001hot summer maybe not so long but very hot and good to see all those smiling faces do we have let's first do the Pledge of Allegiance President Michael Flores Vice President Linda Heath here governing member Chris Gillespie Governing member George Arradondo. Here. Governing member Victoria Quintero. Here. We have quorum. Do we have any public participation? Oh, yes, that we need. Do I hear a motion to approve the agenda? So moved. All those in favor? Yes. Yes. We have an incredible feat that our students have done, our recent graduates, and we'd like to honor them. They are the FBLA. National Award winners and would you please come on up. Good evening governing board President Flores sorry not here. Vice President Heath Superintendent Hodge and governing board mentors. I am excited to announce that we have three
002new national champions among us. I said I wasn't going to cry but it's not going to work. I know I'm sorry. Before I go any further I want to take a moment to go back in time April 22nd April 2022 to be exact. It was my first time attending an FBLA state conference with students and I had just been to the FCCLA state conference the week before with my culinary students because apparently I'm an overachiever. At least that's what I thought until I was approached by four of my FBLA students wondering why we were only a bronze chapter and not gold. I actually felt good about bronze until that moment. So this is because of Bruno he always adds funny stuff so I'm trying this approach. So they proceeded to tell me that they agreed
003on their officer positions for the next year if it was OK with me because they wanted to be a gold chapter. I agreed with a few stipulations and now fast forward to why we are here today. Ferguson. OK I'm going to try three times Arizona Platinum chapter which is better than gold if you didn't know three times national gold seal chapter and national gold champion chapter two times Arizona state officers. But we have a third year right now. Natalie served twice and her sister is serving currently. Three Arizona State Council members new advisor of the year Arizona executive council member two years in a row actually three three years in a row with the who's who and FBLA title allowing the winner to be recognized on the national stage. Hundreds of our members recognized for
004participating in the national program which is called Business Achievement Awards 2023. We had a third place national champion in organizational leadership and so many state and regional conference awards. Plus on all of on top of all of that the involvement in the community service and business partnership activities. So I share all of this because our national champions competing event called local chapter annual business report. So in this report it outlines all of the events activities awards and so on that a chapter participated in during the school year. Their chapter was prejudged for the content of the report and in person they had a seven minute presentation shared in front of multiple judges. So Lauren Emily and Natalie obviously impressed the judges in the preliminary and final round just as much as they have impressed all
005of us because we're here right now to celebrate their victory as national champions. I wrote too much I realize right now. So. I wanted to get it all out. So with their enthusiasm and excitement for the program that began with a single request in 2022, the FBLA chapter at Coolidge High School has become the chapter that others talk about and because they notice our success. Technically, on other people's Instagram, they were calling them the GOATs, so I'm going to take it. You never know. Maybe there are members across the nation now that are trying to convince their advisors to give them a chance because they want to be like us. which is a really wonderful feeling. So on that note, can we please take a moment to congratulate our 2025 FBLA national champions, Lauren Platt,
006Emily Ledesma, and Natalie LaPaglia-Pasano for their mental achievement. Time for our high school local chapter annual business report finalists. And the winners are. In 10th place, Matter Academy Charter High School, Florida, Fabio Fabiani, Isabella Paz. In 9th place, Odessa High School, Washington, Arianne Karstinen, Aiden Schmeier, Viet Tran. Your 8th place winner, Arkandilkia High School, Arkansas, Ryden Ressie, Kevin Thompson. In 7th place, Sunburn West High School, Wisconsin, Ishan Shukla, Prajna Mala. In 6th place, Mosquito High School, Wisconsin, Ella Maltar, Aileen Peterson. In fifth place, Cedar Crest High School, Washington. Coming in fourth place, Northside High School, Alabama. In third place, Delaware Valley High School, Pennsylvania. In second place is Homestead High School, California. And put your hands together for our National Champion and Local Chapter Annual Business Report. College High School Arizona, Natalie Padilla-Pisano. Natalie, a
007close call, orange flag. Let's give a cheer for the award-seeking, Coral Padilla. That is awesome. Not that you needed more flowers, but it's got me all teared up coming in here, so hold on. Nicole, if you'll come over here, please, also. Gosh, I'll just be really honest with you. Y'all make us so proud. What you all have done over the last few years is shown your peers what is possible, right? And all we need is an example of what we can be. so that I know that I can achieve that. And so you guys are that to 800 kids here. And I'm going to say 2,900 kids in this district because we're going to celebrate this. We are. Like, you guys will go down in history as some of the greatest Coolidge High School graduates.
008And just know that at some point in time, we're going to nominate you for the Coolidge High School Hall of Fame. I know. Well, yeah. We'll do it. We'll do it. you know, go out and do some really great things because we know you are going to go out and do really great things. But this is not possible. You all are extraordinary, extraordinary human beings. But this is not possible without the support of an advisor that had, you all had a vision and she was able to support you to achieve that vision. And so without her, truly, none of this is possible. So thank you, Nicole. That was absolutely fabulous. I think we should just adjourn the meeting right now. Next is approval of the consent agenda. Does anyone have any questions or a discussion
009about any item? Second. All those in favor? Yes. Yes. Now, discussion and, well, it's about the budget we keep adopting, this next item. And we have to adopt it again and vote on it again. So do you have any questions on this budget that we have looked at many times? Yeah, we'll go ahead and let Alyssa answer some questions if you all have some. Go right ahead. Yeah so this is the same budget that we proposed in June. So we proposed and then we adopt. It's just a two step process. Unfortunately I don't know the meaning behind it being a two step process but it just is. These are on the preliminary form so they don't include any of the new laws or anything that went into place this session at the state level. We
010will come back in September with that. For the most part, that was positive in terms of the base level did increase by the 2%, and we did get to maintain our funding levels, meaning they kept funding stream for Prop 123. They kept an additional funding pot for the free and reduced add-on monies and the additional capital monies. So the free and reduced and capital monies were about $180,000, and Prop 123 itself was about $180,000. We did get to maintain that funding and we will revise our budget to include those numbers in September Which is the earliest law allows us to do so So this is just the same exact budget presented last June or this past June Just with the front page change to say adopted and not proposed any questions. Yes The news the
011other day said that there's some federal funding being withheld at the state level How those impact us or what category do they fall in? It's kind of hard to follow what? Yeah, it is kind of hard to follow. It doesn't appear that Title I, which is the largest of the funding streams. is being withheld or not approved, but because the application itself is bundled with two funding streams, Title II and Title IV, that are being withheld, and being withheld in that they've been allocated to us, but we cannot draw them down. So we're free to spend them as long as we can float the cash until they release them to be in a reimbursable status. I don't see they're not going to be able to pull Title I out of that application to let it
012stand on its own. So I'm assuming, we're all assuming, since it's very hard to get questions answered at this point, that Title I will follow along with that, meaning the allocation has been given to us, the application is there, but we cannot draw down against it. We have 50% of our kindergarten teacher salaries that would come out of that and a handful of instructional specialists, reading specialists, that salaries will come out of there. So what happens is that fund, Title I, Title II, Title IV, migrant, 21st century, all of those funds we're free to spend from. They will create and accrue a negative balance until... the feds release the funding applications to the state and then they release to us, meaning we can then request reimbursement on those funds. But how do we pay for
013those at the interim? Yeah. So that's the question, right? Yeah, the county allows, will go by the application. They'll allow us to accrue costs under those fund numbers, but we have to have cash in other funds to... eat up that negative cash balance. So it doesn't, the accounting doesn't cross. We don't account for those expenditures in a different fund, but we do have to have other cash sources to float. I understand with the current environment, there's no guarantees whether we'll get those back. Absolutely. So how do we expand? Right, so the major, so for us, the ones that are paused for right now or are in a frozen state that are not being released aren't a lot of money. Okay, so those ones that are the only one that is a lot of money for
014us is 21st century and because of that We're actually getting ready to send out a letter to our parents and families that we cannot start 21st century Which is that after-school programming for students until those funds are released? We don't have the cash to float that because we actually whatever cash we have on hand Because we can't draw down from title one We have to be sure that we can continue all day kindergarten and can you know all of those things that are in that? One that is not technically frozen but bundled with the others. Okay. I mean I appreciate knowing that because that's i don't like spending money that we don't have absolutely because we i mean who's to say when that will happen we're hoping it's soon most states are not starting school
015in july i know that a letter from mark kelly and greg stanton went to the department of education stating look arizona is much different than a lot of states we do start most of our schools do start in july or very early august and not having those funds will be detrimental to our public schools. So I mean I don't know what the response has been if there's been any response but I do know that we have people in Washington trying to fight to get that money released. So we don't have any idea at all. No. When that might be released. If it might be. ADE to me it seems like they've been instructed not to answer questions. We'll give them the benefit of the doubt that they're not just ignoring us. We have a short
016training that is being put on on Tuesday on the 15th about this to see if ADE has any other additional answers. And so we'll attend that webinar and find out more if there is more at that point. At this point, it seems. because it would be detrimental to so many schools that it's not possible that they would ever go back on allocated funds. So it's been allocated to us it's been allocated to Arizona. But if it were an unprecedented event and they did in fact go back on that I think we'll be here again in you know August September talking about how we pay those salaries. If we can pay those salaries. And that's what it would come down to, to be really honest. So the state, just to recap, so the state has funded
017our typical programs with the 2% increase, not impacting any of those programs. Federal side of the house, we're waiting on these. And it's that specific grouping of funding, like special populations almost, because our federal CTE. grant has been funded and grants at the state level have been funded there's a CTE grant at the state level a school safety grant at the school at the state level I'm sorry and all of those have been moved into a director approved status meaning we can draw funds against them but the the large bulk of you know title one funding Title 2 which deals with English learners IDE basic which is for special education migrant. Those are those that are affected. Does this apply also to charter schools or just public schools. I would imagine. I don't mean. I
018don't know what federal funds. I don't know that they're eligible for title funding. That's why they get a greater amount from the state. I don't know if they're eligible. They might. But Jess, do you know? Because like from a migrant perspective, like we service. Yeah. In our district, anybody that we have to service them. Yeah, to me, I'm being optimistic because, again, it would be such a large problem that I think surely this is not going to happen. Surely not. I guess we will just. We live in a different world. No, absolutely. So we will. It's about a million dollars in salaries if Title I is included. Correct. Title one's not listed, but the problem is is that we just can't draw down because it's Consolidated with the others that are frozen. Yeah, if the
019others we have about six to nine staff members and IDE a basic depending on the year and various people's salaries. So that would be the largest affected area. Things like migrant, we just wouldn't be able to provide those services if we don't get the grant. Title IV does a lot with the arts. But the law says we have to provide those services. So, I mean, what do you do? You're between a rock and a hard place. Correct, yes. We will keep waiting. And of course you'll let us know as soon as you find out. Absolutely. Do I hear a motion to approve the budget? I move to approve the budget 2025-26. Second. All those in favor? Yes. Reluctantly. Reluctantly. And we'll be doing this again in September. Yes. And at that time, we'll actually know
020some enrollment numbers and things like that. So if we need to make any adjustments on that on that side. So maybe they will have unencumbered all of this. Let's hope so. I'm hoping within the next couple of weeks it will be unfrozen. So that's that's my hope. Do you want any updates? Just updates and governing board or superintendents reports. So we had Monday and Tuesday we had new teaching staff here with us. Melanie and her team put on a great in service for those folks. There was a shift in focus this year for them. A lot of times we spend the bulk of our time with them kind of going through. what the evaluation process looks like and all of those kinds of things. Whereas this time they spent a lot of time getting them
021into our systems, talking about what those curricular resources are, getting them in in lesson planning, which is what we need them to be doing. And so at the site level, they'll be doing some of the more business type things for them. So overall, I would say from... from the new teacher standpoint that they were pleased and felt the time was worthwhile. Principals did you hear anything different. Yeah. So kudos to Melanie and her team for putting all of that together. I'll be honest with you. There's sometimes we walk in and it's a new group of new teachers. I'll probably. die for saying this, but you know, you're like, oh my gosh, I don't know if they're going to make it. I didn't, I don't know about you all, but I didn't feel that way this
022year. We've got some great new staff members that I am super excited about. One thing I told them is like, we can teach you content. We can teach you how to use resources. We can't teach you how to like kids. And, you know, they all seem to be here for the right reasons. And so we are very excited about that. We had some... preliminary scores come back for letter grades and things like that. As soon as those are not embargoed, we'll present those to you. What I can tell you is that we did see growth and improvement, which is great. Never quite the amount that we would like to see, but we are still headed in that right direction, which is fantastic for us. I was going to talk about the federal pause. We already
023talked about that. So that's, you know, it is what it is. You know, we'll continue to figure that out as we go. Yes. You know, FBLA folks, wow, and all the CTE programs, you know, great leadership, staff, advisors, and support from parents make a... good products like this and it is worthwhile to use these folks as a model for many others to come and I hope to see more of that. So great. Welcome back to everyone. I wish students and staff a challenging and rewarding school year and I say challenging when it says with the phone stuff I think that's gonna be a big challenge for everybody but my challenge to you guys is make sure you're consistent. and how you implement across the board and amongst yourselves, your staff and all that, because that's
024going to make a difference. And you give them an inch, it'll take a mile. So I wish you the best on that. And if there's anything that we need to do, change the policy, be more restrictive or do something with the community. I don't know. I attended a webinar on that yesterday. And again, like what we have put in place is exactly what the law says we have to put in place. And so, you know, We've got to educate the students and the families and community and everybody. And we need to be consistent in how we do it. Yeah, we've put all that information out. I know that there's been a little bit of chatter on community chat. Not too much, though. Like, I was concerned about it, and I always say this. Like, the
025things that I'm super concerned about. Nothing too much happens and so the things that I don't think are going to be a big deal then they end up being a big deal or that I don't think are going to be able to end up being a big deal. So yeah but the consistency of implementation of those guidelines will be of utmost importance. So I have one question. They'll be allowed on the high school level. At any campus they can have a phone. And we put that Q&A out there on purpose to say this is not a phone ban. It is not. Parents, have your location services on. You can know exactly where your kid is and find out exactly what classroom they're in at any time. They just cannot use it. There is provision that
026if for some reason the students need them for a... teacher guided activity i can't imagine anything that they would need it for because our kids already have a device but for some reason like we it there is provision in there to use that it also says they have to have access to them for emergency purposes and so um they have them. So if we're ever in some sort of emergency, they will have them. There are also guidelines that we're putting out there for them. Like if a parent needs to get ahold of their kid, we have provision for that as well, right? You call the office. And so principals know, teachers will know what those guidelines are. It's just about adhering to them and being consistent. Anything else? Then do I hear a motion to
027adjourn? So moved. All those in favor? Yes. Yes. Adjourned.