I I do think those are good questions, though. I mean, I think they're legitimate questions and and I just would let the public know those are those are questions we're asking and those are questions that we're asking of our staff and our leaders and those are questions that they're have already asked themselves and have already run through those numbers and and that we're already running lean and that we are a a really well-run uh district and and the fact is just that the school funding system's broken. It's a it's a nonsensical system. It's not a conservative way of doing it. It's not a liberal way of doing it. It's not a moderate way of doing it. It's an inefficient way of doing it. It's not productive. It's not a way to build community. It's not a fair and equitable system. It's it's a really bad system.
And they should fix the system. But until the system's fixed, this is the system we have and this is the system we have to operate within. And so operating within the system, it's incumbent on us as board members to make sure that we are being wise and judicious stewards of the tax money that we're given. And and we are doing that and we've done that. And with that there are these needs that are not being met by the state and the courts have found that the state is is not fulfilling its constitutional obligations to fund us at the appropriate level. And so until that's resolved, this is the remedy that that the state leaders tell us themselves that you can go out for a bond. So, I I think it's it's interesting when they tell us the solution is to go out for a bond and then criticize us for going out for a bond.
And so, I I don't like the system. I think it's a bad system for everyone. No matter where you are in school funding, whether you have students in the district, whether you have students in charter schools, whether you have no kids, there's no student, it's a bad system for everyone, but it's the system we have. And it really is necessitated by the system. And so I'm I'm look forward to having this conversation with everyone. I do agree that we should be making cuts where we're where it makes sense to make cuts. It doesn't make sense to make cuts that's going to worsen the product that we're providing to the community. That that just gives you a worse return on your money. Like it's it's better to spend a certain amount and get a great return on your money than to spend a little bit less and get a horrible return.
And so we are right sizing. This is a really difficult vote and a really serious decision to make and I don't take it lightly. Uh but I I do personally feel that it's necessary and and even more than that I feel that it's my job as a board member to present that decision to voters to make and that it's not my job to make that decision for voters on how they want to vote up or down on this board. I'm I'm giving them that option to to vote and I think that's my duty as a board member. >> Um so um Miss Murray asked me this question specifically we have certain things that are on the list that we're going to fund out of this bond but they're very general. And so I just wanted to remind all of you that as as leaders on the board, remember that all these projects have to come to you for approval, whether they're funded by the bond or not.
So if there's something that's presented to you that you're uncomfortable with that you think it's a waste of taxpayer dollars or whatever, that's where you have that second bite of the apple to say no. So you all have that opportunity to make sure that you're holding staff accountable to to spend the money at our for our highest needs. So I think that's an important note as well because everything has to come back to you guys. Everything. You've seen all these items on the consent agenda that are all about spending unrestricted capital. We give you information about it in the board brief beforehand so you understand how we're spending our money. And so we we'll continue. Albert is a master at understanding what the needs are. He he presented a whole list to us in cabinet on Monday. He's he understands our facilities. He understands what's going to break and he's making strong recommendations to us as a leadership team on a regular basis.
So you should have a lot of confidence in that I think in the future. But again, you still have an ability to say no on a particular project if it doesn't feel right. Well, and sort of to Blake's point, I'll make it quick. I know it's late. Um, when I I hope I mean, for me, when I to when I when I ran for this position, I I told the public, look, I'm going to do my research, okay? I can't tell you a yes or a no right now because I need to go look at the information. And the general public, it's a lot of work and time to truly understand how this these budget systems work and how school systems work. And my answer to them was always, I'm going to do the research and if I feel they need the money and we have justification for those needs and it's going to help students, then I'm going to say yes.
If I feel like it's unjustified, then I'm going to say no. And after spending a lot of time on the phone with a number of you talking about how this, you know, what we're going to do, I I feel really confident in in the decision because um we do have those needs and I've watched adjustments be made and I've watched, you know, productive conversations have where there's give and take and there's there's there's reasons behind it's not just, oh, it's not just, oh, well, we want this, so we're going to do it, you know. And I I didn't know how those conversations were going to go. And I was really I was really happy to see that that those productive conversations are happening. And I feel like there's just a misconception out there that they aren't and that school board members are just kind of checking a box and saying yes and rubber stamping things.
And maybe some of them are cuz I can't speak for all of them. But I know I can speak for myself and say that that absolutely was not the case. And um what we're asking for I do agree with Blake where you know what at this point if the let the voters decide. It's not up to me. I will let put it on the ballot and let them decide. And if they decide yes, great. If they decide no, we'll have to figure it out from there. But >> I think that um there's been a lot of hard work put into this, not by just the um Miss Betts and the finance department, but by all of the cabinet and um principles too, bringing attention to their needs. And I think there are u many important items and I I feel like the community has already invested.
They've invested in these buildings. They've invested in these classrooms and I I would think they would want to maintain those and make them a place that children can come and be proud. And that doesn't mean we're doing extra fufu things. It just means that we're we're doing the basics that need to be done so that it's a pleasant place to be and it's a pleasant place to learn. And I think, you know, we have to think about that the students in our schools in 20 or 30 years are going to be the leaders of our community. And so we we want to make that investment if we want our con community to continue and doing well just as previous generations invested in those of us that are now doing those that work. So, um, I feel like we've been very fiscally prudent and very transparent and I would highly encourage our voters to get informed and and get the facts and I I think that when they understand the facts, they'll see the need for this this bond these bond sales.
>> Thank you. >> Yeah. Um, just to kind of, you know, I feel like jump on some what other people have said, you know, I do think Gilbert public schools has run pretty lean. If you look at the Otter General's report, we have low administrative costs um compared to districts in similar sizes. Um, you know, I think with Gilbert public schools, those I agree those conversations are are being had. And I think giving this opportunity to voters to decide um you know, I think it was a great presentation to talk, you know, about security. I think a lot of families in our district want, you know, more support in that as well as some of our aging buildings. You know, I think one thing with Gilbert, you know, we built all these buildings at the same time and those costs are coming upon us now.
And so those costs are real and you know, I think this is, you know, the important things making sure that roofs are good, we have sec, you know, secured entry at all our campuses. Um, and you know, I just I think we should give it to the voters and let them decide. And um, I think good public schools, you know, our community cares about the quality of education we have and hope that we can continue to invest in it. >> All right. Thank you everyone for weighing in and your thoughts and comments. Let's go ahead and I'll call for a vote. All those in favor of adopting a resolution ordering and calling a special bond election to be held in and for the district and authorizing the associate superintendent of business and support operations to comply with certain sections of the Internal Revenue Code in the amount of $136 million.
Say I. >> I. Any opposed? Thank you. That passes. 9.07 07 uh to consider, discuss, amend if desired and if deemed advisable to adopt a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in and for the district and authorizing the sale, lease or exchange of district property. Dr. McCord. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Governing board members, as Bonnie noted in the presentation earlier, this is re in regards to the pioneer property. The legal description of that address is contained within. Um, again, this is just giving us the opportunity to take to the voters to authorize the sale of this. We have no plans of selling it right at this moment and uh we just want to position ourselves for the future in case we do have to be able to uh put some of the properties up for sale like we've done in the past.
>> So, Jim, are you still there? Yes, Bonnie, I'm here. >> So, um, do we need to bring this back because we don't have the exact, uh, parcel, the exact legal description in the resolution, will we have to bring it back later for further affirmation from the governing board or will this suffice and we just take care of all that in the pamphlet? >> Good question. But no, as part of the resolution, the board is delegating to district administration to work with me and my office at your election council uh to finalize things like the legal description that appears on the ballot, the voter information pamphlet, all of the next steps, the publications, all that. So, no, there's no need to go back to the board. The board understands that we're talking about uh the Pioneer School site, so there's no confusion there. So, we're good.
Thank you. >> Thank you. Can I go ahead and move to adopt a resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in and for the district and authorizing the sale, lease, or exchange of district property? >> Thank you, Dr. Robinson. Is there a second? >> Second. >> Thank you, Miss Murray.
Any discussion? Okay, I'll call for a vote. >> Oh, that was a little fast. I just want to say I feel like the whole Pioneer community has been very gracious and very understanding in this process. So, Thank you, Miss Humphre. Uh, I'll call for the vote. Um, all those in favor of adopting the resolution ordering and calling a special election to be held in and for the district and authorizing the sale, lease, or exchange of district property. We're referring to the Pioneer Elementary site. Uh say I. I.
>> Any opposed? >> Thank you very much. >> All right. 10.01. Items for future agenda. Are there any agenda items that any good? Are there any agenda items that any board member would like to add to a future agenda? Okay. Uh, as always, if anything comes up, please contact myself or Dr. McCord and we'll make sure that those are put on the um appropriate agenda. All right, board reports. Um, I will kick things off with the audit committee. We had an audit committee meeting last week in which we uh moved and passed a was it a resolution or just passed we we agreed to continue to have uh I hope I'm saying this right Heinfeld Meech is that right? Heinfeld Meech continue to be our uh independent auditor. Um uh Jennifer, what's Jennifer's last name? >> Jennifer Shield was at that meeting and uh she explained beautifully um the answer to my question which was after 10 years of being our external auditor.
Um how do they maintain objectivity? because after a decade you you can become pretty familiar with the folks you're working with and um how could we guarantee that they are remaining objective and not uh for because it's late at night and I my brain is shutting off quickly um won't let things slide or will you know because of a relationship and she explained very uh their process their own internal internal measures uh that they review annually to make sure that no person or ent or entity uh jeopardizes the objectivity. And I appreciated that. And so I'm confident that they'll continue to um provide just top-notch work and audits that will um be to our uh be I don't want to say to our benefit. Yeah, I guess we'll be it will be to our benefit. I'll say it. Um, and that's all I have to say about that.
Uh, the city of Mesa liaison, Miss Shaina Murray. >> Nothing to report. >> All right. Thank you. Employee benefit trust trust board member, Mr. Jesse Brainer. >> Nothing to report. >> Thank you, Mr. Brainer. Gilbert Education Foundation and Town of Gilbert leazison, Miss Jill Humphre. >> So, we had our scholarship reception last week. I was not able to attend, but I'm sure it was wonderful. Um, the business leader breakfast coming up, I think it's next Wednesday. And then, um, on the town side, I know there was a process and some community input for the hiring of the town manager, but I haven't heard that outcome yet. So, I think they're still in process. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Humphre. Legislative Representative Dr. Dr. Blake Robinson. >> Nothing to report. Thank you very much. Uh 12.01 meeting dates. Dr. McCord, >> our next board business meeting is May 12th.
>> Okay. And that's it for May. Um upcoming graduations. I think we all signed up for to attend graduation ceremonies. Those are I think I think we've all done one now at this point, right? Those are favorite time of the year. So, I'm glad we have the opportunity to do that. So, All right. And now everybody's least favorite time of the night. Uh adjournment. >> Does anybody anybody like to make a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> That was fast. >> Thank you, Dr. Robersonson. Is there a second? Okay. Thank you, Miss Humphre. All those in favor of adjournment say, "I." >> I.