To do that, we're going to build a new website. Okay. We're going to implement Parent Square, which is a universal one-stop shop communication platform for all of our families. Our website will be Parent Square. Teachers communications will come through Parent Square. My communications will come through Parent Square. Parents Square will tie directly into the district Facebook page, the district Twitter X, Instagram, and any other social media that the district has. So when we hit send in parent square, it will go to all social media platforms at once. It will unify the way in which you receive communication in this district from the time your child is in kindergarten or preK all the way up through 12. And if you have a child at multiple buildings, you have a child at the mutual, you have a child at McFarland, you have a child at the high school, you will no longer have three different types of communication from staff, from teachers, from the school, from administrators.
These projections that we discuss are a realistic reflection of our current circumstances rather than hypothetical worst case scenarios. The budget before you tonight, commissioners, is the culmination of a rigorous, comprehensive review of our entire organization. After months of intensive financial review, the administration is recommending that we leverage the full 4% healthc care adjustment in tandem with the 2% funding formula expectation, establishing a 6% tax levy increase. We do not make this recommendation lightly. We sincerely recognize the significant financial responsibility this places upon taxpayers. The necessity for this increase is driven entirely by structural budget deficits caused by factors outside of our control. The administration and finance committee view the 6% increase as the only responsible way to continue providing the minimum constitutionally required thorough and efficient education that our students deserve. The primary cause of our budget deficit is the dramatic and unavoidable increase in fixed costs.
Um, and they just really brought great enthusiasm and like spirit to our program. Um, and I know the underassman and myself are going to miss them a lot. Um, but it's kind of hard to be sad if you know you're going to go on and do so many like awesome things. So, we're sad to be losing you guys, but we're excited for what you're going to do. Um, parents of seniors, um, if you could, you know, drop the secret parenting manual because they came out amazing. I'd love to know how you did it. Um, just I know you have one. Just like share it with me, please. Um, let me know um, how to get those results. But, um, one more time for our seniors. Congratulations. [applause] Woo! Okay. Hi everyone. We are the senior class of 2026. Alyssa, Ava, Harley, Chris, Diana, Grayson, Morgan, and I, aka the goats.
I would suggest that individual serving and said that statement should re- quit immediately cuz you're not here supporting the public schools. Public servants serve, period. While you have no legal mandate to do what the public ask, you do have a moral obligation to follow the request unless it's illegal. As an aside, GPS has been losing students. They've been losing students for years. This proposed schedule change will only worsen that problem. So, I don't know why you would possibly even consider it. And I said to all of you, keep the original schedule. And by the way, go get some training from ASB. Which would mean you'd have to rejoin GPS would need to rejoin. But, you need training. You don't have proper understanding of protocols of how to run a school board meeting. And by the way, Ms. Mary, I would tell her if she's here, she can move her children to Mesa Public Schools and she would not be a conflict for her.
Mason is one of our students who got a gold as well. So, he's going to do his uh award-winning solo. It's Surprise Symphony by France Joseph Hayden. There you go. I do also want to celebrate Mason. He was our countywide spelling be All right. Hi guys. I am Miss Laney Warren. I am the I'm the middle school choir director. I do choir unavoce and um music. And behind me is Unavoce. We are coming off of our showcase that was last week and they knocked it out of the park. We're so proud of them. And up coming on Saturday with the rest of the groups like they mentioned we have countywide. So tonight they have a song from Coco. Um and then at countywide they are doing Beyond from Moana 2 and set it off from Descendants. So here is remember me from coverby I Sing a secret song each night we are aart though I have to travel each until you're in my arms again.
Um, so I'm not going to hold it up then very much anymore. I'm just going to mention what data sources are in here. Um, so you have IYI data, state data, the surveys that we sent out to community, the staff, parents, and students. You'll see those referenced in this presentation. And then you'll also see us speaking from an accountability model lens. You remember that riveting presentation that Carrie gave on the new accountability model um last board meeting. It took us about an hour to get through because it's that complicated the new state accountability model. We are working through knowing those are the benchmarks set for the state for us going ahead. So making sure that as we're making our own goals and action steps, we're not doubling the work. We're streamlining into a very clear purpose. So that you'll also hear discuss and then the final piece will be them presenting by each bucket.
Um so I'm going to have them each come into the podium and state their post-graduation plans um as we celebrate them. I would like to thank the board and AUHSD for all of the amazing educational opportunities provided for myself and for all students. I have had the amazing opportunity to serve on my school's redesign process and I cannot wait to see the upcoming 4x4 schedule that we have implemented. My name is Balina Alcala and I serve as an Anaheim High School student ambassador and I am proud to be attending the University of California Irvine and I will be studying biological sciences to hopefully specialize in neurobiology to become a neurosurgeon. Thank you. Can I go? >> A big goal of mine as a leader was to not only be a good role model for students but also a friend. A highlight from my year was during my last RSVP meeting where all my members gave me affirmation.
Our students deserve better. Our staff deserves better, and this community deserves better. We need Apple Valley Unified School District to get back to what it once was. A district people were proud to work in, proud to attend, and proud to support. And I truly hope we can get back there together. You'll be happy to hear this is my last board meeting >> [snorts] >> of the year. I want to thank everyone who continued to attend the board meetings >> [snorts] >> and show your support. It really means the world. And I want to thank President Scott for your support and your friendship throughout this entire time. >> [snorts] >> It has meant a lot. President Scott even conducted the service for our Vice President Adrian Forbes' husband, Mark Forbes, last Friday. And he did an outstanding job. >> [snorts] >> And we really think that you showed up for her.
We have one. We will unify the way in which we communicate. This district prioritized that and this district does budget for it. We're going to implement online lesson planning for staff. That's a good thing. Staff, that is moving forward currently. So we are in a position where once the budget if the budget is approved by the board this evening and it is approved by the county we will be ready to launch the online lesson plan format for our staff. You want to implement an online evaluation system. The same holds true there. We are already working on all of the backend necessities so that if the board moves forward tonight and approves the budget, we will be in a position as of July 1 to allow teachers and allow administrators access that so that when we get to September, it isn't that new of a system.
specifically health benefits, charter schools. Health benefits is the number one driver of the deficit with a 31.02% increase, which alone amounts to in real dollars 13,634,023. This trend includes significantly elevated medical utilization with top diagnosis and highcost claimments totaling $14 million in paid claims. The second largest fixed cost is charter schools. Mandated charter school tuition increased by 23%. adding $3.8 million to our expenses. So, the deficit we start the year with is $15 million, assuming a 2% tax levy increase. These constraints, which include state aid, the charter formula, and health insurance trends, are outside of our control and represent the vast majority of our overall budget. The state's school funding reform act, the state formula, indicates that the Clifton tax levy should be $42 million higher than it currently is to meet an adequacy budget to meet just an adequate education. Our analysis of alternative levy increases demonstrates why the 6% increase is necessary merely to maintain and minimize the impact on our students.
We just wanted to take this moment to show our appreciation to our amazing teacher, Mrs. Tr, but we will always know her and refer to her as Miss Fairy. We have had Miss Fairy as our music teacher since we were all in sixth grade, which is really crazy. She has watched us all grow from silly little middle school kids to young adults graduating in a month and a half and embarking on our new chapters of life. It is safe to say that because of her, we grew our skills and playing ability to what it is today. With her, we grew our passion for music and learned so much. Not only did she watch us grow into people we are today, we grew up with her, too. We watched her get married and have her amazing daughter, Ava, and we cannot be more [clears throat] proud of seeing all of her accomplishments in addition to being an outstanding mentor.
Thank you. I'd gladly enter my comments into the public record. Bobby Spencer. If you'd make your way up to the podium, please, and begin [snorts] whenever you're ready. And again, there's a timer here on the monitor. My name is Bobby Spencer. I'm a Gilbert resident with a child in the Gilbert Public School District. I'm here tonight because I, like the overwhelming majority of the people surveyed, strongly support the current 222 calendar. The survey The district surveyed both families and staff. The results were clear. Over 70% of parents and 85% of staff supported the current schedule. The community spoke, the staff spoke, and the survey results reflected the feedback. That's why it is deeply concerning to see this process suddenly delayed because one board member prefers a different outcome, one that personally benefits her instead of the community that she's supposed to serve. When someone with a clear conflict of interest pushes to override the will of the community after the vote and survey results are already in, it feels less like repres- representation and more like an abuse of power.
Remember me. Though I have to say goodbye, remember it cry for even If I'm far away, I hold you in my heart. I sing a secret song to you. Each night we are aart. Remember me. Though I have to travel farad know that I'm with you the only way that I can be until you're in my arms again. Never me. >> Thank you guys. >> Great. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Schulz. We appreciate you bringing all those presentations to us this evening. It was a lot of fun. >> While they're leaving, we'll just remind everybody May, help me with my dates and times. May the 9th, Saturday, it's the countywide music festival at Triftton Park. It starts at 11 o'clock, goes until 5:30. Both stages will be going. Um, all three groups will be there performing. So, um, very exciting. Very excited.
So I have the first bucket is panther well-being and then we will have second uh action area academic achievement and growth operational effectiveness positive school culture and climate and then fiscal responsibility. So to kick it off for us Panther well-being Dustin Roller and Melissa Patterson not to interrupt but it won't quite follow yours. We They're all over the place a little bit. So if you're trying to follow through here, they skipped around just according to their group and what slides should >> they're highlighting yes parts of the packet, not page by page. >> Okay. All right. Hi everybody. Good evening. Um so um Mr. controller and I are talking about Panther well-being and Panther well-being um is the overall goal is to create increase student and staff well-being because we know that student and staff well-being is the foundation uh to academic success, staff effectiveness and just our thriving overall school community.
They told me I was a great leader, their first friend, and created a second home for them. My name is Hanya Keshi and I am the Cambridge Virtual Academy student ambassador and I am very happy to have served as their ambassador and appreciate all the opportunities they provided with me. With all the skills that I have learned, I am proud to announce that I will be pursuing biomedical engineering at Calpali St. Louis Abyspo. THANK YOU. ALL RIGHTY. Can I go? Yeah. Okay.
Thank you. In solidarity, Karen. >> [applause] [applause] >> All right, we're going to move on to the adoption of the agenda. The board may approve the agenda as is or add and or pull items from the consent agenda for discussion and or action. Can I get a motion to approve the agenda? The adoption of the agenda? So moved. All right, I'll second. Okay. We'll be taking a vote via roll call. I'm sorry, excuse me real quick, President Buchanan. Is there any way we can have a little bit of discussion before we vote? On adopting the agenda? Yes. Okay. Um I'm concerned that this board is proceeding without agreed upon rules of order. And according to the Rosenberg's rules of order, quote, rules are meant to create an atmosphere where the members of the body and the members of the public can attend to business efficiently, fairly, and with full participation.
But again, this budget has that. It's built in. This budget prioritized phase one remodel of Martin's playground. and an HBAC project on the roof of this building on this side. Good news is the HBAC project is through the rod grant which means the state is going to pay 40% of it. So the budget only has to cover 60. We budgeted that. Good news is phase one playground CVS. We've had multiple meetings with the architects. Drivers drawings are done and ready to go or soon I should say if the board approves the budget tonight. Our plan is to do phase one of the Clara Barton uh playground project this summer. Our plan is to do phase two next summer. We're looking at a financial investment of upwards of a million dollars at the Clara Barton play. And if you've ever been there, it needs and it deserves it and we're budgeting for it inside of this budget.
A 2% budget requires the reduction of 49 positions including administration, teachers from K through 12, nursing and security staff. It would result in 16 positions being cut after accounting for attrition, which is retirements or resignations or people leaving for other reasons. And it would severely impact programs and increased class sizes. A 4% budget requires the reduction of 25 positions, primarily through attrition and reorganization. A 6% budget requires a restructuring of 13 positions. But even at 6%, ladies and gentlemen, the district would still be unable to hire the 11 teachers required for our new Maple Valley Middle School, which again would result in program impacts and increased class sizes. Let me take a couple more minutes to talk about fiscal responsibility. Everything costs more than it did last year. If you look at the official US consumer price index, the CPI, that's how inflation is measured.
Together as a class, we experienced so much together. The long rehearsals, the inside jokes, the crazy field trip stories. So much of it is what makes the orchestra so special for all of us in it. As our musical journey comes to an end, we owe it all to you, Miss Carrie. Your kindness, humor, and leadership allowed us all to thrive. The memories we had in the orchestra are ones we will never forget, and it's all because of you. We will miss you so much when we all graduate. And to the underassman, keep playing amazing music and share your passion of performing to others. We cannot wait to see what you accomplish. And like our fellow senior Chris has said, and we now quote, "Just put your finger on the music on the note and play." Thank you. [applause] [applause] These are our seniors. I really appreciate their work and um working with them all these years.
We've also heard the justification that attendance is lower during Thanksgiving week, but many families travel during the October 2-week break because it is one of the most affordable times of the year to travel. If this calendar changes, many students will simply miss an entire week in October instead of two or three days around Thanksgiving, especially when students already have Thursday and Friday off that week anyway. This proposal does not solve the attendance issue. It simply shifts it. If the board wants to discuss an entirely different calendar structure, then the ethical and transparent thing to do is conduct a new survey and allow the community to weigh in fairly before attempting to move forward. Please respect the survey results, respect the families and staff who participated in good faith, and approve the 222 calendar as the majority requested. That's all. Thank you, Ms. Spencer. Brian Hutchins.