And where we land, where we can say like, hey, we're off our significant disproportionality watch where, hey, we're here where we're seeing a beyond standard deviation of growth in certain areas. >> [clears throat] >> So that's um so I think there there's a really good there's a really good point in what you're raising because a part of that for our staffing is a really close look that Brad and Steve uh spend time um kind of understanding and assessing what our needs are. Our principles are part of that staffing conversation as well. >> I mean I think >> great for our success and for us knocking down our >> you know getting our goals accomplished and so forth but it was just a question. >> Oh we take a look at that for you. Sorry, one more question related to that. Uh there was mention of after they test out that they're still provided supports for a year, >> two years.
Two years, >> two years. What do those supports? >> It's check-ins. It's monitoring grades. It's looking at talking to their teacher. The EL specialist will work with their teacher to see like where they might be struggling, providing some resources that might help that particular student. Any further questions for Dr. Newkerk? All right. Well, we're going to shift from talking about student learning to how we support student learning in the operations side. So, um, from the business office standpoint, we're going to look at two different goals. Um, one is meal participation, and we wanted to see a 5% increase yearover-year on that. and then the implementation of my school box and I set a really ambitious goal of 90% utilization and we'll see how that went. Um but first let's look at the meal participation. So this is our second year with Organic Life. Um they've been a really great partner and that really shows in the data.
We had a 22% increase in lunch participation um from last year to this year. So if the food's good, kids are going to eat it, right? and that's what the data is showing. We only had one month in October where the um sales went down slightly, but that's okay. So, overall, we're really pleased with that. I think what's really important, too, with Organic Life and talking about food service is not only are they providing cultural foods for kids, but they're also supporting kids through activities after school, they're also integrating into our culture in the school. uh they catered the teacher um lunchon day for teacher appreciation at the high school. They're just always there to support and to help the process. So really looking forward to working with them next year as well. All right. So then the really ambitious goal of 90% of moving away from all that uh cash on the teachers desk to a digital platform of collecting payments.
Um and we did really good. We did really good. We had four schools that actually went and surpassed that 90% goal of um reduction in cash payments. So, that was really good. Um the high school did a great job. They collect a lot of money at the high school through all the different activities that go on there. And the high school really did a good job in year one of not only moving the needle, but also asking the question about, okay, we did this this way. How can we do it better next year? So, I'm very excited to see how they'll progress in that journey. Um, the middle school data is actually kind of skewed because they started going cashless in March last year. So, they did a really nice job. Um, just wanted to highlight that it's better than that data shows. Um, but really what's important with all this is all that taking in cash that teachers have, it takes away from what they're doing with their students.
So there's just a couple pictures here from different events that by school bus helped teachers not focus on administrative work but really put the focus on kids. So we've got the fifth grade track meet um and some quotes there from Greg at from Storm. And then the middle school bounce again putting the focus on kids and focusing on their the staff's attention on the kids and being there and not collecting dollars and cents at the events.
Any questions? >> Is there just some parents that just like to do cash? >> Yeah, and that's okay. I mean, >> that that's okay. Uh it's that's perfectly fine. Like the goal is never going to be 100%. You know, I always like to think about we're not Portillo's drive-thru. Like, we will still take cash, so it's okay. But what this does is it allows the staff to focus on what they're doing and not keeping track of all these dollars. All right, >> I'll pass it on to Dominic. Hello there, everyone. All right, we've had a really exciting year. And first thing I want to talk about is our how we're having artistic and technical excellence help meet our goals here. So the one thing I talked to you about in the middle of the year is that I wanted data mechan mechanisms for us so that we could track how great we are.
And students have worked 40% of BAC events this year. And the more important thing is that we now have a tracking mechanism and we can increase on that from year to year. Um we do professional trainings not only within our site but around the district at all of these places that we go to. And right now 33 I mean district buildings when I say that uh 33% of our buildings have had a an audit of all of their TVs, cameras, not Dave related um and those types of things. So that's all of the east side elementary schools and those are things like the manufacturer of things, models, connection types, IP addresses, which network closet things run to, warranties on it, and manual links for anything that is an experienced technology thing for for people there. We have seven new interns enrolled in our events. And one of the [clears throat] we had a great day today.
Today was a great day and an example of that. [laughter] So today I had two former interns that are now employees, one working on photos and one working on editing a podcast and a new intern come in who is a writing intern that was there to help write content and copy for website and emails going out. And that made me think going back up to that first one, how in that 40% that we have there, there's still no mechanism though for me to judge how many events those students are also working on. So that's where I want to go in the future with this one is to also get those interns who work behind on events before they even happen with us. This is this is our surveying method uh that goes out to everyone after they have an event with us. And don't mention that three to Joe.
He's very sensitive about that one three there. Okay. Um believe it or not, this is this represents more than twice as many people filling out a survey postevent than we had last year. So that's growth right there. [snorts] Uh systems around our district. We we've designed, implemented, and trained staff on eight systems around the district from LRC's and digital signage to new mu music room. Uh really a new way of having a music room at HCtorm and soon to be Louise White. We have nine systems coming next year already designed and ready to be implemented and then trained next year. Our front of house inspection log, we got a baseline on that. So, that's another way. Every time we have an event, we want someone's eyes on every part of our building to make sure that it is safe and it is uh looks pretty and we're at 48% right now.
Going throughout this in this in the middle of the year, we identified reasons on why that might not be as high. So we redid the form and we restructured how staff run events before the audience even comes. So that number could slowly increase while we we actually still go through till the end of June here. Uh and we have some great new improvements that we have uh done on an ADA level. Specifically we are upgrading our hearing assistance devices within the main stage and the blackbox this summer. The lobby will be next year and in fact the LRC at the high school will have hearing assistance ADA uh system for the first time ever this coming summer. We're going to be putting that in over there as well. Our outreach with uh all of our arts and ed and our uh our programs for pay what you will has gone up by 40%.
This is absolutely an incredible number for us. And then next year we're increasing the amount of students we can reach by going to an early elementary uh arts and ed as well. And then look at that number for people coming through our doors. 20,000 tickets have been sold. That only represents people who have to buy tickets. It does not represent anything that's free that the public comes to for all of those uh concerts and things throughout the year. Um, we have made a series of operational improvements this year, standard operating procedures. And one thing that we're really proud is 100% of our staff is cross-trained to cover over 75% of the positions in any job category there. So, um, that is what I have for you all today. >> Just have one quick question. >> Yes. Sorry, Rob. >> I have a longer question. [laughter] >> How many tickets do you think would be sold including the free events?
>> Oh boy. The free events are going to be more because the free events um are a greater quantity of what we do to begin with. I would say that that number would be there would be at least twice as much just in the free events. Yeah. because we have approximately 60 to 70% of our events are free and general admission >> is and maybe both for you and Tony too maybe is the operational goal for the BAC to sustain all its own costs or do we budget for certain activities outside of that outside of their revenue? Um [clears throat] the Dominic was around when it was first conceived and I wasn't necessarily directly involved in these conversations when the beef act was first built and the financial model was uh >> the philosophies were laid out. So I'll let you answer that question. >> Yeah, there's uh there's a a formula that says basically how much our our you know having Grace McWain concert and Louise White concert and whatnot would be to to have it there.
And the model we did not want to have we knew was one that some schools have and that is a bill gets sent to any elementary school or middle school or any program that does an event. Well, we didn't want that because it was very clear to us at the beginning from all the stakeholder input that it was this building was wanted to be used as an arts home to the entire district. So that's where the model of coming up with funds to help offset that. And then the taxpayers when the referendum was passed were sort of promised that they'd be able to use it. So that's where the rental program came into place and then our national tour program in addition to allowing those programs to then also educate our students throughout the process. So through that education, we're a school system and so education does cost something.
Now, we do everything we can to financially minimize all of those costs. for example, the arts and ed programs that we bring in like history to hip hop or this coming year uh diotutos that those shows are all offset by grants or previous year's ticket sales that help sustain that program on into the future. So all of those programs are funded in those senses but there is a budgeted amount that we believe the educational value of that is from year to year to year. Does that answer your question? >> Yeah. So but does that come do we have to support that like that comes out of our >> school budget you know that we >> it's not necessarily a school budget but it comes out of our government funds. Yes. >> Okay. So we we we expend funds to support those programs to operate that facility for educational purposes.
Yeah. But they're offset by to a lot more than than what they cost for the other things that happen in that facility too. >> Um but then also it's not just confined to the BAC anymore, especially the skill set of Dominic and his team. >> Yeah. >> They have expertise that we don't have anywhere else in the district. In some cases, you could, you know, it' be very expensive to purchase. And that's why they're going around the district and offering these additional expertise and support for these audiovisisual experiences >> for conference rooms and for the music room and the like. >> So, it's not just what's happening in the BFAC anymore. It's happening. It's everywhere. It's online. It's supporting u activities and events and you using those that equipment productions. It's it's pretty amazing how it's part in many ways part of the fabric of everything that's happening across >> graduation for example the stream for graduation although cameras and everything were manipulated by NAU they the stream comes into us and then gets fed out to YouTube and BATV and other >> had extraordinary viewership I understand >> it did I think 20,000 minutes or something like that >> you can't measure the viewers but you can measure the viewers >> yeah you can't measure Yeah, >> I think last time you came and talked to us about I can't remember if it was reduced tickets or pay what you can tickets.
How what's your sense of how that went? >> Yes. Um that those pay what you will tickets are all represented between the arts and the ed and pay what you will in our kind of outreach numbers. And that's the numbers that have gone up by 40%. That would have been even higher if we didn't have a March show cancel on us. We had a lot of pay what you will tickets to that March show. So that percentage would have been even greater than you see in in that area there. >> Ju just one more followup and what I'm trying to get at is I think you have a good story to tell. Yes. I don't necessarily know the community understands. they kind of look at what the beef act does >> and you know what it costs and they look at the numbers and you know you they'll they'll say make comments about that but I I don't necessarily know if they understand you know what you do for student development and internship opportunities and um and then also what we're the expertise that you're providing to our schools.
So I think it's an opportunity to communicate that and make sure people understand it's just not shows that go on >> Sure. >> at the uh at the theater. >> Yeah. Thank you. One one thing that um I will say so my firm does um school educational work and I'm aware that a a school district that's looking at a new facility came by and visited yours amongst others um and we heard very nice things about things we've already known but it's difficult because a number of our kids have played in there in the BAC and done plays and been in the pit and everything else and how well it's set up and the acoustics and all that other stuff. But I think people don't realize kind of a little kind of gem we have that really >> is at a professional level. Not just because you get these professional touring groups and these national touring groups that come by, but also that there are others that are striving to create what we have.
>> Yeah. >> I I will I'll even share this here. I'm going to pass it around. I brought I brought this in for you because we have up front also um a merchandise area and and we sell in the merchandise area this item right here and that is a student artist. So that student artist makes this jewelry and they are understanding that there's a career for them [laughter] to do that and it'll fit your casted arm just perfectly. Um, but those are that's just a little story of how they um how the students can find their home and a a world outside of the educational system for them in the arts. >> No, that's a great story. Thank you. >> All right. Thank you, sir. [applause] Okay, continuing with operations. Um, speaking facilities first, >> three goals. Um, just a quick review those um efficiency part, uh, maintenance backlog and some support indoor air quality initiatives.
Okay, there's what it was. So, you can see that's basically July through November. We were at 3.3 days. And so what response time is looking at is how quickly are you responding to the work order. So a maintenance team member gets that work order, how are they responding to it? So then the end user normally um staff will um know that somebody's actually looking at that work order. And we're at 1.7 days. Now this is from December through uh May. So, I kind of looked at it that way because we really emphasized it and we really talked about it a lot and for guys just to sit down and look at them. Um, I think that was very important. Um, and really what I'm looking at here is is for it to continue to go down for some reason and we're trying to figure this out that it kind of jumped up a little bit in March.
So, we're talking about that as a team right now. The other one is about resolution time. So, we were at about five days. So resolution time means when the work is done. You finished, you completed the work order. Um again, July through November, that's trending how we want it and then it continued to trend. It had another spike in March. So they're very related. Now digging deeper, um they're related and again what we're thinking they're related to is um if somebody is reserving space. So, you're reserving the gym and you need a setup done. Okay. Well, that automatically does a work order. So, most of the maintenance custodians will let that sit there until the day instead of going in and changing it. So, for instance, maybe something in February was booked for something in March. Instead of going in and putting it and reclassifying it something else, it just sits there.