001[Music] Time is 5:30 p.m. at the Jerry Roby District Facility. Five board members are present. board members vice president 1.2 allegiance and board members Welcome to the Liberty Elementary School District governing board meeting. We appreciate your interest in the district. The five elected governing board members serve without compensation and volunteer countless hours on behalf of our students and staff. The president and the vice president of the board are elected in January. Under state law, the governing board may only discuss and vote on matters that are on the agenda for tonight's meeting. Agendas are posted a minimum of 24 hours in advance on the Liberty Elementary School District web page and at the Jerry Roi district complex. Copies of tonight's agenda are located in the foyer and on the district web page. If you wish to
002make a public comment, please complete a request to address the board form and submit it to the board secretary before the meeting starts. These forms are located in the foyer prior to entering the governing boardroom. Members of the public will be given up to three minutes to speak at the discretion of the board president. Once recognized, please state your name and if you live inside or outside of the district during the call to the public, the public may speak on any item of business on the agenda that requires the board to take action. The public may also speak to the governing board about a school district matter that is not on the agenda. State law prohibits board members from commenting on or discussing the matters presented at the end of the call to the public.
003However, the board may ask the superintendent to review the issue or place it on a future agenda. A board member may also briefly respond to criticism of a board member or the governing board itself. We ask that all speakers show respect and courtesy to others. Comments must pertain to a matter that is within the jurisdiction of the governing board. This is not an appropriate forum to complain about an employee, student or others. We also ask the public who are present for the meeting to be respectful by being attentive. Avoid calling out or creating any disruption that may interfere or interrupt the meeting. Individuals who interrupt or interfere with the meeting may be asked to leave by the board president. Inappropriate language and repetition will not be permitted. Thank you for allowing this meeting to be
004conducted in a peaceful and productive manner. And thank you for your attendance and involvement in tonight's meeting. I make a motion to approve the regular agenda form consistent with board policy 1-302 and temporarily suspend governing board policy with which this agenda may be inconsistent. >> Second. >> Have a motion. Second. I >> item 2.1 the attendance enrollment reports school newsletters and superintendent update. >> Good evening everybody. Um, since this is my first one on on this, do we attendance to give us >> usually um the uh you know it just says as presented. It's usually not pulled up like individually. So people have questions that you know we can ask but um typically we don't go through every single one. >> Okay. Thank you. Um with that one thing I was going to talk about
005on attendance anyway is you're going to see throughout the district that attendance campaigns, right? We know attendance is really important not only fiscally but we more importantly how important it is for students to be at school um and be attending. So we're going to continue to really push attendance which happens throughout the know we're not unique in that sense it happens throughout the country but it's a constant reminder and I was at a school today I was at a few schools today but one of them they do a really uh cool piece and it says on the outside of their door uh there's a hanging wood type of thing that says um perfect attendance in this classroom so you kind of know when you go in and it it's just cool. It's kind of something
006that um I think kids take pride in. The teacher for sure took pride in it and um I know the adults that I was with. We It opens our eyes because you It isn't on every classroom. It was on quite a few actually though. So um that was cool. And we're going to you know we're going to steal ideas from your schools as we get to them and um continue to share those throughout because it's uh you know it's really import We know that um and the research backs it up saying when kids are at school, good things happen. So um you'll see that and and for my report, that's a piece of it. I was able to get into I've been probably gotten into about 75 classrooms. Um real excited what I'm seeing in
007these classrooms of uh just really good teaching. And what I I keep going back to are people are working really hard here. Um people are the effort is there um the enthusiasm is there and um that's uh you know goes to show governing board my team but more importantly principles and teachers they're really working and um doing what's necessary for kids so it's exciting to get in there and really see that and I've been able to uh last week I was able to visit uh the week before actually um our entire preschool program. So, if you you ever get a chance, let me know and love to take you to the preschool and and show you what I believe is a really special piece in our district that they're doing for kids, not only right
008now, but um in the future. So, uh it's a phenomenal program that really I think is humbling when you're walking through and seeing what adults are doing with kids that um have some have a lot more challenges than than a lot of us. So, they're really doing great things and it's exciting to see. I was able to go there um uh again today. So, great things happening there. Um I was able to visit our Sierra School at Rainbow. Again, some really, even though it's not technically ours, I mean, we're in partnership with them and just really great things happening. I was with their executive director and uh it's a great partnership and it it makes you feel really proud that we're able to not only host but be a partner in the education of students
009that that uh need it in a in a significant manner. So that's exciting. And um uh with that, the other uh real positive thing I was able to do is uh transportation does uh these kind of uh barbecue uh slash I think like safety meetings and meetings and they invited me over to their um their monthly bar barbecue. So, thank you. And it was a really great time for me to able to uh meet a lot of folks that uh as you know work behind the scenes and wouldn't wouldn't work if it weren't for them, right? We would be we would be down a lot of kids. Uh we'd be at school waiting for kids to show up. So, I was able to talk to a lot of folks that do, you know, a lot
010more than we probably know, too. You know, not only do they drive bus during the year, they drive field trips, they do buses in the summer. So, it was just a good reminder to me of that this large system of um educating close to 5,000 students and um probably close to when it's all said and done, 500 adults walking around campuses. It it doesn't happen in a silo. It happens together. So, um that was a good reminder for me and and it is a reminder every day when I go into these classrooms and see things happening. If there's one little wheel off, not to no pun intended there on transportation, if there's one little wheel off, we things get fouled up pretty quickly. So, um, good reminder for me and I think it's a good
011reminder for all of us that it it takes all of us to make this happen in a cohesive manner for kids. So, um, I appreciate it and look forward to continuing work. >> Um, not so much a question. Well, I guess there is a question. Uh, if we can go to the Let's see what is it is the enrollment count just for clarity. I know we have the uh preschool line there as the total for the year and it's 106, right? If we go up to Loretta Zumbro, there's 211. That 211 is separate. that school count. Correct. So there's actually 317ish kids on campus. >> Correct. >> Okay. That was one of my things. And then also on that same there's our total which uh 400 or 4,664. Is that right? What I'm looking at?
012>> 4664 on that. >> Yeah. Yeah. On the far far right >> lane. Correct. That's with uh uh school. That's the latest count with preschool, right? Gotcha. Yeah. Gotcha. All right. But I did want to point out um apart from that uh going to the averages it was really nice to see that so far this school year our average has quite exceeded the last six years. Um and so we're we're doing really well. Usually it's about 90% and this year we're almost at 95% average of the of the kids in classes. So that's really good to see. So congratulations to those teachers that are pushing those kids to be there and those parents that are making sure their kids are there. So thank you for that. >> Uh Mr. Todd, you know, one thing that
013I uh we can leave this enrollment. I'm going to talk about enrollment. Um, so when I look at the number, uh, you know, 45,572 and then I go back and look at, um, at the end of last year where we were at, we're down about 115 students. Um, and I know we had talked about, um, you know, the eighth grade class being bigger than the incoming kinder. Do we think that that um you know does that account for all of that 115 or or are we seeing something else that you know I feel like the board should be aware of >> check governing board superintendent Um like uh the board member said, we had 400 or 4572 September 2nd and at that same time last year post 10day drop. >> No, I'm pulling the number
014from like April of >> Yeah. Um and that number was 4,687. >> Yeah. So that and that's what happens at Liberty kids. And so if we're looking at the same gains, but look at >> Sure. I understand that. I just, you know, to me as a board member, it's a little bit concerning that we lost, you know, some right, especially opening a new school. And, um, I know that the district had said before that, you know, again, that eighth grade class is bigger than our incoming kinders. Um, and so I'm sure that accounts for some of that number. I was just curious, you know, when people withdrew their children if they had given any indication of why. I can't speak to that, but comparing apples to apples. >> Okay, thank you. >> Questions or comments?
015>> All right, hearing now. We'll move item 2.2, the monthly budget report for August 2025. Mr. McDonald and >> Good evening, governing board, members of the community. Um, item 2.2, we have a monthly budget report attached for you. This is year to date through October, sorry, August 31st, 2025. Um, just a couple things I wanted to point out. Um, you can see a lot of the revenues are zeroed out. So, we started a new fiscal year on July 1. It takes quite a while for our revenues to start coming in again. Um, so you're probably going to see things like that for at least a few months um until we start getting things coming in. Um, one other thing is in the bottom section, those are our cash funds. So, anything below the green header
016is cash fund. We haven't actually rolled over our balances from last year to new year. That usually happens in October once we're done finalizing all of the old We're done doing journal entries, we're done doing all of our financial reporting, we roll over whatever cash is left into the new year. So those are kind of italicized. Those are the estimates of where the carryover is right now. Um but that could change slightly. So once we get past October, that number won't change. Other than that, the top section um underneath the blue header is our budget controlled funds. So those are our grants, our M fund, and our capital fund. um so I can answer any questions that you have for me about the report um or if you'd like to give me any feedback of
017how you'd like to see it but look for uh I have a couple questions and um so the budget amount is from the adopted budget. Is that correct? >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, under M um it's 37.2. I won't read the whole thing. Um but in the adopted budget, there was that new line item that um said that we're going to, you know, carry forward 500,000. And so the actual kind of budgeted amount is 36.7. Don't quote me. Um, so I'm just wondering uh if if putting 37 here kind of gives us a false sense of what we're actually hoping to spend. Um because I think at least I only speak for myself, for me as a board member, it's really important that we have that carry forward continue just because we have so
018little carry forward. Um, so I don't know if if that's something that if we all need to agree to change that number, but um that was something that I noticed. The other one of my other questions is so the the budget at the bottom for the budget funds is 48.5 U million and then when you go over to balance it's okay, let me ask this question first. the incumbrances, are those primarily for employees? When you when you're figuring the encumbrance amounts or when we look at the um expense vouchers and it says I'm going to say like grounds or or bus tires, you know, we budgeted $60,000. Is that 60,000 that we've created this PO for, is that in the incumbrances? There's two areas where you see incumbrances. So the section that's labeled 6,100 salaries,
0196,200 benefits, those are related to our employees. So every employee that we have in the payroll system right now, um what is scheduled to be the remainder of their salary and the remainder of their benefits is included in that incumbrance column. Then when you get past that, those are our purchases. Um, so things like uh purchase orders would fall under where it says purchase services or supplies or those other line items at the end. So encumbrances for those would be POS that are already open but haven't been spent yet. Okay. So those those are included essentially like the $60,000 for bus tires. I don't know if that's the amount but you know just Okay. So then my question is so the budget is 48 million when I add up all these numbers I get 31.5
020and then that leaves you the balance which you have of 17. So what is the plan for the 17 I guess? So we're pretty early in the year. Okay. >> Um so right now we don't have all salaries into the system. We do still have vacant positions that hired. So that's going to increase a little bit. Um, we also have POS that are entered all the time. So those are things that change pretty much on a daily basis, but um, some of these are also grants. Um, so you can see that we have plans for the budget, but it hasn't happened yet. So some of those items are um, waiting to be purchased or aren't in the system just yet. Um but the main line I guess would be top M and then the one
021at the towards the bottom that's our capital. Those are the ones that we watch the closest um because we need to make sure encumbering too much money and then we end up at the end of the year having to make a lot of adjustments. So, um I guess my feedback now kind of making sure that I understood the document is I would really like to see something that matches the adopted budget so that we are comparing apples to apples because I think the problem is or what I saw as the problem last year is that we got too far, right? And I think the whole point of this is to not end up where we ended up in February we where we needed to cut $2 million from M. But if I don't know if
022you kind of leaving 17 million unbudgeted, but we did budget it because we did an adopted budget. For me, I'd like to see it match so that because I'm not sure how the board is going to catch a problem here because it's not budgeted the way that we approved because the 17 million is I know it's not unbudgeted, but do you do you kind of understand what I'm saying? >> Yes. >> Okay. >> I think you're definitely going to see some increases as we get further along. One of the items um like in M um we have salaries. Positions have incumbrances so we know what we're going to pay people when we hire them because we know their salary, we know their benefits. But things that aren't encumbered at this very moment are things like
023stipens. So we have certain points of the year where we do pay out um pretty big chunks of stipens especially in um the second line item would be our classroom site fund money. So those are areas where you're going to see maybe August, September, October, there's really not a lot. And then all of a sudden in December, our expenses go up in that account. We didn't have it encumbered because there's not really a way to do that. But as soon as we have it paid, it's going to show up as an expense. So I I do understand. So that would you know that would be I guess my request is to um and you know I want just I want to say that I appreciate all that you put into this and so I'm I'm
024sorry if I'm asking for something different but for me to be able to compare the adopted budget and to ensure that we are you know maintaining that it for me it has to look similar because I don't think this is apples to apples. So thank you very much though. >> Thank you. Thank you for putting this together for us. Um, with all this on here, and I might this might be too much of like a simple question, but is there anything that's standing out to you that we need to be made aware of or that's not on track what we projected or wanted to see happen at this point? >> Um, some of the only things that I would say are good to watch um are any of the funds at the bottom that are
025cash controlled. Like right now um we have our area of food service. If we were to do nothing right now, it's showing that we would be in the negative. That's simply because we have revenues that come in for food service every single day. And then we also have monthly revenue that comes from the federal government for food service. So those would be things that would be good to watch is if there's ever a point in the year, you know, we're halfway through the year and that number is still very large, we need to make some changes or investigate some items. Um but really other than other than that, um everything looks pretty normal to me at this point. >> Thank you, >> Mr. Todd. Sorry, I had a follow-up question. Um, going back down to
026those cash controlled funds, um, Mr. Sony reminded me of of those parenthesis. So, in the new school facilities board or new school facilities, sorry, in the in the carry forward carryover, it's in parenthesis now. So, does that mean that because I thought we had all the new school money. So they give it to us on a reimbursement basis. So we submit the invoices we've paid and then we get our money back. So since it's an active project at Loretta Zumbro um when this was ran we're still waiting on reimbursement on some of our invoices. Since those invoices are quite large um that minus is pretty large but by the end of the year or as soon as the project is completely finished um that will zero out. >> Okay. And then on the other side
027in the balance, it's also in parentheses. And it's just because of the revenue, >> the revenue expected. And also there is still a purchase order out for the rest of the payments. So we're encumbering the rest of that purchase order, which is a little over $8 million. >> Okay. And so, um, just for clarity sake, for the bond, um, what we have encumbered, we think kind of at the end of the year, if we were to do nothing else, we'd end up with 1.5 left. >> If we did not, >> yes, >> I know that's a big if, but, thank you. >> Any further questions? 3.1 governing board updates and start counting board membership. >> Thank you. Um I am I'm pretty quick tonight I think. Um I've enjoyed seeing all of the um the
028posts from all the schools on Facebook. So I follow all of you who didn't know that already, but I follow all the schools on Facebook. I love seeing the posts. I feel like there's been a lot so far this school year, which is great getting the pictures out there, showing what the students are doing, all of the the fun things that are happening. Um, I enjoy seeing them since I can't actually be in the schools every day and seeing that. Uh, so thank you for doing that. Um, I also heard just today about Westar uh working on putting in a uh compost and working on like a sustainability project potentially which I thought was very great. Um, teaching, you know, STEM steam steam, sorry. Um, and having that as part of the school grounds would
029be an amazing contribution to the community as well. see lots of uses for that composting and getting the community involved in donating to the compost too because I know I have lots of food that I probably should not be throwing away. Um and uh yeah, that's kind of all that I have right now. So, thank you all. This school year started off um fabulously. Love seeing everything and looking forward to another good month. >> Yeah, I have a couple things. Um, I was happy to be invited, um, like all the board members to the first day of preschool. Um, as a former preschool parent for the last two and a half years. I, uh, know what an exciting but over also overwhelming day that can be. And I think it just went so so well.
030I couldn't even believe honestly how little tears um, from both kids and parents there were. Um, but it just seemed so seamless. So, it was really cool. That was my first time to be on Mleta uh since uh December and it obviously looked very different. So that was awesome. Um I have been to some volleyball games and I just wanted to recognize um just before I came here I was at a volleyball game. Um Freedom's um coach um he's just so passionate and he really you can tell cares about the game, cares about the kids and uh the boys I only saw the boys game. Um but uh they didn't have a team last year and so the fact that he like took that on um just was really cool to see this afternoon. So
031I also had the opportunity to attend the ASBA law conference which I found to be very very informative. And so I just wanted to highlight a couple things that um stuck out to me while I was there. Uh, you know, I think an exciting update is we were given an update on the lawsuit um that uh came back in a victory for the state essentially illegally un underfunding the capital needs of of Arizona's public schools. Um, and so that was a I think a big win for public schools. And although they expect the decision to be appealed, um I'm hopeful that in the future, um you know, Liberty and and schools across the state of Arizona will get the capital funding that is needed. Um on the first day there was a uh civil rights
032attorney that was the keynote and he made um you know he did a great job but he was very clear that teachers um should and um absolutely have the right to speak um during public comment at meetings. And he even so much um made a point to say that the public would benefit from hearing from them because they have such a uh unique knowledge of what's happening in the school. Um there were also many breakout sessions across the two days. Um however um I attended one um put on by Susan Seagull who I know the board um you know has worked with and um she was very clear to the entire session that uh the board is not allowed to discipline one of its members and she cited the case Barry v. foster that establishes
033that case law precedent. And so I would suggest that this board have its legal counsel review the motion from July 14. >> Stop. Stop. You're way out of line. >> I'm not. >> You're off the agenda. This is >> I'm not. This is my board update from the legal conference. It's not expired. You cannot silence me. You cannot You do not have the ability. >> We're adjourned every recessed until you can come under order. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] Hello. Hey. Hey. [Music] stupid. [Music] Pikachu. [Music] Heat. Heat. [Music] All [Music] right, the time is 609. We'll show that we're back into general session. Miss Zimmerman, I would allow you to continue your report. However, I think legal will confirm that you are off topic. And at the
034end of the meeting, you can request anything you want for the agenda. But the purpose of this is to provide a brief update and not get into details or any uh proposed solutions, suggestions, or anything else that could be a future agenda topic. You'd like to continue, you may. >> Mr. President, if I may just I'm sorry that red light's not on, so I don't know if it's recording or not. >> I don't Oh, that camera. >> Oh, sorry. >> Okay, Miss Zimmer, if you'd like to proceed, please cautiously do so. >> Yeah. So, uh, I just want to thank Mr. McDonald, uh, for inviting the board, um, to have the opportunity to attend the ASBA conference, law conference. Um, I had always heard that it was, uh, the best conference and I certainly would
035agree with that statement. Thank you, >> Vice President K. Thank you, President Todd. Um, so I got to go around and get to a number of volleyball games and other other things going on at some of the campuses and it's it's great to see the sportsmanship these kiddos have. There's a lot of enthusiasm, excitement, pride for their campuses. It's it's awesome to see. I did want to highlight something that I saw over at Freedom. Um, uh, it was about a week ago and when before everything started, um, it was kind of interesting cuz I wasn't sure exactly what they were doing, but both teams stood up and they turned and they had a flag on the court and everybody stood towards the flag and a little fifth grader got out there who is little Miss
036Buckeye, uh, VA Sorby and a shout out to her and she sang the national anthem. Just a great great shot. Everybody in the everybody in the whole place was was moved. There was even tears I saw. It was just a great event to kick off the game. And uh I went over and talked to the um some of the staff and just said, you know, this is this is great. Like what why don't we do this at every game? So just a little shout out to those uh athletic directors. Try to try to see if you can get some of that happening on your campuses. that was it really made a big impact in the years that I've been going to games and different events at at this district. I I have yet to see
037that happen and that was just so impactful. So, um just a shout out to them and uh other than that, it's been a great start to the year and I look forward to seeing what's coming. Thank you, >> Board Member Swion. >> Uh no update. I just want to thank all the teachers and staff administration. I know this is school is going full swing right now and everybody's giving it their all. I just want you to know we completely understand that none of this would be it's making weird noise. Uh wouldn't be possible without you guys. So thank you. >> Okay. I too had the opportunity to attend the Arizona School Board Association Law Conference. Um to have said for many times it's the best conference that they do. Uh first day there had a
038great great day. uh got to sit with some of the folks from the attorney general's office at lunch. Um some great great discussion there. So, it's always good to network with other board members from across the state and the county to see what they're facing and and moving forward. But uh that was a great conference. Also, I just like to thank uh the numerous staff uh from across the district who have reached out to me and and uh given me some ideas and some thoughts about uh things that they're facing, things that are going on. So, rest assured those will be coming up in future agenda items. But uh it's been really great to hear from so many different staff members from I think every campus has been represented by at least two. Um so
039uh it's very positive to hear that. We'll move now to item 4.1 which is our public comment session. Uh just a reminder you'll have three minutes. How many how many do we have? >> Just one. >> Okay, we have one tonight. We'll do three minutes. Uh you're able to address the board on any topic that you would like. Uh the law does greatly reduce our abilities to respond back to you. Uh but uh when your name is called once you start speaking the timer will stop and we just ask that you wrap it up at the three minute mark. >> Our speaker tonight is going to be Megan Cananan. >> Good evening ladies and gentlemen of the board. My name is Megan Cananan and I reside in district with one current student and two past
040students. I am appalled with how the last meeting went regarding EMEES and their new signature program. The whole point of a committee is for them to gather and get input from all of those who attend the meetings and then for them as a committee to evaluate each option and idea that was presented and give a recommendation to the board on their choice. The fact that EMES has to bring their opinion options to the board for them to decide which one they want to narrow down is a prime example of the board overstepping into operations. It is not the expectation when other departments bring recommendations to the board that they first bring all their options before the board to narrow it down to one. Furthermore, this is not the same standard that Mr. Naminsky is being
041held to for Loretta Zumbro's signature program. Why is it that he uh that he gets to do a parent forum and get to select the program and bring his selection to the board? Why was his timeline his timeline appropriate? But Miss Boris's was questioned. All schools should be held to the same standard. I commend Miss Boris for being a trooper and doing whatever she needs to do to appease the board, even though she is having to jump through so many hoops in order to do so. Okay, we moved item 5.1, approval of the consent agenda. >> Uh, Mr. President, >> yes, >> I'd like to pull 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, and 5.8. Okay, members, any other ones you wish pulled? Okay. So, I'll entertain a motion to approve the consent agenda with the exception of 5.5.8,
0425.5, 5.4, and 5.3. >> I make a motion to approve the consent agenda with the exception of 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, and 5.8. >> I'll second. >> Okay. If there's no discussion, we'll take the vote. Board member Schmidt. I >> board member Zimmerman. >> I >> vice president Kenyon. >> I >> board member Shinsion. >> Hi. >> I'm also I will show that approve five. Yes. Zero. No. Move on to item 5.3. Miss Zimmerman. Sorry, I'm just trying to pull up the um so um my question here is um I have two qu two different questions has to do with the uh you know resignation of three teachers and um on in April it was decided that it was the board's responsibility to either wave or not wave the liquidated damages. So, um you know, we
043were not given the information about what criteria, you know, did each of these um employees fall into to determine your decision to recommend either it being waved or not waved. Are you able to give us that? I was only given information for one of the three and that was why that one was waved um because I was only given any information for one of the three teachers period. >> Okay. So the other two um >> didn't share any like no information at all. >> Okay. Did they did they um provide a resignation letter? >> It wasn't really a letter. It was just a not even a paragraph just a shared with their principal that they were resigning >> that they were resigning but the one share did share >> quite a bit information. >> Okay.
044And it meets the criteria that the board had. >> Yes. >> Okay. Um, did did the principal, I guess, reach out to that person to try to find out why they were, you know, the other two? >> I'm not sure if the principal I mean, the principal let us know that they were resigning, but I'm not sure what communication the principal had with the teachers. I know one of them, the principal had some communication with that teacher because they let me know, but I don't know how in-depth it was. >> Okay. Um my second question is about um the teacher referral bonus and um who is eligible to receive those? Any staff member is eligible. However, to be eligible, whoever the app the teacher applicant is has to list a staff member's name on the
045application. There's a page, I think it's a page two that says, uh, were you referred by a staff member? If so, what's their name? It's first page or second page. >> Okay? >> They have to put a staff member's name on there. So, it could be a clerical staff, it could be a food service staff, it could be anyone. >> Okay? And it and it can be um an administrator. >> Doesn't happen very often, but it can be. >> Okay? And even though, you know, part of their job is to hire that. >> Yes. Because Yes. Because it could be not even for their building um that a teacher is hired. Sometimes doesn't happen very often at all. >> Okay. Um it just looks like to me that um Mr. Ardan from Freedom, I believe
046that the stipend is 500, but his is listed at 125. >> It should be they're always 500. I think I'm looking at the right just because I'm going across >> out to >> Yeah. I'm not sure why his is listed at 125 because they they are always just 500. >> Okay. So, um in the motion, do you want me to >> Yeah, because he should get five 500 because they are always just a straight 500. Okay, that was all the questions I had. Okay, >> members, any other questions? >> Uh, Mr. President, for me? >> Yes. >> Um, so in the previous meeting that we had, the general meeting, we had basically approved that personal action item without the stipens because we were going to do some investigating on the stipens. Um, can we get
047an update before we approve that? Is that appropriate? Um, talking about personal action items and the stipens involved, >> I I think we have need to be cautious. This stipen is allowing, but Mr. McDonald, I think you're coming forward soon with a plan about all the stipens, correct? What was your >> um yes to a point the after looking at all these stipens, you know, we're already into the year. If I think fairness is the right word, out of fairness to staff, this should happen in the spring. So, did we did we examine all of them? The answer is yes. Do we have some will we have some recommendations? Yes. Um, but for example, a lot of these stipens are built in to like a 10-month or 12 month payment. >> So, they've already begun
048being paid. >> So, >> can can I just just for open meeting, can we just agendaize this for the next >> for the next meeting? >> That that would be fine with me, but I do have a question. >> Okay. >> That should be okay with us. >> Yeah, that's fine. I just don't want to get too far past other stipens that are on here. It's better to air on the side of caution. >> Thank you. Um, so with this what we have in front of us now, does this include some of those that we took off last time? Are we catching up basically? >> Yes. >> Okay. Thank you. That's what I wanted to see. >> Okay. Any other questions? >> It's not a question. It's just a observation that I going through here
049again. Um, I see that there's a referral stipend for Miss McCubbins. It's only 125 listed out as well. So, if you could just double check that one, too. >> You have You'll have to come to the microphone. >> So, the reason those statements are like that is because the person listed four people as a referral. So, they're divided. or if it's a funky number, it's like divided by three, two, or whatever have you. So that's the clarification on that amount. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All right. I'll take a motion if there's no further questions. >> I make a motion to approve 5.3. >> I'll second. We have a motion to approve 5.3, which is the approval of personal action items. There's no further discussion. We have the motion, the second. We'll take the vote.
050Board member Schmidt. >> I. >> Board member Zimmerman. >> I. >> Vice President Kenyon. >> I. >> Board member Shinion. >> I'm also I will show approve. Five. Yes. Zero. No. Next is item 5.4. Miss Zimmerman. >> Yes. Um, if we could pull up the uh first document. Yeah. The capital plan. And um if we could scroll down to where it's listing the district owned vacant land. I just wanted to clarify that um I thought that the district had already owned the land in Estustrala uh by Prescidio um cuz that was the idea for school 9. So has the developers not given us that land? Uh when we met with the developer, he said he's holding the land for us and not going to do anything with it, but he doesn't want to donate it
051to us until we're made that firm commitment that we're going to build a school there. >> In other words, he doesn't want to donate it now and then it sits there for eight, nine years, whatever. He's He said the land will stay there and he's not doing anything with it, but as soon as we need it, let him know and we'll we'll uh he'll he'll work on the donation for us. >> Okay. And then um the the MC85 and Liberty School Road is this is this land in addition to what you know where the transportation facility the is built now or is this uh part partially used now? >> Uh it's partially used. We we didn't use the whole 10 acres but it's partially used. >> Okay. >> All right. Thank you so much. >>
052Thank you. All right. Any other questions? Hearing none, we'll take a motion. >> I make a motion to approve 5.4. >> Have a motion. I have a second. >> Second. >> Have a motion, a second to approve 5.4, which is the approval of Arizona School Facilities Division Fiscal year 2026 capital plan. There's no further discussion with the motion in the second. We'll take a vote. Board member Schmidt. >> I. Board member Zimmerman. >> I. >> Vice President Kenyon. >> I. Board member Shinion. Hi. >> I'm also I will show that proof. Five yes, zero nos. Next will be item 5.5, the approval of trans tax advisors contract for energy savings credit. Miss Zimmerman. So my my when I read through this contract, I guess my first question is um you know it's a it's a
053pretty significant portion, you know, of the rebate that we are are essentially, you know, giving back. had we accounted for this rebate money already that we would then need to kind of recalculate for um not getting all of it by using this service? >> No, we haven't um planned on receiving this money. We haven't budgeted it or anything like that. >> Okay. So on page four of the contract um in the middle of the page it says for any prospective tax savings or refundable credits obtained by the client as a result of any strategies created by trans texts. Um so these would be separate things not the initial kind of rebates we were going for for the buses. So my concern is because we you know uh signed this vari contract and they are installing
054these energy saving measures. Would we be looking to get any rebates from things that they have installed? So that portion of the contract is specifically limited to the IRS rebate credits. Um, so that's what this company is doing for us. They are offering the services to file everything with the IRS to get tax credit savings for us. Um, Verigy is not doing that. >> Right. I understand ver is not doing that. But would things that we are getting from Varig be eligible for tax credits? >> Um, the only thing on here that they are doing for us is electric buses. We don't have any plans for any further electric buses. Um, and then there was one um rebate program where if you installed um like EV charging equipment, you're eligible for a tax credit rebate
055on that. So, we are going to attempt to get some from the construction. Um, but neither of those things are anything that Bar would be doing. >> I understand. So, I'm sorry if I'm not um asking it. So things that Varigy is doing. So SE Oh. Oh, sorry, Bob. Mr. Young, >> Mr. President, members of the board, Varigy is is going after the tax credits. That that's part of their program that they're doing. They'll go after any tax credits, APS rebates, all that. That'll be all included in their savings towards the district. And so the, as Crystal said, the transportation one does was not included in that. So that's why this is a separate issue. >> Okay. So, my concern is with the way that this particular um part of the contract is written is
056I'm concerned that this company could say, "Oh, well, you took our, you know, you took our strategy because how are they going to know?" You know what I mean? Cuz we're going for tax credits and rebates and things at the same time. And I just hate to lose 20% of that money because they're going to say, "Oh, well, you're using our strategy." Does that make sense? >> Yeah, Mr. President, members of the board, uh again, what Var Varig is not touching the electric buses or the chargers that they're not doing anything included with that. That would only be the new company that would go after those IRS uh refunds for us, rebates. But it would not, in other words, that the this new company What is it? >> Trans tax advisor. Sorry. >> They couldn't
057go after what Bar is doing. They know what Bar is doing. So they're not going to intertwine or anything. It's one they're separate separate deals and they won't be able to go one after the other. >> Okay. So you this company is aware of Verigy. >> Correct. >> Okay. just because the fee structure is is 25% and so this just seems like they can say like oh well you got this rebate and now we're going to take 20% because you use our strategy. So I just was a little bit concerned because we're doing things at the same time. >> No, fully understood. Yes. And and the uh the other districts that are using these companies that we call, they all said it it's legitimate. They they Talison's done it for two years and they're very
058very pleased with the outcome of it. >> Okay, that's helpful. Thank you. And then my second question is um do the tax credits, if I'm not using the right word, tax credits, I apologize, but do they have to be claimed in a certain amount of time? Like is there a a legal requirement? >> The it depends on when the buses went into service. So, we're still within the window since our buses went into service in the spring. I also wanted to let you know that we do have the trans tax advisor um representative available on the phone if you want to ask any questions to him directly. >> Okay. just because the contract is for three years and so I was just wondering does it need to be that long to kind of um again
059I it's not that I don't I'm just a little bit worried about this particular part and ver is a long contract like I'd almost rather the contract be for the time that's needed and if there's a certain amount of time that we have to claim the tax credits why have a contract for longer than we're even allowed to make the claims for >> Mr. President, members of the board, uh when we talked to Brent from Tax Advisor, he just recommended three years in case we do go out and get more buses or charges or anything like that to keep it open, but it after this first year, it's due the end of September, I believe, is when this is due. Uh >> oh. >> He would not we wouldn't have to do any more work
060with them. It's it's just, you know, kind of a oneanddone thing. Uh and he leave he's leaving it open for the approval in case we do get more electric buses and charges which I don't believe we're going to be. So, >> right. And if we did, we could enter another contract if we really wanted to. I'm I'm just thinking it as as a protection for us. Um so that the credits have to be done by the end of September of this this year, like at the end of this month currently. Do you know if we're able to change the terms or is that something that have to be like renegotiated? >> Everything needs to be filed with this tax season. So, he told us that the filing deadline with the IRS is in November. So,
061we have items that we need to get to the company by the end of September to make that happen. Are they requiring the three-year contract or is that just like his suggestion or or you're not sure? >> Uh, Mr. President, members of the board, I believe that's just their standard contract. That's what they do with school district. I know Tolson's going into their third year with them. Uh, but you know, they also have the opportunity to purchase more things than we do right now. Mr. President, if I may, >> you may. >> Um, just two things real quick. One to piggyback on M Zimmerman. Um, is this something where basically our our work relationship with this company is going to be if they find something that they think can save us money or get a
062rebate on, they bring us that proposal, we can accept or deny them working on it. Correct. >> Correct. It's not that they're just going to find a bunch of stuff and say, "Hey, we submitted all the paperwork. Now you owe us." >> Right? It has to come to us. >> So, we have to approve it, >> right? And if we don't if we don't if we don't get any of the rebates, we don't pay them anything. >> Okay. >> It's only if we get a rebate. >> Thank you. And there's no yearly or anything like that. It's just >> correct. Just it's whatever we receive as the rebate, they get a percentage of that. >> Correct. >> Okay. So, I did have a couple questions from the public that reached out to me about this
063and they were they wanted to know how come this isn't something that districts don't do in-house. Why is this something that takes a special company to do? So, if you can just speak on that, please. >> So, I can touch on my part of it if either of you want to add anything. Um, it's basically the IRS side of it. you have to be pretty knowledgeable in IRS tax laws to be able to do all of the paperwork um and submit it in the right way to be able to qualify for the rebate. So that's why we're using this legal adviser to do that. Um it's also a time thing. We don't have anyone employed that has enough time to dedicate the amount of work that this will require. >> Anything you want to add?
064And as you stated, numerous other districts use this. >> Do you do you know of any district that has their own in-house that works with, you know, towards the IRS? >> Not that >> I'm not aware of any. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Any other questions from the board? Right. I have uh just a couple. Um on the onset of this, it sounds great. Get back $600,000 minus 25%. Uh, I too am a little concerned about the three-year contract. I don't foresee us buying more buses currently, but I don't necessarily want to be in lockdown. I mean, this this is a forever changing business, and to lock in now, things could totally change. So, I'd be in favor of this perhaps uh for this section of buses, this purchase of buses. Um, but I'm a
065little bit concerned on this and we're under a time crunch, but the sole source justification, um, what I saw in a previous document was they have a unique way of doing this. And I have to be honest, when I hear unique ways of getting rebates from the IRS, I, uh, get a little concerned because the IRS is is pretty cut and dry. But every single vendor that does this sort of thing is going to tell you that they have a unique way of doing this. Um, I don't think that we meet the sole source requirement for this by talking to them and having having nothing else just to say they uh here it is. Trans tax advisors provide a unique service to process applications to the IRS and obtain tax rebates and credits for government
066entities. Are they the only ones that do this or are they just telling you they have a unique way of doing this? Ordinarily, when you do a sole source, there's at least a full page document. I've seen them 10, 12, 15 pages long to justify the sole source. Um, and I don't want to get the district in any trouble. With that in mind, we have a very short time frame. So, I would need some more information from staff though to explain if what's what's so unique about this and are they the only ones that do this or are there others and are we sure of that? Because as a government entity to soul source something, you you better be right. We did consult with legal counsel and that was their recommendation to qualify it as
067as a sole source. It's not that their service is unique or that they're doing anything um that somebody else wouldn't be able to do. It's that they're the only ones that provide this type of service. Um so there are not other tax agencies in the state of Arizona that provide this type of service for school districts. >> So how do we know that if we haven't done an RFP? Uh, who who says that? Like I I don't know who could tell us that without us doing an RFP or or or having some more backup on this, >> Mr. Danger. >> No, I I don't No, I just said that I was concerned about the procurement and so I said we needed to find someplace to land on this one. Um I'm not aware of anybody
068else that's doing this, but there's the district has not done an RFP on u requesting um to see if there's someone else out there would do it. >> So there's no RFQ, no RFP, no no research basically done to see if anybody else does this. >> The district did your staff did some checking around with other school districts to see if there was any other options out there. There's nothing out there with the group procurements. Um, no, nothing is bubbled up that there's other vendors, but it certainly could be done and see if somebody responds. I don't know that we have the time to do that. But if we issue a soul source and somebody else shows up with their hand raised and says, "Hey, we do this as well. You didn't give us a
069chance." We've got ourselves a a pretty significant procurement situation that you might make some money off of, but we're not going to make any money off of. So, I'm uh I'm just concerned. Soul sources are are pretty tight. Uh especially for government, they're very tight to do. So, I I recognize there's this money here, but I don't want to get the district any trouble by soul sourcing something that I don't feel real confident that we know is is truly a soul source. We know some other districts are using them. Um I'm not sure which Tallson district is using, if it's the elementary or the high school. uh they've been in the news a little bit lately, so I'm a little concerned when I hear Tulsson, but uh um I'm just concerned that we issue a
070soul source that's not that's not true soul source, we're going to be in some trouble. >> Well, the governing board can determine that it's soul source, >> right? But I don't know that we have the information to truly determine that with no RFP, no RFQ. um talking to a couple districts and again this is a federal thing so this organization wouldn't even have to be here in the state and I'm guessing this group probably isn't I don't know what I don't know if it says their address where they're at >> apparently we have him on the phone is that right >> yes >> yeah I mean we he's on >> they're not based in Arizona >> right so we don't know who across the nation does this we just know this group does Could I
071ask a question? >> Between ringtones though. >> Hello Brett. This is the Michael Todd running board president with Liberty Elementary School District. Your uh propos I'm good. you're on uh you're on wide broadcast, so you're like a live radio show right now. So, just to give you a heads up conversation and people on the internet and people in the room are hearing you, so I want to throw that out there really quick. Um just are kind of reviewing the proposal and there's uh I'll try to summarize a couple questions. I think board members have a couple. Um one of them is the the term for three years and is that required or can we shorten that to just cover this particular set of buses that we've ordered? Okay. Um, another question I have and I'm
072going to let the board, but these are just some that have come up already and and I hope I I capture them. Uh in discussion of the sole source, the the district has recommended a sole source, but it appears that we don't know uh we don't have very good justification of the sole source. Um are there no other companies that do this sort of thing? Um my my concern is just here in our notes, it says you provide a unique service to process applications with the IRS, obtain tax rebates. I'm sure everybody, if there's anybody else that does this, they probably say the same thing. So, for us to soul source this, we need to have some some better uh I guess information or or proof that this is the only one that does this,
073>> right? Okay. Um, I have our board member, Kelly Zimmerman, had a question. She couldn't get it answered in between the ringtone, so we're going to let her go now that you're >> Was actually a question for Mr. Dangerfield. Is that okay? That's fine. >> Okay. Um could you just remind me when we go out for an an RFP um um do are we normally sourcing uh asking for you know vendors within Arizona? Um I'm just I'm just trying to understand the the requirement of sole source and this this company is not necessarily in Arizona. So, is there is there a a certain requirement? You know, if if somebody in our state doesn't provide it, then it could be a sole source. I just I haven't been on the board long enough. Haven't been through
074a new school build to to fully understand RFP. >> You know, I'm not an expert on sole source, quite frankly. Uh you have a procurement office. I asked the district administration to um check on the procurement issue and I suggested this may be a sole source matter. Okay. But uh the administration has the responsibility to follow through on all those things. So, it's um I think you're fine with the governing board determining this matter as a sole source, but if you want to go out, you could direct the administration to go out and try to do an RFP or and see what comes in the door. At least for their city, the procurement process was limited to finding um other vendors within the state who provided and after doing a search and and putting it
075out to for an RFP process, you know, no no other bids were submitted or or entered into and and they ended up classifying us as soul source and from there that's kind of how we've um been engaged with other um uh tax exempt indies within the state particularly with the school district. So just for a little bit of context like that's kind of how we started off in the in in in your state. >> How long ago was that started with Scottsdale? uh 2023. >> I guess I I appreciate that, but I in that amount of time in this world, somebody else could have done this. I guess my question would be you have a meeting in two weeks. Um would that still give us enough time for your organization if we were ask staff
076to speak to the city of Scottsdale and a few others? you can provide a list of all the customers in Arizona that you work with and we can talk to them >> and uh and just get this. My my big concern is just we soul source something that shouldn't be soul sourced and and government as you know that's not a good that's not a good thing. Um would that still give us enough time to get this on the agenda? We it's literally two weeks from tonight. Uh and uh if the board chose to go that way, would that be an option? >> Yeah, I I believe so. I don't think two weeks would make a material different for for this particular project. So for Yes, absolutely. >> Okay. >> And I'd be happy to you,
077you know, send a list of all the other um Arizona entities that we're working with and contact for them so you can talk about it with them. >> And could I just clarify that we would be able to change the term to just one year? >> You did say we could change the term to one year or just to this particular bus transaction. Correct. Yeah. Yeah. We we can do it to one year. Uh the specific transaction um whichever way you want to do it. One year is probably a just an easier way to write it, but um you know we I happy to work with you on specific language on that. >> And then another question Zimmerman asked. We we work with another group that's helping us of Varigy and our staff has advised
078you guys are aware of the work they're doing. We just didn't want there to be a collision or a conflict down the road where you uh are surprised to know what they're doing or or say they're using your technology, your strategies and that sort of thing. So, you're aware of that and >> No. >> Yeah. Yeah. They're, you know, the the kind of the the scope of their work and their their expertise kind of lies more in um solar and battery installation and and and infrastructure upgrades, things like that. So, this is kind of this is a separate program. This is a different um part of the inflation reduction act. So um there will not be any overlap between their project and ours. >> Trust our staff, but since you're on the phone, it was
079just easy. Normally you'd be in the in the room, you'd be shaking your head. Yes. But now we now we see your head shaking. Yes. So that's great. >> Okay. Uh members, are there any other questions that you have represent? >> Mr. President, if I may. >> You may. >> So I know we're talking about the bus um tax rebate. Is there anything else the district was thinking about possibly using tax advisors for? Because I don't want to limit it if there's something else big that we could utilize them for. Maybe maybe the one year is the thing and then we can if there's additional things we can have them look at. But um I just wanted to get that out there before we move on. >> It was the purchase of the electric buses
080and also the installation of the EV chargers. That was the only thing that we were and those things have already occurred. So it's it's worked that's >> okay. I'm sure if we find more they'll be happy to modify contract and the same. So >> all right. Thank you sir. I appreciate that. Uh members you have any more questions or thoughts. All right. Um I think I've expressed my thoughts. I'd like to hold this and just do a little more research just to make sure we're taking care of our soul source requirements. Done all our homework on that. I make a motion to table uh 5.5 >> table to the next meeting. I have a motion to table >> I >> vice president Kenyon I >> board member Shinion I >> I'm also I will show
081the motion is tabled till our next meeting with a five yes zero no vote All right. Thank you, sir. If you're still on the line, we'll now move to item 5.8, The approval and ratification of expense vouchers 2557 2558 2559 2560 in the amount of 3,920,000 and expense vouchers 2605 2606 2607 2608 2609 in the amount of 2,722,76.98. Miss Zimmerman. Uh, thank you. So, I'd like to pull up voucher um 2609-1 and I have the PO number so I can't say that I have the page. Um, and I apologize. Would you prefer me to look for it so everybody can be see it? That >> might help, but >> Okay, give me just one second, please. control. >> Oh, really? >> I just have the number. >> Oh, okay. Sorry, guys. Guys are way techy.
082Okay. Okay. It is on page 11. And so, um, I'm looking at the Arizona School Boards Association there at the bottom, the 4500. And, um, it's a charge for an early termination fee, um, for no longer using their policies. and the um it was made on um or the notice was given on May 20th. And so my question was the board approved moving to the trust policies on September 16th of 2024. Um so that notice was given you know quite a bit later. Um when did we need to give notice? So, there's a very specific clause in their agreement. Um, there were two things. One, the district did sign an agreement on June 13th, 2022, good for 5 years. Um, so we were already in this agreement all the way through June 30th of 2026.
083Um they did grant early termination but their um formula for the fee I mean I can read it off to you but it's a little lengthy was um the district may terminate this agreement at any time by delivering written notice to ASBA and paying the early termination fee computed as follows. the amortized subscription fee 48 months times the monthly rate times I'm sorry minus the total subscription payments received by ASBA equals the terminations fee. So we had one year left. Um so our calculation was we owed we still owed that one year. >> Okay. Can you give me the date of when the district signed that four five-year contract please? Sorry. >> June 13, 2022. Okay. Um, you know, I was not uh on the board when the board decided to move to the trust
084policies. Um, but I'm not sure that it was presented that it was going to cost um $4,500 for us to get out of it. Um, so I think it's just, you know, unfortunate that, um, you know, we had to pay that. So, um, the second PO, um, it's in the same voucher. So, let me just find the correct page. I apologize. Next time I'll make sure to put the page. These vouchers were long this time. They're not usually 39 pages. >> Yeah. During the summer, we have a unique time where we are processing for two fiscal years. The vouchers get pretty lengthy. >> Yeah. So, I apologize. Um, it is on page 15. and um it is to KS State Bank and it is um for 7600 elate uh payment for the uh for those
085that don't know that that's where we have our loan for the electric buses. Um so the I'm just curious um you know what kind of uh safeguards have we put in place to ensure that we don't have a late payment because that's a pretty significant number. >> I agree. Um we have a very short time window to make this payment. So next year the plan is that the business office is going to monitor this purchase order. Now that we've had it in place for this year, um there's an easier process for rolling a copy of that purchase order into the new year and that will greatly expedite the process for next year. Um so we can get that invoice okayed and the check cut and in the mail um within that time window. >> Okay.
086Yeah. because uh when the when the loan I guess essentially was approved by the board, it did you know it did have the dates when the payments were um due. So I just you know want to make sure that um you know that the the district has a process I guess to identify you know new payments and so um I'm not sure if if very is coming up too that we just you know some of these bigger things obviously we want to be really careful. So thank you. Um, that's all I had for this agenda item, Mr. Todd. >> Great. A couple questions myself. Do any of the board members have questions? >> Okay. Um, with regards to the KS Bank, did we talk to them and see if they would work with us on
087this one payment or do we just pay it? Because a lot of times banks will will work and and I've done a lot of business from my day job with KS Bank and they're they're oftentimes pretty willing to work with with people, especially on the first-time payment like this. Um, I did speak to them through email and didn't get a resolution, but Bob was also in communication with them. Were you able to get any anyone on the phone? >> Was that to me? >> Yeah, the um the invoices were coming to one person and then we were also getting letters in the mail. So, that was part of the confusion on getting the payment made on time. >> Yeah, Mr. present members of the board. I did not speak to anyone. They they were sending
088me the invoices and I was bringing them over to Crystal, but they were they were late getting here. If I remember right, >> they were late because of that. They were sending them to the wrong location. Um, but it was in the legal agreement that we signed that there was going to be finance charges and interest due. Um, so we really didn't have much we could do about it. I mean, sometimes I'll just do it on Goodwill, but I find it hard to believe that we sign a contract and somehow we just didn't know to pay it and now we have a to Miss Zimmerman's point over seven, it's over $7,000, right? >> Correct. >> That wouldn't feel good coming out of anybody's budget. It doesn't really feel good coming out of ours. Um, I
089think it probably requires a little more aggressive attempts to get a hold of KS Bank and speak to them and see if they could work with us on this one time. It it doesn't hurt to try. Um, but trying and not getting a hold of anybody might not really be trying. So, I would I would encourage staff to take a closer look at that and and see what we can do. Um, with regards to the schoolboard policy, Miss Zimmerman brought up the cancellation fee. I can speak to that a little bit. It was addressed early on when the board looked at doing that. Uh the overall savings still far exceed uh by paying that cancellation fee and moving to the trust. It's still cheaper than just staying with the schoolboard uh association. It will balance
090out over the next uh one year. So that's the uh that's the cost savings there. And it was addressed early on when the trust and the schoolboard association were addressed. we're addressing the board uh to talk about this. There was a lot of research done and and it came back that this would be a cost savings for us in the end. So just that that probably happened before you were on the board, but just so you're aware. Okay. If there's no other questions or comments, I'll take a motion. >> Uh make a motion to approve 5.8. >> Second. >> All right. There's no further discussion. We have a motion and a second to approve item 5.8, 8 which is the approval ratification of lots of expense vouchers that we called out earlier. Um the total
091amounts would be $3,9205 3,920,51122 and another group in the amount of $2,722,76.98. There's no discussion. We'll take the vote and we'll start with board member Schmidt. >> I board member Zimmerman. >> I >> vice president Kenyon. I >> board member Shinion. >> I'm also n I would show that approve five yes zero no. We're going to move on to item 6.1 discussion consideration of overnight and out of state field trip proposals. Dr. Mahorn, >> President Todd, members of the board, excuse me. Um below you will see uh the the field trips for this whole year overnight and out of state. There is one that is neither overnight or out of state. that one is added uh basically just for your information and I think Miss Zimmerman did catch that yes it has already happened um
092but it was just put on there just to um just to show that it had happened and that uh that particular school um was doing a field trip as well. It just was not out of state or overnight but it was a field trip for the students as well and all of the principles are here I believe if there are any questions. >> Mr. President, >> you may >> I guess my question in a lot of the community question um are these going to interfere with the the sports championship games. >> These should not I do know one or two that do interfere and I haven't changed anything until these are officially approved and I know of everybody's these are the official field trips but there are also other ones that I do not know
093about. So, I'm asking principles, let me know about other things that you have in your buildings before I make final uh sports changes and so I want to make sure that there's nothing that interferes with sports so that we can um change them especially in May. >> Okay. Because these have the dates on them. >> Right. Right. So, the field trips we're good but last year and there are still activities in the schools that I don't know about. So, I can change these no problem. That's not an issue. But I want to make sure that I Rainbow just jumps in my mind that Rainbow doesn't have something important going on as well because I don't get those dates before we change something and then I hear from Julie just cuz I'm thinking Rainbow. Oh, now
094that interferes with our XYZ. Okay. >> So that's what I'm waiting for. Yep. >> I think Can I just clarify that you will then change the sports schedules to fit the field trips? Okay. I just wanted to clarify. >> Makes no sense. Yes. Sports schedules. Yes, I was just looking at this. I'm trying to catch up. Yep. It looks like Westar sixth grade has two. They have Desert Survival and Universal. Is that different groups or is that the same group? >> Miss Hamburg is here. She can answer. >> One is to Universal Studios and then one is up to Lake Pleasant for Desert Survival. >> Yeah, go ahead. Yeah, go ahead. >> Hello. Good evening. Um the desert survival we adjusted a little bit. That was already something that had been on the calendar in
095the books from last year. Um so that's just actually a day trip, but it kind of like our out of Africa. Um but it does go into the evening or a little bit after. So that was the reason why it was on the overnight piece. Um the universal one is one that we are adding as a legit overnight field trip. Um that one is very much related to our STEM. So is Desert Survival, but yes, there are two up there. um the one was kind of going over from last year and then the addition to this year. >> Sorry, can I ask a question about that? So on the um desert survival form, it says it's from March 11th to March 12th. So departure time 9:00 a.m. on March 11th and returning at 2 p.m.
096on March 12th. So is it an overnight? >> It is not an overnight field trip. It is just a day trip. >> Okay. So the dates are not correct on the form. That's the universal one. If you pull up the desert survival one, >> the desert survival one should just read that it is it is totally just a day trip extended hours. I think they get back at like 6 or 7 p.m. >> So then I think we just need to adjust the um the return date and time. >> That can absolutely happen. Thank you for pointing that out. >> No problem. >> Okay. >> In past years that is correct. Past years it was overnight. It is not this year. >> Okay. I'm sure it's just, you know, by habit we carry over, but
097um we should just have that corrected then. So then it's just an extended day trip. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. All right. Members, any other questions? All right. Hearing none, I'll take a motion and a second. >> Motion to approve the overnight out of state field trips for school year 2025 2026. >> Have a second. >> Second. >> All right, we have a motion, a second to approve item 6.1, the overnight inhouse state field trips. There's no additional discussion. We'll take a vote. Board member Schmidt, >> I. >> Board member Zimmerman, >> I. >> Vice President Kenyon, >> I. >> Board member Shinion, >> I. I'm also I show that proof five yes zero no. Next we item 6.2 discussion consideration to approve the use of cooperative contracts for contracted personnel and
098special education services for fiscal year 25. This will be Dr. Abila. >> Hi good evening board president Todd Vice President Kenyon governing board members superintendent McDonald and Liberty community. Tonight's item is the annual approval of cooperative contracts and hard to fill special services positions. This is something something that the district has done for several years to ensure that the students needs are met and when we cannot fill positions with district employees. Let me begin with why contracting is important. Special education roles, especially school psychologists, speech and language pathologists and special education teachers are among the hardest to recruit nationally. And despite active recruitment recruitment efforts, we do continue to face a shortage of qualified applicants. Contracting allows us to keep services in place for s for students and also maintain compliance with state and federal
099law. I want to speak briefly to the school psychologist role and note that the school psychologists are critical team members to our school sites. Not only do they allow our district give our district ability to conduct psychoeducational evaluations, but they support interventions, they support behaviors that um they provide behavior support needed on our school sites and ensure that federal and state guidelines and compliance are met. I also want to note that there is a school a behavior intervention uh position that is currently vacant. So although that position isn't filled, that need is still there. And so that is also following follow fall following now on the shoulders of school psychologists. Just as important what school psychologists do, I also want to note what they do not do. They are not classroom teachers. They do not
100provide long-term therapy. They do not prescribe medication, medicate children. They don't case manage IEPs. With regards to national recommendations, I know that some um have questions regarding staffing. So, the National Association of School Psychologists does recommend one school psychologist per 500 students. Now, districts across the country, including our district, do operate above that level, but it is due to shortages and contracting these positions allow our schools and the district to remain compliant despite this national challenge. Not hiring school psychologist will expose the district to serious legal and financial risks. Our goal is to remain in full compliance with federal and state law in order to protect the district, but also to ensure that our students receive the services that they need. We aim to ensure that the resources are directed towards student learning and student
101support. For your reference, I have provided each of you with additional information on the role of school psychologists, their responsibilities, and the packet also includes data on our current staffing. I also want to clarify cost and speak to the cost of employing a times district psychologist. So, on average, the cost of the district is approximately $112,000. This does include benefits. So I want you to note is while you will see the contracted position range on this item slightly higher. Yes, the value is being able to fill these positions immediately rather than leaving the services unstaffed. I want to be clear that each position on the agenda is without benefits. So what does that mean? They don't receive medical benefits. They are not paid for holidays. They don't earn sick and vacation days. And they're not
102paid over breaks. With regards to oversight and quality insur quality assurance, I do want to emphasize that the contracted staff are not left to their own, specifically school psychologists. As a nationally certified school psychologist and I am licensed in the state of Arizona, I will personally oversee the school psychologists. And for context, the board has approved six full-time positions. At this time, only one is filled. So, we do have full five full-time positions vacant. To address the significant shortage, I have taken on some of the responsibilities as the school psychologist and we want to make sure because we need the say in compliance and to ensure district remains not only in compliance of the evaluations but also ensuring that the students receive the services that they need. But I do want to let you know
103that this model isn't sustainable. I do want to take a moment to recognize Miss Lee Harrison. She is the only returning school psychologist from last year and her support has been instrumental and really we would not be able to manage the shortage had not been for her. I also want to clarify um coverage. So if you're wondering well if we have so many shortages what's what's happening now? I do also want to acknowledge the staff at Blue Horizons as well at RA as well as Rainbow. They do have vacant teaching positions and the staff has been working tire tirelessly to cover those vacant positions. So they are covering to ensure again that our services that our students receive the services that they need as well for the um other vacant positions. We do have substitutes
104in some of the on some of those positions. With regards to speech um therapists or speech services, we do have two therapists, Miss Lauren Lovado, Miss Danielle Williams, who are covering the shortage and helping districtwide. And again, Miss Harrison and I have been covering the school um psych needs at the different uh schools. So I Oh, also I want to let you know that even with these contracted positions on this item that does that will not fully staff special services. So, and this is a temporary solution. So, no, we will continue to seek and look for qualified candidate to candidates to fill the vacancies and really working to ensure that our students um are receiving their services. In closing, approving these contracts is essential to ensuring that our students continue to receive timely services, our
105district remains compliant, and our schools have the professional expertise needed. This isn't new, but it remains necessary. And this strategy will give the workforce realities given the workforce realities in education today. With that, I will take any questions that you may have. >> Questions from the board. >> Mr. Todd. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, I just um you know to make it crystal clear um in order to meet the legal requirements for students IEPs, we need all of these positions >> and more >> and and to be clear also evaluations. >> Yes. The legal requirements like the district will be facing. >> That's correct. >> Okay. So, um, from what I kind of added up here to make it easier, we are looking to hire 4.5 psychologists. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> And so
106then the one that we currently employ, so we'd be at 5.5 and the board budgeted for six. So, we'd only be short a part-time psychologist. Is that your understanding? Or >> Well, we have up here there's four, but that would fill three full-time positions. because they're 0.5 and.5. >> Okay, I apologize. So, if I added incorrectly. So, we're still going to be short two full-time positions. Okay. Um and then uh I maybe I added wrong, so I apologize. Is there 2.5 special education teachers? >> We have one full-time at um two full-time. Yes, 2.5. >> Okay. Well, to let me clarify the the part-time um special education teacher is filling homebound service needs. That is not a position in a building. >> Thank you for asking. So, we have students who receive homebound services. >>
107Okay. >> And that's where that position will be utilized. >> Um and how many um this is uh I'm going to jump a little bit. I apologize to the board and to you. Um when there is not a qualified person in these positions like a special education teacher just a substitute those they cannot provide minutes. >> Correct. >> Okay. So how many other special education teachers are we missing that students are not being provided their needed minutes? So, we have three current vacancies, but like I as I mentioned before, um we have staff that are covering the services. >> Okay. So, >> have substitutes covering for the services. So, and yes, to clarify, when we don't have this position covered, if we don't have, for example, a resource position filled, then that puts the district
108at risk. So, you know, to clarify my comment regarding legal risks without a special education or certificated position uh person specifically sped certified, then you're going into compensatory services owed. So, every minute the district will owe, >> right? And and if we get too far behind, it's it's almost impossible. Um so, if there are three vacancies, then we're going to fill two of them with this. Okay. So, we're still going to be short one. Yes. >> Okay. And so then from what I can >> we do have one um just uh to clarify, we the principal um interviewed last week and we do have another one coming. So it'll it's just very short. >> Oh, okay. So we're hopeful that we're going to be hiring for that third one. Yes. Okay. Excellent. And then the
109SLPs from what I can if I added correctly, I see 1.5 up there. And so you said we employed two and I'm not sure if I remember um what what did the board or the district budget how many SLPs are we supposed to have? >> I wouldn't remember because I believe I left that to K. She always had those numbers and she always brought them to me already figured out. >> Okay. Do you do you know I'm sorry I put you on the spot. I do know that we still need two more. >> Okay. >> Two buildings for sure if not >> Yeah, I was going to say that um 3.5 does not seem like enough. Um >> and again, you know, um I I think these positions are extremely needed. Um, but I just
110want us, you know, I want the board to recognize that we still need to continue to hire or to contract because legally these students are owed these services and >> we must. >> Yeah. Um, I want to clarify about the the you know salary versus the benefits. So when you're giving us the salary for contract, do we then need to provide the benefits? Okay. So that is truly what we are paying. Yes. >> And if we hired that employee, then we'd have to provide all those other things. >> Correct. >> 35%. >> Yeah. I really appreciate you providing those numbers because it is much closer than has been presented to the board before. And again, the goal is obviously always to hire our own, but it doesn't feel as uh bad. I that's not the
111best word, but um as detrimental to the budget as maybe we once >> I just wanted to clarify like while it does seem a little elevated, it's you don't see the full number when you look at the salary range posted online, you don't see the plus 35% that the district actually does pay. Thank you. >> Right. And no, I really appreciate you providing that. So, um you know, I appreciate all the work you've done to get these people. Um, and I'm sure Miss Harrison and you will be super grateful. But, um, thank you so much. >> Thank you. >> Members, any, uh, additional comments or questions, I think we all agree this is a much needed spot. So, unless you oppose, I think we can probably move to a vote pretty quickly. But, I don't
112want to I don't want to stop you if you just want to issue words of support as well. All right. All right. Well, I guess we can move to a motion then. So, let's do it. >> Make a motion and a second. >> A motion to approve the use of cooperative contracts for the contracted personnel for special education positions. FY25. >> Second. >> Should it uh sorry, can I should it be FY26? Okay. Sorry. As I said it, it says 25. >> It should. And I think clerically we're okay. You caught it. So, as long as you're correcting it to 26, Mission is still seconding. Glad you're okay with that. All right, perfect. We have a motion, a second. Just for clarification, it's to approve the cooperative contracts for contracted personnel for special education positions
113for fiscal year 26. Is that correct? Yeah. Now, it was agendaized on here as fiscal year 25. So, >> that throws it off. Are we okay to amend to >> Okay. All right. Legal says we're okay. That's a clerical error. So it'll be fiscal year 26. All right. If there's no discussion, we'll go to the vote. Board member Schmidt, >> I. >> Board member Zimmerman. >> I. >> Vice President Kenyon. >> I. >> Board member Shinion. >> I'm also I will show that proof. Five. Yes. Zero. No. Right. Item 6.3 discussion consideration of regular governing board meeting verse special board meeting. Miss Zimmerman, you asked for this to be agendaized. >> Yes. So, um you know, my concern is that calling the second meeting a month a special meeting because um our policy 1-302 states
114that regular meetings means those meetings that are regularly held and scheduled by the board. The second meeting of the month is scheduled. It's on the board approved um meeting schedule. And so I think a special meeting indicates that it's, you know, unplanned. And these meetings are planned and the definition provided in our policy states that they are scheduled by the board, which they are because they're on the governing board calendar, the meeting calendar that we all approved. So I I think they should be labeled as regular meetings. >> Mr. Dangerfield, you did some research on this. Yes, I did. Um, so the statute is 15321 and it's paragraph D and E that is relevant here. Uh, it says the board shall hold a regular meeting at least once once each month during the regular school
115year and may hold other meetings as often as called. And then in paragraph E, business shall be conducted at regular or special meetings. So the board only actually has to hold one regular meeting a month by by law. Okay? The other meeting can be called a regular meeting or a special meeting, whatever the governing board determines it to be. And if it's an an um a tenative meeting, calling it a special meeting is there's nothing wrong with that. It's it's up to the board to make and you can vote on it. If you want it to be a special meeting, call it a special meeting. If you want it to be a regular meeting, call it a regular meeting. It's your decision. >> Mr. Todd, >> M. Zimmerman. >> Um, you know, my concern with
116calling it a special meeting is that, um, you know, public comment is not allowed and it is a regular meeting because it's planned and it's on the governing board calendar and I think we should give the public the opportunity if we're if there if it's on the meeting schedule, then um, I believe that we should have public comment and I think uh, you know, a special meeting indicates that it's not planned. And you know, Mr. Todd said tonight, "Oh, well, we're having a meeting in two weeks." So, I think, you know, the board voted to keep the meetings or move the meetings back to Mondays where parents already are having to choose between their students, you know, being there as a parent for their school uh sports. And I think that um I just think
117it should be called a regular meeting. >> Yes. I understand what your position is on that and but I think the other the members of the governing board do also but it really would be a choice for the a decision of the group to decide what to do with that. I would just point out again and we've talked about this in the past the public comment period is not required at all. You don't have to do a public comment period. >> I understand that. >> So that would be for the decision of the group also. >> Okay. If I may >> you may. So the issue is not that we're having two meetings. The issue is just which is the title of the meeting being special. Correct. >> Correct. Because it's planned. Yeah. I'm not
118opposed to one or two. >> So I agree. I think if it's planned, then I don't think we should call it a special meeting. I think if we don't need it, I think we should I don't know. My feeling is we should have one planned meeting and then if we need it then we call a special meeting as if like we would have to do in two weeks for this the tax advisor kind of thing. That's my feelings on it. >> But oh sorry but then we'd need to adopt a new calendar because the calendar is approved with the two meetings listed. And if I'm being honest, it feels like we're circumventing it if we're if we're going to take off, you know, if we vote to take off the second meeting and then we
119end up having one, you know, every two weeks anyway. It feels like it's just a workaround. >> I I can see that if we constantly keep having them. My thing is I don't want to have a meeting unless we have we need a meeting. Mr. President, if I may, >> you may. >> I'm not in disagreement with what you guys are saying, but you're saying the same. You're you're kind of going around in circles. The reason why we had this discussion before about regular meetings or special meetings is that it is difficult at last minute to call a meeting and have staff be ready for it. Everybody who needs to be there be for it. Um, and I understand that because it's on the calendar as a placeholder where we might have it, we might
120not, but at least everybody knows if we have a special meeting, that's when it's going to be versus all of a sudden, hey, guess what? In 24 hours, whoever gets this notice that we're having a special meeting. Um, that was, I believe, the intent of this. And you know, we didn't have our meeting a couple weeks ago because we didn't feel we needed it. So that was one of the special meetings that didn't take place, but it would there was a placeholder there so that it could have taken place. Um, and that's where I see the value of this. If if the board wants to go to just the one meeting, one regular meeting a month and have nothing else on the calendar and be ready for those popup ones when we do have them.
121Um I in the history of me being on this board and me sitting in the audience, those haven't worked out very well. So um I'm okay with the schedule as we have it with the special meetings and the regular board meetings. Uh a lot of special meetings are just to get something we get together, get something done real quick and then we leave. That's what they're intended for. But >> if I may, I agree with you. As long as when we have special meetings, we don't have a full agenda. I think I think that's where the issues coming up is when we're saying it's a special meeting, but then we have like 20 things on the agenda. To me, that doesn't feel like a special meeting anymore. It feels like a real meeting. I I
122think the trick to that becomes we're going to have our general meeting a month and if we have one item that needs to get done sooner than the next general meeting or we have 400 items, we got to do that at that special meeting. So, I can't I don't think as I set the agenda that I could guarantee you that we're going to limit it. We will limit it to what we need to accomplish. We're not doing extra reports and staff recognitions, although we used to do that when we had two meetings. We'll come back to one meeting a month as the general and then that second meeting will strictly be the stuff that we feel we need to get done prior to the next general meeting. And sometimes when we hit it just right,
123we actually go three weeks instead of two before we get another general meeting. So it can be a long it could be a long run. But that was the original idea. That second meeting was just a placeholder to come back and capture because while I was gone from the board, you guys went to one meeting a month. Then there were some ls. We we got to do something. So then it was trying to grab everybody's schedule, figure out when it's available. It's more work on the staff. If we just know there's a meeting coming up and like this particular meeting coming up in two weeks, we already know that the uh superintendent association is coming and they don't want to wait until the next general meeting. So, we've got that stacked on there. >> I
124I agree. But what I'm saying is at a certain point when it gets full, I don't think it's a special meeting anymore because if it's on the calendar as a special meeting, can we still change the name to regular meeting in advance if we know it's going to be a full >> I mean define full. >> What's that? >> Define full. We're not typically doing consent agenda stuff. >> I think just I mean I I feel like we can all generally say what full agenda is. Well, as the statute says, you can do all business in regular and special meetings. That's what the statute says. >> So, can you have public comment in special meetings? >> You could absolutely you can. It's up to the governing board. >> The idea behind the second meeting was
125to try to get in to your point at your last meeting, you requested us to talk about not having such long meetings. If we have one time a month for public comment, everybody knows that's the time to be. What we don't end up having is somebody saying, "Oh, I'm going to come to the second meeting and make public comment." And then we cancel it and then they say, "Well, I was planning on coming to that second meeting to make public comment, but you cancel the meeting altogether." So, if we hold the general meeting and we know public comment is there, it always happens. And we're not we're not ever really going to cancel that general meeting because that's that's in stone and we're always going to have business to do once a month. It's the
126second meeting we run the risk of somebody planning on being at. So, our thoughts when I originally looked at this, my thought I said ours, but my thought was was we have one meeting where everybody knows to speak. Second meeting is only if we need it, which case in point when we talked with Mr. McDonald previously, we canled that last meeting because we there was nothing. He had literally nothing to put on to suggest to put on the agenda. And the couple things that we had, we said, "Well, that can wait till the next general meeting." One of those being this being this agenda item. >> Oh. Oh, sorry. >> Sorry. I I see it. And I'm okay with that as long as I I know I can't like quantitate or whatever that's a word
127right word like what is a full meeting. I just don't want us I don't want to say the word abuse but have massive special meetings all the time. >> I don't think that's the I don't think that's goal. Mr. McDonald, you've said several times to to us that you're wanting to get a month. >> Yeah. Yeah. I think one a month if if you're asking me, I'd say we can do one a month. to this idea, my two cents on the uh special board meeting or not. I mean, I have to agree with you, Brian. The the concept just from what I've seen now, I don't know. I only have my experience for what, three board meetings, a special board meeting would normally be something that requires us to act quickly. From what I've seen
128on the board agendas, none of that. There really is nothing on there that would require us to act so quickly. So if you know plenty of districts do two board meetings and you just have two board meetings and you call them board meetings. I think the the semantics of it of special and not I'm I'm with you Brian or tend to think along those lines to say in our world of the the nuts and bolts of the district, we would come to the board for a special board meeting if we needed something immediately or in the case that Mr. Todd said that they they want uh the Arizona uh administrators association wants to do something and they need it or they don't want to wait till the next one. So that to me would be
129about one item if that were the case. And it it really if we're kind of doing our part in this and planning ahead, a 10-month window, I don't I don't see it happening more than once or twice because we um our stuff just isn't uh barring a last minute uh field trip or something along those lines, our stuff just doesn't really have to happen so quickly. I mean, if we're doing our part, you know, um, things will happen, of course. But, so that's my two cents that I think I've always thought one board meeting is, I mean, I like it. I know staff likes it. Um, I'm not telling anybody to like what they like or don't. Um and then secondly, a special board meeting, you know, when needed on a a kind of a
130emergency or or or quick basis. Sure. I mean, that's that's my two cents. >> So, can we even change this without going back since we already approved the schedule? >> Well, we can change it. We have an action item, too. >> Do we have to change the whole calendar? Then >> we'd have to change the calendar if you if you wanted to do that or you keep it exactly where it is and then we just have a placeholder. Then we're not scrambling trying to find a date that everybody can meet. You just know to hold that second Monday >> possible >> or a possible meeting. That's it's just a placeholder is really all it is. And then we're not and we have I think Miss Camarada, didn't you make a note on there now that
131says it's subject to cancellation or will be held only if needed. So that just tells the public the general meeting is is the one Monday a month and then the other one is a placeholder that if we need it, we have it. >> I didn't mean to hijack it. Sorry. >> No, that's okay. Um, Mr. Todd. ma'am. >> So, you know, I have several concerns, but like this conversation about ASA needing to be here. If it's such a big deal, like I don't know anything about it. And as a board member, if it's an emergency, then I feel like we should all be knowing what this meeting is going to be about. And we don't know. >> I can explain somewhat. Um well this board asked to do a permanent superintendent search when we did
132the interim. ASA came back and said this was your board's desire. We need to have this meeting to get that planned and get moving forward on it. That's that's why it's coming about. >> Okay. We did not vote to to hire ASA to do the permanent search. Correct. So I'm not going to get off topic. >> I'm afraid we're getting off topic. That's fine. But >> on both from both of you. >> Okay. Um my concern still stands that we are violating policy by calling it a special meeting. The policy states that regular meetings mean those meetings that are regularly held and scheduled by the board. The second meetings are scheduled and therefore I believe calling it a special meeting violates policy. And I agree with Mr. Cerrone. I think these meetings are going to
133have a lot of information and if there are important things on there that the public want to express their thoughts about I think we should be giving giving them that option to do so. >> Mr. President, if I may, >> you may. >> Okay. So, let's just hypothetical. We just go to one regular meeting a month. We eliminate special meeting on the calendar knowing that they're going to pop up from here time to time. If we do that, it's still going to be called a special meeting. It's not going to be a regular meeting. It's going to be a special meeting because we're popping it up in an emergency situation. ASA's coming in. Guess what? Last minute, you're going to find out. We're all scrambling to get here. We're scrambling to find a time as
134President Todd said. Uh we've been through this. And so that's why I I do think that it's we're finally leaving the schedule as it is. If we want to have a conversation about how much information is during the meetings, well, that's a different conversation. But we're talking about the label special meeting versus regular meeting. And I think having the placeholder is very important for all parties involved. There's a lot of districts that do this, although call it a work session. Statute just doesn't allow it to technically be called a work session. So, it becomes a special meeting. City of Scottsdale does theirs at like 10 o'clock in the morning on a Wednesday. Um, other districts do them at different times, but it's whatever you guys want to do. I thought having this second meeting as
135a placeholder made it a lot easier so you're not given a 24 or 48 hour notice of a meeting that stacks up on top of something else you had planned. As you're looking at your vacation schedules and everything else, you can look out ahead and see, oh, we may have a meeting on that Monday. It would hate for a board member to miss a meeting by a day because we called a special meeting and and we did it at a different time. So, it's really a placeholder and it allows the public, we're being a little more transparent to say, think about this day as a possible meeting if we need it versus giving the public a 24-hour notice as well. >> I just want to clarify that I'm not opposed to having the second meeting.
136I'm opposed to the title of it currently being called a special meeting. >> We're not violating anything about having calling special meeting. Correct. >> No, we're not. >> Mr. President, I can make a motion. >> Okay. >> Um I don't actually know that we need a motion on if this if we're just going to leave it alone. >> You're leaving it alone. And you don't need a motion. >> That's true. Okay. I'm just going to leave it alone. >> I make a motion to um designate the second meeting of the month to be titled a regular meeting. >> Is there a second? >> President Todd. >> Yes, ma'am. >> Miss Zimmerman, can you please repeat that? >> Sure. Um, a motion to designate the second meeting of the month to be titled a regular meeting
137>> to be titled a regular meeting. >> Okay, that will prevent those from being cancelled. Um, okay. Do we have a second? This be a final call for a second. I'll >> second. >> Okay. Is there any further discussion? >> All right. Hearing none, we'll take >> I apologize. I'm going to ask a question to Mr. Dangerfield. Um, is there anything that prevents it from being cancelled? >> No. >> Thank you. If we're going to call them a general meeting, I will hold the meeting. Just so you know, we will hold the meeting because I don't want people thinking we're canceling general meetings. We will have them every single Monday. With that, that's fine. We'll take the vote. Miss Zimmerman. Oh, sorry. Board member Schmidt, you're first down there. >> Nay. >> Miss Zimmerman. I
138>> vice president Kenyon. >> Nay. >> Board member Shinsion. >> Nay. >> I'm also nay. We will show that that motion failed with four nos, one yes. All right, members. Item 7.1 is board comments or agenda topic requests. >> Not sure. I'm sorry. >> No, go ahead. >> Not sure how to word this. Um, but maybe we should look at the defining or limiting the number of topics on a special meeting. >> Uh, Mr. Todd. >> Yes. >> Um, I would like to have a policy for liquidated damages. that policy did not get transferred over to the new trust policies. And um I'd also um this is kind of a board comment that it would be nice to have a Google doc for um all of the requests for agenda topics um so that the
139board can see all of them and when they plan to be agenda sized. Okay. I think Miss Cameron Okay. Well, actually we'll discuss it at agenda item. Okay. Anything else, >> Mr. President? >> Yes. >> Um, if I could just get an update on the uh officers that we typically have stationed at or that come to our meetings. I know we haven't had them in a while and we're working on something. If I could just get an update on that, please. >> Okay, members. Um, the other thing I was uh alluded to a little bit ago is ASA is uh asking to present on their search process um and start getting that rolling if we're going with them. They would like to present at our next special meeting uh to get ahead of the curve
140for hiring season of superintendents. If you would like anybody else to present, feel free to let me know that and we'll get them scheduled as well. Okay. Anything else? Miss camera, you have those all captured. >> All right. Okay. Our item 8.1, upcoming board meeting, September 22nd, the special board meeting. It's optional at this time, but it is appearing to happen. October 6th is a special board meeting and regular board meeting. We must have a work session potentially planned something for that. Is that I think that's how we've agendaized those in the past. And then October 27th again is an optional special board meeting. That takes us to item 9.1, which is the adjournment of the meeting. We've conducted all of our business. We will show the meeting adjourned at 7:42. Heat. Heat. [Music] Heat.
141Heat. [Music] the