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You made me feel at home. Class of 2026, growth is not always comfortable and change is not always easy, but both are often necessary for us to become the best versions of ourselves. As you close this chapter, I hope you carry with you the courage to keep learning, the resilience to keep trying, the confidence to build a future that you are proud of, and a heart of gratitude for a life in which you get to write your story. Congratulations on all you have accomplished and best wishes as you use the lessons you have learned at Village High School to pursue your passions and goals with purpose. And now, Dr. Waldrop, I would like to present to you the class of 2026. As principal, I hereby certify that these young men and women have met the all the requirements to graduate from Village High School and are recommended for their diplomas.
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No, you could possibly get by with two. So, that's what we're looking at doing with that. Okay. So, see if I answer your question, Miss Horn and >> um [clears throat] I would like to backtrack because I think it'll help make sense of my my questions and concerns here. Um I brought this award here. Um at the end of last school year, there were only two returners to the boys varsity golf team. And this award here was presented at the banquet this year for the boys varsity golf team. And it says, "Honoring the player who went above and beyond to grow the program, support teammates, and leave a lasting impact on the team's future." And it's called the Builder Award. A high school senior at Combmes High School sat in Coyote Days. If any of you are familiar with Coyote days, um, set up his own booth, set up his own signup sheet with a pen.
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And now, it gives me great pleasure to present the Maricopa Unified School District's retirees. Please come forward when I read your name and receive your recognition and pose [clears throat] for a group photo. Congratulations to Liz Kelch, counselor from Maricopa High School with five years of service. Charlotte Naka, counselor from Maricopa High School, 5 years of service. [applause and cheering] Sean Bon, technology integration specialist from the district office. Five years of service. >> [applause] >> Brenda Reid, certified occupational therapy assistant from Maricopa Elementary School with nine years of service. [applause] Anna Post, technology integration specialist from the district office, 10 years of service. and Nancy Taylor, administrative assistant from Maricopa High School, 11 years of service. And Peggy Widle, kindergarten teacher from elementary school, 14 years of service. [applause] >> [cheering] >> and Jane Tiff, academic coach from Saddleback Elementary School. 18 years of service.
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Um, and then she has a traveling attendance trophy and she posts the percentages on the hallway wall so kids can walk by and see our classes winning or come to school cuz we're losing. Um, so that's really cool. And then she does a really good Wednesday where she runs around the hallways with music blaring and and awards the top behavior class on Wednesdays. The kids get so excited and she takes them out of work. So they love that. Um they're like, "We hope we get to quit working. We hope she'll come in here." Um she draws for prizes on Fridays. She has Facebook Fridays. So they go home and tell their parents, "Share what Mrs. Stoner posted to Facebook because we might win a prize for Facebook Friday. So, she's got them all sharing what what great things we're doing. Um, we have an inchie book machine.
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We've had early voting. People have already been voting on this and the final day to a vote is on Tuesday, November nope, Tuesday, May 19th. I'm pushing myself a little bit. [snorts] >> Tuesday, May 19th at the Ashlin High School. Polls open at 8, I believe. And >> 8 to 7 p.m. >> 8 to 7:00 p.m. >> Uh, and there's still early voting. Well, by the time you see this, early voting might be done. It finishes on it will >> today 3:30. >> Is today the last day? Uh, right. because it's Thursday. >> Yeah. So, if you didn't get to early vote, hopefully you can make it to the polls on Tuesday. And if you have any further questions or issues, go and check out the interview that was done with Makita Keegan with Jim Adams, go to the town website, go to the school website and get your information and reach out to any of the select board, finance, school committee, >> anyone who can help you answer questions about this over.
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So, the town I grew up in um I'm I'm not sure if there's something specific going on, but someone published um on a social media something I think is pretty would you could substitute um Ashland here. Our town's future is being shaped right now, and we cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. And that's right now, it's always. Decisions made by our elected officials affect our schools, our neighbors, our safety, our quality of life. If we want real change, we must demand it. This is a critical moment. Too often leaders make choices that don't reflect the will of people simply cuz they are ignoring us. That ends today. I call on every resident to step up and take action. I'd like to read this cuz I think they're very simple and easy. Speak out, attend select board meetings, write letters, make calls, let your voice be heard.
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Adams led the district through one of the most challenging fiscal years in recent memory. His leadership throughout this period consistently reflected integrity, transparency, compassion, and an unrelenting focus on doing what is best for students and the broader Ashland community. Of the five goals set for Mr. Adams, the committee determined that he made some progress on the district communication goal, significant progress on the two curriculum goals, and met the goals related to our ongoing review of policy and the athletic fields. The committee is pleased with the progress. The defining work of this year centered on the district's significant budgetary and operational challenges. Faced with evolving financial conditions and the likely need for an operational override, Mr. Adams led the development of multiple comprehensive budget scenarios with exceptional clarity, detail, and fiscal responsibility. Through transparent presentations and thoughtful communication, he ensured that the school committee, town leadership, staff, families, and community members fully understood both the district's structural financial needs and the potential impacts of various outcomes.
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You know, so keep it like that. See look at the the guys over there playing around. Look at them. But like our job is to get those tiny little things happening, you know. So I'm going to go back to the scoreboard now. [music] Okay. We're going to see. Yeah, give it a shot. Give it a shot. Yeah, we're using all the Can we cut to camera one on this for a second? See, that's a good shot. You want to get that too? I like water. Oh, I see. I see it. He's walking back, so let's get that. All right. All right. All right. So he's on you now, so get that shot. Nice. Yeah, thank you. It's good. I like that shot. I don't want to pay all that money for nothing. I mean hey, just one. They're still going to want the override though.
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Ref blows the whistle and let's see it's time out. Yep, time out Mustangs. All right, so we have just a little over a minute left to go in the half, 1:09. And a tight game, three to four, Raiders are down. >> All right, we are back. Medfield has it. Oh, good defense from Fowler. Oh, trying to scoop it up. Tried that one-hand jump scoop. That would have just been miraculous if he pulled it off. But nonetheless, good good job knocking it loose. Pillared now here for the Mustangs picking it up. Has like all the Raiders on him. Quick dish off to Brown. Brown goes behind the net to Dower. Dower to Bahan. Bahan shot hits the post. Oh, it's going to be scooped up by Gray. Gray gets it knocked loose. Good defense from Olson. And Tate snags it. Tate Logan almost. Fowler knocks it loose.
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Correct. And that would be the name of the app. >> Yes. >> Okay. I just find it it's just something to to think about because like charge points are great, but we have a lot of chargers around here that aren't charge point and that there's like a mystery charger at Big W that no one even knows who it's connected to and like you can't there's like 50 like Tesla ones at the at the RMV that no one can access. Like there's a lot of chargers around here that are just not accessible. >> Interesting. >> Or not connected or you can't get the app for it. >> Okay. >> So, >> Yeah. I don't know if you all knew that, but it's >> Oh, the in uh the Gil. >> Oh, yeah. So, um Roland actually sent me an interesting article um from the town of Gil that >> Oh, yeah.
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>> And that would be the name of the app. >> Yes. >> Okay. I just find it it's just something to to think about because like charge points are great, but we have a lot of chargers around here that aren't charge point and that there's like a mystery charger at Big W that no one even knows who it's connected to and like you can't there's like 50 like Tesla ones at the at the R&B that no one can access. Like there's a lot of chargers around here that are just not accessible. >> Interesting. >> Or not connected or you can't get the app for it. >> Okay. >> So, >> Yeah. I don't know if you all knew that, but it's Oh, the in and uh the Gil. >> Oh, yeah. So, um Roland actually sent me an interesting article um from the town of Gil that >> Oh, yeah.
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Um, and it's it's really fun to see and the kids love to to drag whoever brought them there over to find their artwork in the sea of of art. So, that's one of my favorite things to do. Um, and uh there's ice cream and uh lots of music and uh I'm not sure if our VEX robotics team is is setting up. Um they usually do every year, but we have a a world championship team. Um, and it's great for the kids to see that program because, uh, we are now backward building that program into our elementary schools to get kids really engaged in in STEM, steam, building, robotics, coding, and understanding, uh, um, the world of of all the mechanical um, and digital tools that that we are um, able to offer them and uh, that lead to some of our pathways at the high school.
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um that doesn't rot. It it lasts forever. And then the light colored blue above that is the window. So you can see kind of where we brought that that panel up to for security reasons, people can't look in, but yet with the larger size windows and the clear windows, it'll let a lot of light in. And so you can kind of see the height of those panels in the window as compared to the the person in the door. questions. >> Thank you so much for your wonderful presentation as always.
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>> [applause] >> On behalf of the Board of Education of the Academy School District 20, I accept with pride and pleasure the class of at Village High School. Principal Carolyn Johnson, thank you, your faculty and your staff for doing an outstanding job. >> [applause] >> Staff, please prepare to present our seniors at this time. Front row, please stand and line up to receive your diplomas. A unique tradition at Village High School is each graduate chooses a staff member to read a thank you note as they walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Thank you notes are a way for students to show gratitude for those who helped them along their journey and to celebrate their next steps as they venture out into the world. Now, it is with great pride that I present to you the graduating class of 2026. Drew Allen. I want to thank God, my mom, dad, and Sydney for supporting me through this chapter in my life.
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Golf is not the most popular. Like when I was younger and Tiger Woods was really popular and everybody wanted to be on golf. Um, it's not the most popular. He recruited from within his school 12 people. So, there were 12 boys on the boys varsity golf team. Um, I I do not agree with removing any of those sports programs. Um, I I don't support proposed approximately 62,000 reduction through eliminating um any coaching stipens um anything that's close to the students. And I don't just mean in the classroom, but anybody that's been here for any of the board meetings where we have that moment at the beginning where we can share some things where we we've attended games or we've attended this last week I went to both CTE and senior awards. Um I'm a firm believer in not only strong academics. That's a keystone to this school, but the pillars that help support that keystone are athletics, fine arts, and CTE.
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Tom Beckett, assistant superintendent of human resources, 18 years of service. Katherine Jones, first grade teacher from Maricopa Elementary School, 19 years of service. Amber Lyman, mental health counselor from Miracle High School, 20 years of service. and Darlene Jenkins, first grade teacher from Butterfield Elementary School. 20 years of service [applause] and Shannon Hall, blended learning teacher from Desert Wind Middle School. 21 years of service. [cheering] >> And some of our retirees could not be with us tonight, but we would still like to take a moment to recognize them for their service. Patricia Blay, ESS paraprofessional, Santa Rosa Elementary School with three years of service. [applause] Nancy Yazy, third grade teacher from Butterfield Elementary School with four years of service. [applause] James Brzookski, fourth grade teacher from Santa Rosa Elementary School. eight years of service. [applause] And Moren Tobin, ESS paraprofessional, Maricopa High School, 12 years of service.
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They get to go pick out books for reading. Um, so she really just throws in a lot of fun through the week to get the kids to want to come to school all week long. And we have a house system and club days and STEM projects. You saw some of our coaching cycles with Mrs. McVey. Um, so those are things we're doing to get our kids to come to school. And then I'm gonna introduce Senorita Stewart. Once a teacher, always a teacher, and she was one of mine. So, >> I'm still trying to convince her that she can call me Michelle. >> All right. I'm going to disagree with Camille that she is a math person because as her Spanish teacher, she excelled with language as well. Goal four for our school was improving behavior systems through our TBRRI or trustbased relational intervention programming and deputy has done an amazing job implementing and truly embodying these procedures.
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know that if I don't have the answer, I will help you get the answer by with the right person. Um, again, this has been, you know, one of the hardest um times I've I've been in town government a few few times in my life and um this has been really a tough time because >> because I know how um everybody, you know, is experiencing >> the increase in costs and I I just don't want, >> you know, I know Facebook is all over the place and it's a struggle because lots of times there's a lot of misinformation put out there and um you know I I just want to make sure people when they go they they understand what what is being done here and um how it can help us going forward to to minimize um some of the pain so of these difficult times and and let's you know we need to get after our state you know I I I know that um Senator Spoker is certainly >> always working on our behalf and um has been representative Lewis >> and um and uh and I think the governor is feeling it a little bit too.
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Organize, talk to your neighbors, this sharing information. Build a collective presence that cannot be ignored. Hold officials accountable, remind them who they work for. This is one of my favorite parts and that silent is not consent because we often hear that well, we don't hear from people so they think it's on the right track. Maybe it is, maybe it's not. Hold officials accountable. Vote. Your vote is your power, use it every local election, attend every annual meeting including the special town meeting. Change doesn't come from the top down, it starts with us. Together we can make sure our leaders listen, respond, and lead in a way that reflects the true will of the community. Let us rise, speak, and act. Our town needs us now more than ever. So, I would argue I don't know if there's a particular issue, I would argue that's certainly in these economic times and things that are going on.
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His ability to present complex financial information in a clear, accessible, and factual manner empowered stakeholders to make informed decisions with confidence and trust. Throughout this process, Mr. Adams worked tirelessly to maintain open lines of communication with all stakeholders. He demonstrated remarkable responsiveness to parents, staff, community members, and town officials, consistently approaching difficult conversations with honesty, professionalism, and empathy. His willingness to engage collaboratively, listen thoughtfully to feedback, and acknowledge uncertainty when appropriate strengthened credibility and trust across the district. In a year defined by financial uncertainty and heightened public attention, his calm, steady, and transparent leadership was invaluable. Despite the immense focus on fiscal stabilization, Mr. Adams and his leadership team continued to advance meaningful instructional and operational work across the district. Under his leadership, Ashland Public Schools made substantial progress in strengthening curriculum alignment, instructional practices, and student support systems. At the middle school level, the implementation of a new student-centered schedule, including flex win blocks, created important opportunities for targeted small group instruction and individualized student support.
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