of proper documentation practices. What else would it uncover? It's a stark reminder of when I asked for records from a well-known medical facility, and I was met with, "Why do you want them?" Which led to the discovery of billing for services never rendered, ethics violations, and medical malpractice, and a host of other things. It's no secret that there's a community here in Maricopa of parents who have enrolled their unenrolled their students from this district for many reasons and concerns.
[laughter] Um, she received a $15,000 scholarship. Played the violin, did a great job with that violin. So, uh, good job for those kids. That's that's nerve-wracking. Uh, you're you're sit sitting there in front of uh, 10 or 12 people, um, and and you're performing, and then after you you get done performing, you think you're done, and then here come the questions. So, super neat watching those folks. Uh, also, Robert mentioned active shooter training on June 4th. Um, that is going to be at the middle school from 8:00 to 5:00, uh, and then staging at the bus barn. They also are in need of volunteers. I think they're still in need of volunteers, is that correct? So, if you want to be a volunteer um, victim, you can't be like the active shooters. I think they're Well, you can't. We're going to shoot back. >> [laughter] >> I mean, you don't They're like assistant Um, yeah, if you want I'll just qualify.
So, I just want to when I heard that it just gave me pause for a second. >> To be fair though, um these are people that we have to employ like legally, right? And so, theoretically that the number that we're currently paying on contractors is not budgeted for sped teachers, but it's money that we have to spend regardless. And so, as long as it's costneutral to that number that we're spending now, well, yes, that the budget will have to increase in the future. Correct. >> But that isn't to say that, oh, well, we'll take this away to save some money because >> Oh, I'm not saying that. But I just wanted when I heard her say do it for one year. I just wanted to you know put the cautionary uh thing out there. But I agree it's >> it's not the same thing as oh we are going to give a raise this year and we not might not be able to afford it next year because next year if a regular teacher is too expensive we could theoretically cut that position increase class sizes but with sped it's not necessarily the same thing.
And while I've been strongly encouraged to do the same, I have felt a deep sense of loyalty, pride, and admiration for Axel's teachers and his paras, Ms. Claudia Avila Lopez, Ms. Amanda Small, and Ms. Jackie Pratt, his current teacher. And for his paras, the ground workers, the ones who weekly deep in the trenches, the individuals putting in the hard work lacking efficient support to ensure that our students are successful. The lack of teacher support, student support, and parent support, especially for the ones of us asking for it, is astounding. I've legitimately asked the same question for his records. If I don't receive all the proper documentation for his first, second, and third grade years, my next step will be a transcript request, and I will still be holding the district accountable. Because the lack of documentation is proof his lack of education as Dr. Lothman, you'll follow up?
Yeah. >> [laughter] >> So, if you want to participate in that, um, or if you want to stop in and see how that operates. I believe they're doing two sessions. Rob knew a little bit more about how your meeting day I I couldn't go, uh, but they are doing two sessions. If you would like to see how that operates, I think it'll be uh, kind of a neat thing to see. Um, ambassador, uh, we started off with nine into a seven. We hired one of them, and and then the parent [clears throat] uh, couldn't make those meetings anymore. Um, so, you see our ambassadors, we had the final meeting. I think we ended up with 100 and 60 slides, um, of information that we shared. Uh, pretty positive feedback from that group. Um, those slides are available under the quick links tab. Is that been posted yet, Montana, or not?
You have to legally hire those people. Right. >> Okay. Okay. Any other comments, questions on special ed contracted positions? Kelly, >> I just wanted to clarify. >> Can you pass the microphone? Thank you. >> Um, I just want to clarify where did we land? So, it's just going on the options list. >> I think we're going to put it on the options list. We're definitely We don't have an amount. I know there amounts being floated, but whatever it is is cost neutral. So I think when we try to evaluate it, we'll go through that lens that this group, whoever this group is, takes that option and then does the math and the data and whatever you were saying to to come up with an amount. >> So I I did add it to an option and uh the option is >> cost neutral stipend amount, market demand for sped, 10K for market one, 15K for market two and then I that's one option.
Mhm. Thank you. Thank you. Okay. All right. We move to the consent agenda. Do I have a motion? Motion to approve as written. Second. Lisa, I have a motion and a second. Shontae Rothschild. I. Ben Owens. >> I. Paddy Catri. I. All right. First action item, discussion and possible approval of personnel schedule. Mr. Beckett. Thank you, President Catri, members of the board, and Dr. Lothman. Uh you have the personnel schedule in front of you this evening, and I'll take any of your questions at this point.
>> Yes. Okay. Under [clears throat] the quick links tab, if you want to see what they learned. Um, that's pretty neat to look at. Uh, we're getting a survey back from them, we hope, here in the next three or four days to to let us know um, what they thought. But, in the in the last meeting that we had, um, very positive very positive uh, return on that. So, appreciate you allowing me to let that happen. We will put a new application process out here in May. >> [clears throat] >> Um, so, if you know folks, uh, especially those younger parents, um, if you know some folks that want to do that, uh, it's it is a little bit of a time commitment. Um, I think seven seven mornings, um, uh, like 3 hours in the morning. But, it's it's really neat to for them to see, "Hey, here are the things that people don't know about." And to be honest with you, when when we started first day on that group, uh, there were some people a little combative, "Hey, why are you doing this?
Do you want me to split that or uh and then the other one we talked about was Sykes just to get a a blessing on increasing the base for Sykes, but we don't have a number for that. >> Last year I think we proposed 5,000. >> Yeah, it was a base. >> Is it a stipen for psychologist or >> base >> market demand stipen for Sykes? Okay. >> And we only have two. So if it's 5,000, there you go. 10,000. That's how much it costs. Okay. So, separate or part of the package? >> I think they should be three separate options. >> Yeah. So, there's probably three separate individually. >> Okay. >> So, are we increasing by 10 or we're just going from I think it was 75 to 15. >> You have a stipen right now. >> Yes. >> That is five. >> If you're >> And what is it for resource?
Board members, do you have any questions for Mr. Beckett? Not at this moment. Uh I don't believe so. Um other than how are you feeling as of right now? Do you have a sense after all the contracts have been you know kind of finalized, whether their uh staff is returning or not? Do you kind of have a sense of what we're looking at potentially going into next year? Thank you, member Owens. It's a It's always a challenge at this time of the year, uh but we're looking at about 23 gen ed openings right now, which is an improvement from the last report, I believe I gave to you. Uh additionally, every day there's a change. And so, uh we we have people accepting offers or declining officer officers offers from the district. Um so, it's it's a process, but again, 3 months until school opens, so we we have time.
Why are you doing that?" And [clears throat] as we went along and they became more educated, they figured out, "Oh, these are why we do what we do. Uh, this is what the financial situation is at school." So, that was neat to see, uh, as well. Uh, last thing I have for you is the DLG grant, digital learning grant. Uh, Chris and I worked on that a little bit. Um, the last month or so, uh, we're looking at doing some training for staff on artificial intelligence. Um, so, we wrote up a proposal, we need $25,000 that we'll get for that training, uh, to where we would train administrators first, kind of put some guardrails around it because it's a pretty powerful tool, uh, and then train teachers, um, and then follow up with some uh, training hopefully by the state police and ICAC, you know, what what you have to worry about when you put things in there, um, what does it spit out.
45. >> Okay. So, it' be increasing from 45 to 10, 75 to 15. Is that right? Okay. >> Okay. >> Then at the last meeting, we had a discussion around there was uh concern questions about this $500 amount that was on the cost by staff line item. >> Oh, yeah. >> Did that get resolved or answered? >> Yeah. Yeah, for sure. So, when we did that line item, um it was just sorting and sorry, my my computer's updating. Uh does anyone have that line item? >> Uh are we able to put that up on the screen? >> Joel, can you put it up? It's under the meet and confer options and it's a link >> or the meet and confer updates >> and the link is called sorry >> cost by staff line item. Is it that one? >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> Line item staffing costs.
I'm I'm optimistic. But we have principals out there working very hard to make this happen. All right, very good. Thank you. Thank you. Do I have any motions? Motion to approve as written. Second. Lisa, I have a motion and a second. Shante Lawson. Childs. I. >> Ben Owens. I. Patty Cichrai. I. Thank you. All right, discussion and possible approval of the recommended food service meal charges. Mr. Harmon. Good evening, President Cichrai, members of the board, Dr. Lopeman. You have an action an action item before you to approve the uh recommended food service meal charges for fiscal year 27. Our recommendation is to raise meal charges for students not eligible for free reduced meals for lunch $3.75 to $4.25 and breakfast from no charge to $2. We were asked what the cost would be if we increased breakfast to $1 instead of two. Limiting break- Limiting breakfast to $1 would cost the district M&O fund a little over $160,000 next year.
So, uh, that we should know here in the next month or so, whether we got the grant or not. Something I learned is is this. So, we had to submit a video for that. Um, Google Vids, if you use Google Vids, you don't have to videotape anybody. Uh, you can have it all AI generated. Now, the tough part about it is they have trouble saying McConnel. So, you have to find the right >> [laughter] >> the right avatar that says McConnel. Um, yeah, and and uh, so, [clears throat] we submitted that three three and a half minute video. It was all AI generated, uh, and it's not just you prompt it, you have to build it a little bit. Took some time, but but uh, pretty neat uh, to do. So, hopefully we get that grant and move forward, we'll keep you in um, apprised.
That was that one. >> Okay. I'm going to have you guys if if you have something to say, let's put our hands up. Hurry up so that everybody can hear. Thank you, Dorothy. >> Okay, cool. It's that one. >> Okay, so this was just sorting um staff. I have it sorted. Let's see. Yeah, it's sorted. Okay. Um, so if you move over to the right a little bit, I went ahead and and put what that was. So I don't know that we finished that conversation when that all came up but what the intent of this was was um they you guys had said uh how much increase I think it was more for messaging than anything else um that everyone would get but there is some uh amount going out to staff for years of service and schedule repair and then there's also the classroom site fund and the merit and the classroom site fund has to be voted by 70% of the teachers.
We seek your approval for the recommended changes and I'm happy to answer any questions you may have. Board members. Again, nothing has changed since the last time we've had this discussion that was presented, correct? So, the first time it was presented, we asked questions, we reviewed it, and we're voting this evening. Correct. Just clarifying, so no questions. Do we have a sense, and this is probably more of a question for Dr. Lopeman and potentially some of the other cabinet. Do we have a sense of numbers of families that may qualify for free and reduced that don't actually haven't don't apply for it or that kind of thing? Um I don't I don't Let me Let me check. Do we have a sense of that? I I think that our participation has increased since uh certainly since I've been here, um but our our processes to um get families to fill out the application.
You have a couple other things in front of you as well. Uh, Kelly McPike is not here tonight. She will be here on Wednesday the 27th at 4:00 from 4:00 to 6:00, uh, with her family. So, we're going to have a little open house for her uh, to celebrate her retirement. Um, some cake, some punch, uh, moving forward. So, she doesn't know about it, so it's not a secret. It's too hard to keep those things a secret. So, yeah, make sure you you come and have some cake and punch. I also put put in front of you an administrative guideline. Um, some folks on the board asked, "Hey, do we have something formal um, as to how we make decisions on if we pay the deductible or pay the deductible, we don't pay the deductible, we pay it out of pocket." Um, so, here's some administrative guideline uh, that that uh, we can kind of work on in the next few weeks, and then that does not have to be board approved, that's just a guideline.