001Good evening. I call to order Next evening item this evening start out with our community. for the month of April 2026. Come on up is a local business in Lake for 10 years this summer. They're heavily involved with our community, our schools, and have sponsored and supported the Lake Unified School District for several years. Their biggest involvement in the school is their kids of character program, which provides certificates of achievement for students and teachers, perfect attendance awards, honor, and even teacher of the month with free certificate. They're huge supporters of band athletic teams and help teachers goal is to help teachers out, keep students engaged, and hope students will come to work for them. LSD is grateful to be part of the month and it goes to officer Justin Wilson. Mr. Wilson is a graduate
002graduate of Lake High School and he has been a school resource officer with LSD since January of 2023 and has taken great pride in his work. His main assignment is at Lake High School as well as elementary and smoke. He has handed over other schools and the resource officers when they're Mr. Wilson stated it has been an honor to work with the staff and students and honor to We are grateful and appreciative of Wilson being a part of our next teacher of the month for April and that is teacher Tiffany has proudly served LUSD for 13 teaching both fifth and sixth grades. Throughout her tenure, she has embraced key leadership roles, including piloting a new math curriculum, leading PLC's for district, sixth grade teachers, and mentoring new educators. She was honored to receive the golden
003apple award in 2019, and smoke teacher of the month in 2023. We are grateful and appreciate all that has done and she is an important part of our final award this evening is our administrator of the month and that is Shannon Williams of Nless Elementary School. Miss Williams relocated from North Dakota, North Dakota to Lake in 1992 where she dedicated herself to her educational journey and continues to grow as a teacher and leader. She advocates for students and families across the community. Miss Williams has worked with LUSD for 33 years. She started a career as a kindergarten teacher at Nautless Elementary School, served as a teacher at Starline Elementary and vice principal at Lakeu High School and in 2022 returned to Nless Elementary School as the principal. During the past four years, Miss Williams has
004led NUS in earning an A grade from the Arizona Department of Education and an A+ school of excellence. She has also been an adjunk professor for for both NA and ASU. Some of Miss Williams accolades include leadership rose recognition for her commitment to education and community service. First things first partnerships council for leaz and mojave counties supporting early childhood initiatives K12 foundations distinguished teacher and lake suicide prevention council America's best communities vision in 2020 committee and currently serves the mojave county schools pathways initiative for the Arizona educational Williams is passionate about her students and is dedicated to supporting her staff she is a true asset to LASD and we are grful Next up is item 2.2 service hours. Members of the board tonight award was named school teacher of the month certific. I was honored
005as advis organized the first ever offsite dance assembly and coordinated a walk for water event to raise awareness about global water challenges. through his leadership high school club students have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to service. This year has been an exceptional one for club. Our membership has grown from 80 members to 150 members, making it the biggest club in our high school. Collectively, our members have contributed over 6,000 service hours this school year. Our students have also represented high school. We have the largest delegation from the district at events such as capital district convention and international convention. None of these would be possible though without of our community through tax credits and I'm in support of our parent organization that the one is probably we have two of them here today. Thank you. They continue
006to invest thousands of dollars to send their students to conventions and give them scholarships. Tonight we are proud to recognize the outstanding achievements of the following students who each over 100 or 150 hours of community service. Just so you know, let's start with the students who serve at least 100 hours. We have Christian desires for us. Caleb, Gabriella, Molly, Caleb Winsel. Bella Gonzalez. Our senior is Parker Bentley. We also have Evan Barnes and Gabriel Espinosa. Now moving on to at least 50 hours. We have James. And the last but not least, these two students serve 300 service hours this year. Let's welcome Grace Jackson and Cassandra Nelson. We are proud to share that these students will be recognized also this weekend as we tomorrow for the convention uh for Southwest District Convention in Mesa. Thank
007you. Congratulations to all of you students. At this time, we will give a few minutes that are not for the rest of the governing board meeting. We'll give you a moment to dismiss before we continue. All right, we will continue at this time. Item 2.3, the Lake City Education Association. Please, I have three things that I want to share. Number one, I want to thank you for the opportunity to be a part of the committee. I want to say that I felt like everybody was Next one is publicity. There's been one or two Facebook. I was happy to share with the community. I am hoping soon for our community. that small classes in order for parents to choose to enroll their children with following those decisions. And then fin It was not at the moment
008that we go to increase for a moment as much. led that report of our money. I don't want to do that. And that's what happened if you turn on the top and other measures. And this is what the newspaper7ath school is $14. So taken from us. All right. I would not act everybody that increase our looking at a couple is our district and the bottom it sayal If you go to the back of that district areas instruction, you can tell The first column versus the district instruction also above the total spending of the next at the bottom are lower but when we're talking about instruction we are But when we're comparing the whole legislators We will now move to item consent agenda. I need a motion to Yes. at this time. Item 5.1. Last work
009session. The board was informed for This is true. There are several mitigating factors. This is the time of year where we have extensive travel. When the track team leaves tracks is at it right now. Phoenix club is tomorrow morning for our students. CTA skills USA funds from the state as well. Another thing that I looked into when you rates were a couple students I should say attendance during the 11 days outlain situation. I can share with you as well. Bottom line when it comes to this recruitment certified expert here to share what looks like a couple of hours driving. It's a tough driving. It really is. I don't marij. A big plus right there. myself and mymin to do a to get your driver's license. If you say the wrong, you don't even get the
010keys to start the bus. So that when I sit down ins driver all your problems are behind you, you know. So, so I mean it's I have to be honest when I'm recruiting people. I can't Rainform that's even worse. I will say that what we've been able to do over the past couple years this year 2526 this is the first year in six years I've had full staff I haven't had to drive a bus every day kind of nice You know, I done some field trips. I ran some routs. I ran a couple week. But it's not they're not lined up at the door. We're here at 4:30. My first bus at 6:05. They're picking kids up at 6:20. special needs kids, little guys. Okay, that's what we have. We have a time to get
0116:30 now. My last driver's long period of day, you know, yeah, there's that window in the middle. What do you do? So, again, that's a hard sale. You're going to work this amount of time, then you're going to go home and do nothing, and then you're going to come back and work this. That's a hard substitute. Let's go through the whole This is my 18th year. My 18th And I've had a few people in the past, you still need me, you know. I mean, that's the reality of it. How do you hire somebody to not go to work? That's a tough sale, you know. So, I get it the opportunity. my best. I work at it every single day. I try to plan, you know, this particular situation. I got a phone call the Sunday
012before we all came back. I mean he was in the hospital and Monday morning came around I came to work and I'm going to feasible this is what we're going to do There's somebody in my car. I've done that. I went up and I did situations where my job That's my job. Last thing I want to do is my best at this time. I will open it up questions, comments, you know. I think it's important we have this conversation is an issue in our district. One of the conversations we have had before is when it comes to running buses, you know, some of the questions and conversations we have is about state law. If you live with a mile of a school, you cannot see little kids should not be walking to school. So, I've
013had conversation with education committee as well as represent How can we pull that back? That's an issue. We should not have little kids walking to school. Some of our roads are extremely busy in the morning. It's unsafe. God forbid and we have accidents and that's a reality. So I think we we need to have those conversations but also as a governing board we need to have a conversation with Bobby how can we support him and his department recruiting efforts and just how we can fill in the gaps what support this team so that we're picking up kids for school we can have little amount of possible that's a horrible idea that needs to be fixed on the state level. But this board we can help local our owners but recruiting really is where I believe
014we try to help as much as possible. One of the things Dr. given a raise would love your feedback on that as well. >> The monies that have been forward to my staff has definitely been very grateful and it's been obviously accepted in a very positive manner and I think that's why this year especially I have you know I have people okay let me take a step back so the bulk of my staff are Not to segregate or you know discriminate or anything like that because of the hours of operation. You are not going to find a 25 to 35 year old person. It just doesn't. That's just the brass tax. The bulk of my staff are semi-retired and they do it because they enjoy it and they enjoy the kids. I've watched kids grow
015up from kindergarten to graduate high school and now they're adults. you know, so I'm a part of that piece which has been very my driver my female activity driver loves baseballs every package is probably when I'm recruiting people and trying to sell a job to get a bus driver and I hope that as a governor hates when I'm trying to seriously 55 and older people that is a big deal so I'm knocking on the door that right now I think is the number one I for my most easil. If you've ever interview and you're going to smell it all the way to school in September when You can't open the windows because it's 115 degrees outside. So, you know, these things are real and that's where you got little special because you can't stop them.
016That's the reality of what my staff deals with every single day, you know. I've done it. I don't wor it was easy. If you guys have suggestions, you know, whatever you think I can do to help. Oh, sure. I'm a big community member in this town. So, not only with my outside business that I own, but I mean I I'm very heavily involved with a lot of things that I one of these. >> Oh, sure. I actually we have a pretty good relationship with DPS for testing because it was just it wasn't it was a waste of my time and we and I use two or three together and it's actually been very beneficial to my staff and Parker Parker dozens and dozens of times we actually have a very good relationship we share ideas
017so on and so forth you issues, problems. What are you doing? How long is that process? The certific So much capitalism. as a legislative is a community issue. All of us sounds like We just had bus inspections a couple weeks ago. All right, this table was an item that was put on the item 6.1 the approval of the President of the board. Since January, the calendar committee has held two meetings and one work session to review several early release options, including their potential benefits and challenges. We also distributed a survey to families and staff, which received 1,857. 80% of those came from families, 20% from LHUSD staff. Among staff, 52% indicated a preference for moving early release every Friday while 47% preferred to keep it on Thursdays. Among families, 76% 1,137 families voted in favor
018of Friday. prefer to maintain Thursdays Friday releases provide consistent protective planning and professional development time for teachers provides time for collaboration while also promoting greater continuity for teaching and learning instruction. It supports student athletes who travel on Fridays and helps maintain opportunities for school extracurricular activities. In addition, it honors the preferences expressed by over 10,000 families, reflecting our commitment to listening to and responding to stakeholder feedback. Based on this input, the recommendation for the LHUSD calendar is implementing a 100 p.m. early release every Friday. Maintaining early releases on July 30th, October 1st, December 17th, and May 20th. Those are the first day of school, the last day of school. Is there any questions for >> Yes. >> 25. Any other questions? At this time, I call for motion and a second to approve item 6.1.
019Not a second. We don't know. import that moment. Men, can you address? >> I will say this. If they're missing Friday already, they're missing instruction. If we move early release to Friday, they're missing less instruction. And we are not losing any instructional time that we had this year by simply shifting It's the exact same instruction. What do you want? Second absolutely important. What do you think? This is a trial. Oh my god. That's why I'm sure Mr. comments, two comments. We are adopting a new math curriculum next year this year. It is really important that we give our teachers that professional development time to um implement this with fidelity have an opportunity to talk to teachers at other schools. that professional development time and on the possibility of absences on Fridays. It is possible too
020that parents might say, "Oh, we're heading out of town this weekend, but school gets out at I can wait until Thursday night or Friday morning. I can wait until we don't know. We're projecting a known future at this And so basis point Teachers are benefit. I've had the great honor of being part of the committee and listening to all the feedback and of course governing board members. We received so many students, a couple students, teachers, staff, and a ton of parents. And there were so many great ideas and we took all of those ideas in the committee and brought them into this ended up in this decision. And for me there's a few reasons for my decision. Number one is I believe parents and Fridays parents overwhelmingly voted. Number two, teachers. Over half of our
021our teachers and staff also voted for us. And we also have an obligation as a governing board to listen to our teachers and staff and their wishes. And they asked for two things in keep it once a month. You know there's so many options and I believe this decision this option brings a great compromise for our teachers our families and again this board has said what our most important decision value is the success of our students and making sure that student achievement is not falling attendance is not falling we do have that also that obligation but we also have to trust our parents and that they're going to do what's right students not going to come to school on Friday. We're not going to come to school on Friday, whether the half days on Thursday
022or on Friday, we're just not going to be at school on Friday. And then the other thing, you know, speaking with superintendent is it is better for our students for their travel and their games. And so for me, discussion. Everybody Great. I I was just a couple districts. >> That is correct. I'm sorry. I do not recall the name of the >> Thank you. Um yes, I called and talked directly to my counterpart and asked about attendance and she said that they saw no ill effects of attendance either staff or students. All right. Well, down. I don't think We're doing a lot of new things that there definitely can be fluctuations and what I what for me Yes, I want to see the numbers, but when I'm talking to teachers or I'm seeing what's going
023on in the district and I see the effort, as long as I'm seeing the effort and the focus and getting talking to talking to teachers and I yes, we love this great excitement about what we're doing. You know, after this year, you know, maybe the expectations start to crank up as well. I'm totally not the we are taking concerted steps to increase our proficiencies and increase >> there is usually a natural it's called an implementation dip with curriculum where scores go down just a bit as teachers become more familiar with the pedigogy of a new curriculum. But when I look out in this audience and I look at the teachers that are out here, I will tell you that no teacher in this audience is going to say, "Oh, these Fridays, let's just take it
024even next year." That will I look at those faces and I know that is not the case. success is what we're saying. This doesn't contribute to that success. >> So, you know, several teachers have reached out to me directly and written and they were adamantly comprehensively position for keeping the I didn't get one, excuse me, I didn't get one that was adequately representing the position on Fridays. So, what percentage of the staff was 50% of the 52% of the staff was that teachers or was that entirely >> went out to all staff? >> And I know teachers I know there was some hesitancy with them too about attendance, but we students to be at school every day. We encourage parents to bring their children to school every day >> so we don't have a separation.
025>> All right. Any further discussion? All right. At this time, I call for motion. So now Yeah, it depends on No. Yes. >> Yes. >> Item carries. >> All right. Next up is item 6.2, business services, acceptance of our annual comprehensive financial report. Good evening, Miss >> Good evening, President Rose, members of the governing board, uh Mr. Becker, our staff and community. ARS15-914 requires that school districts who have an adopted M budget limit in excess of 2 million annually shall contract for an annual financial statement audit and the completion of the USFR compliance questionnaire. School districts who expend more than 750,000 in federal revenues must also contract for a federal single audit. All completed audits are attached. I just want to share with you though that the district received a clean audit opinion with no
026material weaknesses identified which reflects strong overall financial practices. There was one significant deficiency related to tracking construction projects. Um once completed they were not moved. >> Thank you. >> Oh I'm sorry. Um once completed they weren't moved to assets in a timely fashion. Um but we've already have corrective procedures in place to ensure it doesn't happen in the future. So there are no funings related to federal programs. So there are no questions none for vote. A motion and a second. >> Yes. >> Next up, item 6.3 to make a principal recommendation. Drum roll. We are pleased to recommend Mr. Charles Keller who currently serves as director of student services as the next principal of Jamaica Elementary School. Mr. Keller brings 25 years of experience in education. His career includes Rose as a classroom teacher, site
027administrator, district administrator, and superintendent, all grounded in a strong commitment to student success. Over the past several months, he's also served as the interim principal at Jamaica Elementary School, where he has worked closely with staff and community partners to support student well-being, attendance, and achievement. He holds degrees from the University of Nevada, Reno, and the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, along with an educational specialist degree in leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Mr. Keller's leadership philosophy centers on putting students first and leading by example, character, and mentorship. He is dedicated to supporting mission of scholarship, character, and humanity, and is committed to making a lasting positive impact on students, the community of Jamaica Elementary. Please um at this time, we will now bring it to the board for discussion. Any discussion or questions at this time
028from the governing board? All right. Then I call for a motion and a second. >> Yes. >> Congratulations, Mr. I do want to address before moving on. He has done an amazing job serving our student services department. All right. Now, the moment you've been waiting for Thunderbolt Middle School, it is my pleasure to move to item 6.4. This evening, it is my pleasure to recommend Mr. Larry Olsen as the next principal of Middle School. Larry brings over 35 years of experience in education within Lake Unified School District, demonstrating a strong commitment to student achievement and instructional excellence. Currently serving as the district math coach, he has led curriculum initiatives, supported teacher development, and promoted datadriven instruction to improve students. Mr. Wilson previously served as the high school mathematics teacher, instructional coach, and assistant principal, providing
029him with a well-rounded background in both classroom instruction and school leadership. He is recognized for his collaborative leadership style, strong communication skills, and ability to build positive relationships with students, staff, and families. He holds a master's degree from Grand Canyon University and a bachelor's degree from the University of His professional recommends high school teacher of the year 2018 and 2020 and the DFW on the teacher of the year award. Mr. Rosson is known for his strong communication skills ability to build positive relationships with staff and families and his commitment to fostering a safe engaging learning environment. He is deeply invested in continuing the positive culture middle school while driving continued growth and student Mr. Olson's qualifications and passion for LSUD make him an excellent choice to leave Thunderbolt Middle School as it principal. Congratulations. At
030this time we will now take the vote. So is there any discussion? item 6.4. At this time, we will need a motion and a second on item 6.4. And I would like to honor the motion to approve Larry as the next principal of Thunderbolt Middle School. Yes. >> Yes. Congratulations. >> All right. At this time item 7.1 assistant superership congratulations matters Lastly, I want to thank our teachers and all of our parents and we are almost members of the board. superintendent community members. Um I'm just coming to you today as over the last year in our STC classrooms at Jamaica and Thunderbolt as well as our preschool at smoke we have piloted the teach curriculum designed specifically for students with severe cognitive delays. Um we have found that it is very successful. The teachers are
031really grateful to have a curriculum that supports their students at their levels. So we are just placing that curriculum on display for the required 60 days before we bring it for adoption. >> Thank you so much. Any question item 7.3 governing board members 300 hours of community service. My goodness. representation. I want to thank you for being will I pray that that you all honor our trust in you that we giving you that please make this effort and let's have the success that I know we can thank you all keep upward I went to LHS last week and I was able to spend some time in Mr. classroom and the theme was forces of change and talking to students about how they can become agents of change in their own life and really impressed with
032their thoughtful questions through that and one of the things that we heard that I heard in that classroom and we also heard from a student at our work session a couple weeks ago was that there might be a place for student ambassadors on board. So I do look at that something I was talking to Dr. about it. She said that in Virginia they actually have a student on the board. not they don't have a vote but they are able to participate in the discussion as votes come up and so for me this evening for me I just want to say um as well said thank you I just want to say I'm proud of this board you know we we don't always agree on things but I believe we are the example of when you're
033willing to have honest discussion and respect each other's opinion and respect each other as human beings you can actually make a difference and govern and do what is right at the end of the day. So I just want to thank member Houston who's not here this evening for the willingness to do this as we look around what is happening around our nation and so divided people and so this board is an example of what working together and laying down differences can look like and as the president of this board I just want to say thank you to each member for being willing to do that and again we don't always agree on things but we're willing to hear each other out that's what's important and I believe it makes a for our students, teachers, and
034staff. So, again, thank you. It's been an amazing school year. It is coming to an end. We've had so many wins this year. A lot of great success. And um I do want to point out one other things we did have because someone asked me, we did have a safety audit done um as you know. And unfortunately, um the safety audit was done by a good friend of mine. That's why I recused myself from that vote and he has passed away. Uh stage four cancer. So, uh he's a chief of police. That report he was able to finish like a week before he passed away. And so, we will have that report. So, please keep his family in your thoughts and prayers. Um he he was a great guy, loved the district, got to know
035Mr. Keller very well and uh but we will have that report and be able to present that meeting. So, some of you have asked about that. So, I just want to share why that's not that's all I have at this time. I need a motion and a second for item 8.1 to >> move to second. >> Yes. Have a great evening. Thanks for joining us.