001This is a little different than the format that we do at board pager that I think everyone is more and Okay. So that's Okay. So that was student growth target. Good. Okay. Thanks. important. We are showing more growth to the state. I don't have this year's state score yet. Um even though we did come down a little bit in terms of growth points, we are still tracking a ahead of the of the state in terms of um moving students in that SGP growth categories. Um and then um still going along with this idea of are we on track? Um so this is just where we have been over the last 3 years. Um even though we are down to zero uh A schools, we do not have an A school. We are at just seven
002C schools, nine B schools as I mentioned. And those have been flipping. So it's not the same schools. We've had some schools move up, some schools move down. And then the last thing that I just wanted to share was um next steps or opportunities. And I just want to say that this is not um necessarily teaching and learning opportunities, more opportunities for how we can score well on um the report card. Um how principles can be thinking about their letter grade and especially with student growth target coming um supporting minimally proficient students in getting high growth, getting minimally proficient students to partially proficient, partially to proficient. There's a lot of points to be had there and that supports our 45% goal. Um because obviously in order to get to this goal, we're going to have
003to move students up categories. 8th grade math is a big one. Um you can get bonus points for improving your highly proficient or decreasing your um minimally proficient. In some cases, it's like student there's schools that just need like one or two kids to get highly proficient and it's going to get them two and a half points. uh fourth grade growth. This is the first grade where you see uh the growth score comes in. So that that was just something that I reflected on is that um uh there's a lot of opportunity within fourth grade to um obviously this is one of our uh our youngest grade where you the SGP scores factor in. And then finally EL and ESS proficiency growth. Um, ELEL students sort of score twice here because they'll take the AELA
004test and then they'll take the ASA test again. And we're seeing that if EL students are doing well on the Azela test, they're going to go on and do well on ASA as well. Um, and we've got a lot of EL students obviously in this district. Um, so those are some uh other places where there's opportunities to improve our report card scores and our letter grades and obviously get us to our um 45%. So I tried to fly there because there was a lot um uh this is like a fun time when when all of this data comes out because there's so much to look at and I don't feel like I've even got to it all yet. Um but uh a lot of good information that can help us move the needle as a
005district. So, thank you. >> Thank you. Now, I'll open it up to board members for questions. Um, if you don't mind, um, President Haj, I'd like to go first because I think my question, um, to the superintendent or to you, Mr. Oo, is actually about the process and how, um, knowing that we have this level of granularity and some of this can go to a lot of prediction about letter grades and scores. My question goes to how is the district using this data to be able to make decisions for the upcoming year? What does that look like at the district level? And then for campuses, if I'm a principal or if I'm a teacher, how am I interacting with this data and using that data at the campus level? >> Thank you, Dr. Francoit. Um
006board, executive, team, and community. Um, as we look at the data at the district level and our adult teams, one of the things that we've been doing is starting to formulate the the vision and expectation for our um at our action plan for um learning and that'll be um delivered in much more detail at the uh study session this month. So uh this data was designed so to be a preliminary view for you of the data and then we'll go far far more in depth but um the as we as we look at it at the district team then uh Miss Gustin then takes that and reviews it with her um teaching and learning division team and then we've also had the opportunity to review the data. Uh Mr. Oello um uh shared the data
007with our principles during our summer's ummies and then also in the summit. Um and um our principles then utilized that data to be able to work with their teachers. Um as you recall, you all added two days to the teacher professional development calendar this year which allowed more time for principles to be able to look at the data in depth with their staff and then they'll continue to do that work. And I know um Miss Gustin probably has more information to add on that. >> Good evening uh Madame President, members of the governing board, uh exec team and community. Uh to echo what Dr. Portio said, I'll give a lot of credit to to Mr. OTO for uh leading a lot of different analysis and um just learning opportunities for our school leaders when it
008comes to this particular data and in terms of how has how have we already utilized that data in decision making. Um a lot of that actually came before AASA with our star data uh with our Azela results uh that we were able to make some decisions before even the end of the school year. So, uh, I know my division was, uh, blessed with a more ample team to really support that work. So, moving to having two ELA coaches, two math coaches, two, uh, EL coaches, those were those were decisions that were made based on seeing the need uh, in our schools to really strengthen instruction in those areas. Uh, a couple other examples that we we thought through um was even expanding with the the the the audits that we've chosen to to to do
009for ourselves. the the ESS audit that you heard uh a report on last month and then actually in September we'll speak more to uh we have you you approved the um the contract with a an EL audit uh individual away aside from a uh AD to actually come and really look at our programming and the in and how we're truly supporting the instruction of our EL learners not just the compliance piece. um other things like hard to fill stipens al those types of things were decisions that were made based off of of this data. Um but again uh when when we come back together for the study session in two weeks, we'll be able to give you a much more uh detailed picture of how our our academic improvement plan, if you will, uh is
010is fleshed out for for our schools and for our district. Any other board members have a question? >> You good? >> Okay. Okay. So, um I just wanted a little better explanation on this on the proficiency points from 2024 and 2025. There were some major changes for King School. I just wanted to understand what conclusions has the district been able to find about those results. >> Uh yes, uh board president Hajj, uh board member Pñena, like uh I mentioned, it was a great uh great question. Uh the first I think caveat that is important is that King and Kennedy as third grade schools. No, can't hear. Is that better? Okay. King and Kennedy as third grade schools uh have had probably the biggest changes in terms of their proficiency for better or worse. The reason
011being is as a K3 school only their third graders take the assessment. So every year it's a different cohort taking the assessments. Uh whereas um a K some of our K8 schools uh they're three through eight you might not see as big of of swings. So you will see now with just Kennedy, we would still expect to see bigger changes, bigger swings in what their p uh proficiency percentage would be. Um still uh you know there there's always going to be different things. So then and I don't know about it for this year, but for third grade um at Kennedy, I remember two years ago with teacher changes, it was actually for the better. So they they they attributed to teacher changes working more on on PLC. Um the other thing that I would mention
012for King is their math proficiency dropped uh but they actually had a high number of partially proficient students this year. Um and so their um while their proficiency was lower when you looked at their points towards their uh report card, it wasn't as drastic because they had so many students that were partially proficient, which is say they were close. And that just happens sometimes, too. There was another number of schools that had so many students right at partially proficient. Um but that does uh look very drastic uh in terms of uh proficiency changes. It was a good question. Um, and that's why we left that there to see uh some of those proficiency improvements. Thank you. >> Thank you for clarifying that. I was kind of scratching my head for a minute. So, that makes
013a lot of sense. Um, and then I also have uh which of our schools are closest to meeting the A letter grade and then which of our C schools are closest to making the B letter grades. But I think you kind of gave us uh some of this data. I don't know if you'd like to kind of speak to that. >> Yes. Yeah. Uh um President Hajj uh board member Pñena uh this this year actually towards the A um not as close as I have seen it in the last couple years. The C to B it's always so close there's always a a handful of schools that are within two points. Um, I mean you you're talking uh in some cases like like I said with that math there schools that if they just would
014get one student to highly proficient uh or two extra students highly proficient that gets them the two and a half points that they need to then be over. So some of these are really close. Konchos I mentioned was one that's has been close for uh several years in a row. That's like right there. Um and and this year, uh Chavez and Campbell, um are our schools that are are closest to an A. >> Thank you. I appreciate the chart, too. So, thank you for that question and thank you for creating the chart so that we can see which schools or where our schools are um to get in the next letter grade. Um and I know we talked about future. um our madam vice president brought of the future but I would like to know
015what is a strategy we deployed that didn't work given the ELA data by grade levels versus 2023 2024 and 2025 and grades three and five and what did we learn thank you um President Hajj uh members of the board executive team and Roosevelt community um as we analyzed the strategies that we employed last year there were several at things that I think we did well that we can continue to uh increase expectations on um and define more so what um define voter how we can uh ensure that that um principles are clear on how we define um what what the success criteria would be for implementation of those strategies. So, one of the ones that we were analyzing is the time that we spent on during our early release um days and how teachers are
016utilizing that time to work as teams. So, I know Miss Geston um has more detail on that, but it was more so on um the expectation of our teachers working um on unit plans rather than daily plans. So, I'll I'll allow her to expand a little bit more. Again, Madam President, members of the governing board, uh, I'm excited to answer this question because I get to brag a whole bunch about my new team. Uh so yeah, so beginning or before the last school year, we made the decision to pivot from a lot of early re release Wednesdays being professional development um and really going all in on powerful intentional collaborative time for our teachers and what we call uh professional learning teams or PLTs. uh and with all good intentions knowing that we had we
017had identified essential standards as a district, we know the power of having unit plans to really guide the work. Uh the the focus on those PLT meetings was very much uh at the unit level. So creating unit plans, creating unit assessments. But what happened was teachers didn't get the time in a collaborative environment to plan at the daily level. And for many of our teachers, you know, before you can get good at planning at the unit level, you got to be really good at planning effective daily lessons. Uh and so we really heard that feedback loud and clear. And I'd say that our data also didn't tell us that our unit planning approach was was giving us, you know, was that it was having the impact that we wanted it to. And so as part
018of our project momentum uh goals last year, we set our quarter 4 goal had to do with assembling an essential standards committee um or committees, different teams for each of the different grade levels and and content areas to actually create first of all an updated unit uh or curriculum map based off of AD rolling out essential standards. uh but then also selecting teachers through a pretty rigorous process to be part of these teams that then they through the funding of both uh project momentum and then also some title funds those teams of of highly effective teachers have created the unit plans uh and I I won't tell you which principal said this but uh when we rolled up the curriculum maps and the unit plans during admin academy uh one of our principles it was
019the greatest compliment woman ever said, "Uh, Megan, I have nothing negative to say." Uh, and I won't look at them right now. No. Uh, but that was a great like our our school leaders are so savv they are such good instructional leaders and there was such great energy around these tools both that I mean the curriculum maps themselves are much more than just a map of days and topics. Uh but then also the unit plans get incredibly detailed as well. So our teachers now are able to truly collaboratively plan at the daily lesson level and that'll include being able to uh take student exit ticket data and and plan immediately how they're going to to respond to the results there. So, um, we're really excited about being able to do that work this year and
020that was based off of seeing what we didn't what didn't work in in the previous year. So, thank you for allowing me to brag on that. No, thank you. Are there any other questions? Let me see. I'll just ask my second question. Um, how did the distribution of student growth and students meeting their growth targets differ by subgroup and what might explain the disparities in the outcomes across these groups? >> Yes. Uh, uh, board president Hajj I and I believe the question was looking at SGP and SGT, correct? Yes. Student growth percentile and student growth target. Uh so I I would say that there is some correlation but not total but yes uh students who are showing high SGP that's going to match up to their student growth target. Um I believe in my answer
021I shared that um not so much in the student population but what I did see was a really big gap with our ESS students in in their high growth numbers um and with ELLL math. Um, so ESS students and I could pull up the slide again, but um ESS students are they're we're seeing less students um with high growth. And again, it's relative to their score from the last year. Um so all things being equal, we really should see similar numbers because uh students who are minimally proficient can still make high growth relative to the bucket of students that they're that they're in. Um, so, uh, to me that's one of our biggest disparities is, um, the gap is widening there for students in ESS. Um, and then the other thing that stood out to
022me, I shared this during this, not so much student population, um, but math across the board, um, with all of our student populations, um, and in our district as a whole. And then um then just confirming when we deep dive into that academic plan, we'll specifically hear some of the plans on targeting those subgroups or how those subgroups will be impacted. >> Perfect. Thank you. >> Any other questions? No. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Thank you everyone. >> The next item on our agenda is public participation. Um, and we do have public comment. I will read the ammunition and then I'll call the speaker up. Personal attacks upon board members, staff personnel, or other people in in attendance are absent by individuals who address the board are discouraged. Presenters are cautioned that the
023statements and representations concerning others that convey an unjust or unfavorable impression may subject the presenter to civil action for defamation. And as a reminder, board members cannot respond directly to public comment. Our district team um can follow up. And the first speaker is Brandy. Um you have 3 minutes and we will set a timer when you begin speaking. I'm going to go ahead and read cuz reading is under 3 minutes. So birthday students were dropped off at school after 8:30 a.m. much later today than yesterday. It's impossible for students to enjoy breakfast. It was being served between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30, which is after the student drop off. Yesterday, there were three kids to a seat. It was brought to my attention that at least a dozen more students rode the bus today. My fear
024is that if the bus is overloaded, there is a possibility that students may be standing during transition. My children were scheduled to be dropped off at 3:45 p.m. yesterday. However, they did not get off the bus until 4:40 due to confusion on campus and the need to return to the school to pick up more students. I thought I'll give Campbell grace since it's the first day of school. But then today, not only was their pickup times altered, but the bus route was changed as well without notice. There was about about excuse me 25 minutes um 25 minutes behind schedule resulting in a parent having to drop her children off at school and head to work. It's extremely dangerous for students to be standing on a busy street this long waiting for a bus. Today, students
025were awaiting an empty bus at Campbell at approximately 4:25 p.m. nearly an hour after school was out. Getting dropped off 10 minutes till 5 is unacceptable for children who are released from school at 3:30. To add a sparkling star on top, the bus driver did not keep the stop sign extended while my children were crossing the street. I literally had to run to the curb and scream out to drivers to stop moving while my kids were in the street. There is absolutely no communication. The Here Comes the Bus app is not um now inactive, excuse me, for the district. and there's no way to track the bus and other parents and I are still awaiting a resolution despite the many in-person visits, emails, and phone calls. In the beginning of the 2024 school year, a
026decision was made to consolidate schools with many projections that successful would arise from these changes which we trusted. Needless to say, the results show that you missed the goal on this one and failed our children and our community once more. Therefore, the parents are demanding a resolution which should be handled within this meeting rather than drawing a petition or outsourcing to drive improvement where needed as you all have created an unsafe environment for our children. Truth is, Roosevelt School District had always been understaffed which we were promised that the bus drivers that were driving buses at closing schools will now be assisting drivers at the new schools. Again, there's no resolution. There's no communication. Bus routes are being changed. Students are waiting. It's nearly five. We're barely getting our kids and we don't have any
027answers. >> Thank you. >> When will we receive an answer? We've been waiting since last year. We've been waiting since May. We've been waiting since June, the end of July, which was the 31st, and then now today. Yesterday, bus routes are changed. No notification. >> Our district team will follow up with you. >> We're still waiting for the director. We're still waiting for the district. So, who knows that the district >> the superintendence team will follow up with you. >> Thank you. The next item on the agenda is the superintendent report and I'll pass it to Dr. Portillio. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board, executive team, and Roosevelt community. I'd like to provide you um updates for August. Thank you. Okay, so first I wanted to uh report on our student enrollment and
028staffing. So enrollment had a huge increase from the last time that I reported to the board um uh the first week of July. Um over the last month we've had an increase of enrollment of 1,221 students um from July 1st. So that's a huge increase. Um and uh that has led to some uh fast planning and changes of plans um in logistics for our district. As we look at that number in comparison to last year on the second day of school, we're down 131 students. Something to keep in mind is that last year we rolled over all of our enrollment. So we assumed that kids would be returning back to the school district. So we rolled over all that enrollment. So on August 6, we hadn't dropped kids who were not enrolled yet. Whereas this
029year's numbers um do include already minus kids who didn't reenroll. Um so we are positive um that um we will also on the 10th day of school we know that that's when we do our drops but last year we waited till the 10th day of school where this year we asked parents to reenroll their students. So um it looks like enrollment will remain steady if perhaps dropped slightly. Um but we have had to make some some vast changes in planning in the month of July as that uh enrollment jumped up so drastically. Um we are uh doing something that we call warm body counts which we review regularly. So meaning as we ask parents to uh reenroll their kids um we know that some might change their mind throughout the summer um and new kids
030might be coming in that we didn't have enrolled until yes uh last Thursday at meet the teacher night and then yesterday um and today. So what we're doing is we are leveling staff within and then across our campuses trying to make sure that we are balancing class sizes so that they are within our target numbers the best as possible and within the school and then across campuses would be the next move. So we started doing that um around the second week of July when we started seeing that um enrollment increase and then we're going to continue to do that reviewing that regularly. Um uh the team and I uh were able to meet today and review our warm body counts from yesterday and are going to be making some um changes already at one of
031the campuses based on the numbers that we see not only in their enrollment but then the matching warm body count. Um but we'll continue to monitor that enrollment um and possibly after the 10th day of school then revise campus and district staffing based on that 11th day um enrollment which is the the enrollment that we use um to plan our budgets. So um and then the other um great news about that is that we have our federal grants. So when it comes to to budget and financing and staffing, our federal grants were lifted. Uh the pause was lifted. So um we are excited to know that all of our grants were were funded at the levels that we had been um promised prior. So that allows us to continue planning with our budgeting. something also
032to keep in mind um with budget um and I'll talk about it a little bit more at our guardrail is that on September um at the September regular board meeting we do plan to bring a revised budget to you um based on that final um enrollment number and then also um any um encumbrances that we see that we've already um cleared from the last school year. All right. So, the other um compliance update that we had was regarding um the um non-compliance um uh plan that we have with our with the um auditor general. So I had mentioned during the fall last year and then um that we were correcting uh making corrections to our finance practices from previous years and then when we had our 2024 audit we did find that there were multiple
033places where we were non-compliant. So as you recall we had 35 out of 142 issues that were found to be in non-compliance. um and we um entered into a corrective action plan with the auditor general. Um that plan um started on June 30th. Now, we did have um and again that was from 2024. So, we've been working diligently prior to that audit um meeting already making some of these improvements. So that allowed us to be on a pretty quick um fast um um response plan with the auditor general. So we have had weekly meetings with the auditor general to discuss the progress um with the kickoff starting on June 30th. Then on July 9th we um met about administration related issues that were non-compliant. Then procurement related issues that were non-compliant. On the 23rd, we
034met with them again to review our plan to address accounting, finance, IT, and student records issues that were non-compliant. And then the last meeting will be oh, sorry, July 30th was um cash handling issues. And then on uh August 6, we'll meet to uh discuss um uh issues that are fixed assets. And then though transportation wasn't part of our non-compliance audit, we do have areas that we want to discuss and get um input on so that we can improve. Um again, Wednesday, August 6, which is tomorrow, will be our final um scheduled meeting with the auditor general. And after this meeting, we will await any written confirmation from the auditor general that the plan as a whole has met expectations. After each meeting that we've had this summer, um she has given us positive feedback.
035So, we're awaiting um that written response at the end. Um and also within the 90 days um that we have to improve. Um, we want to make sure that we're continuing professional development with our campus uh administration, with our front office staff, with all of our directors, our office managers to ensure that we uh not only uh meet the requirements of the auditor general, but that we're continuing this um movement towards oversight and accountability when it comes to the management of our finances and operations. And just a point of clarification, um, these concerns that were brought to our attention, were we working on those already or was this something new? Can you give us a little background about how we got here? >> Thank you. Thank you for that. >> The proactive work that we
036did if we did. >> Yeah. So, fiscal year 24, the the um audit was based on the previous year before that even. So um before we had this meeting with the um auditor general, we already recognized that we had systems we needed to improve. So we've been working on that um for the last year and a half or so on improving these practices. That's why it was so easy uh not easy but quick for us to go through this process with the auditor general uh week by week because we were already uh fairly prepared as we were already on the road to improve these practices. Thank you for bringing that up. >> Thank you. Are there any other questions from the board members about the update? >> Thank you. >> So, normally how our bill
037meetings work is we are able to interact with with the audience. You can ask that during your meeting with her. Um when when we set up a meeting to discuss your concerns, you can ask those questions. So we will hold on hold on one second hold on one second. So yes our board meetings the regular board meetings is not an opportunity for us to have Miss Eden we are excuse me. So I I totally understand which is why which is why I asked for >> can your talk and your work I have a question >> dressing we contact you I can assure you that you will be contacted and and a conversation will be had and you will be given updates and you can ask all your questions there at our study session or when
038we do our two-way communication is an opportunity for us to go have conversations with with with community because I don't want to silence you. I don't want to do that. But at these meetings is it's not the back and forth, but we will have opportunities for community conversations where we can engage and we can have conversations and we'll definitely make sure. >> Thank you. Okay. Go ahead, Dr. Portio. >> Okay. So, then we also wanted to make sure that we um made the community aware and also the board. Um I know I've been able to share this through our um our board meeting updates um that we emailed to you mid month about an e corrective action that we're also working on. So, the district was also found non-compliant in the spring of 2025 um
039with the Arizona Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition um services uh after they did our audit visit. So, they came and they audited our documents, but they also came out and and went into our classrooms. Um we received the preliminary findings during that exit meeting with AD, which was March 27th. So, they had an initial meeting with us. um went out to observe in classrooms for about three or four days and then came back and gave us the preliminary findings in March. Um then the Arizona Department of Education responded um to that drafted plan uh with feedback and we used that feedback then to create the final corrective action plan which was fully approved last uh the last week of July. Um we will uh review the audit and then that approved uh
040correction action plan in detail at the September regular board meeting which was already previous scheduled. Um and we'll also talk about the work that we're doing to improve the learning of our English language learners. >> U Madam President just a quick question because I know obviously OS covers a lot of paperwork on the back end of compliance pieces. It also covers classroom instruction. um from just on a 10,000 foot level, was the were the findings primarily paperwork? Were they related to classroom instruction or was it a combination of both? >> Sure. Um it was a bit of both. Um one of the things was looking at all of the compliance the documents um dates um making sure that we had all of the required uh paperwork and files. Um and then also and again we'll
041go much more in detail in September when we review the whole plan. And then the other part was about ensuring that we're delivering intervention for our EL kids at the correct time um with the teacher that has the correct certification. Um so we'll continue to work on that. Miss Gustin, do you have any additional detail about that? Madame President, uh, members of the governing board, uh, really the the from the AD from AD when they do those types of monitoring visits and and and do findings, it even when we're talking about things with classroom instruction, it still is very much compliance. They're not evaluating the quality of the instruction that's happening. they're evaluating when is it happening, who's in those groups, uh, in those classrooms, that type of thing. Which is why we're also the
042this our separate EL audit is so valuable because that'll give us more feedback on the actual instructional side of it. >> Okay, thank you. And uh the next slide please. All right. So on my next slide I wanted to talk about our superintendent guardrail number one which was due today to give you an update. So in superintendent guardrail number one the important um the most important words I I pulled out and highlighted just because I know there's a lot of words on that slide. Um it's about proactively sharing updates um on the budget and enrollment. Um, so we've been continuing to do that through our previously through our board updates um, which we started to have um, in January of this year as we're trying to make sure we're transparent with our enrollment and with
043our finances. Um but now um the next step in the iteration of my interim goals um for for uh guard rails is that we um include u more communication with uh the students with the parents with the staff and the general community. So um one of the goals is that starting in October of 2025 we would have budget and enrollment reports um that we would be sharing through newsletters that will be mailed throughout the community. So, the newsletters will talk a lot of different initiatives that the district is doing, but one of the inserts will be a chart, a visual that explains to the community and keeps them updated on how our enrollment and budget is going. Um, that same newsletter will be emailed and then also posted on our district website along with recorded
044presentations to explain it. Um so the p the work that we've done towards that um it's due in October um is again uh ensuring that that you all understand that throughout the month of August we're still clearing out our encumbers encumbers encumbrances from um from last school year. So, we're clearing all that out, making sure everything is paid out um and that we have uh um everything accounted for and then um also looking at our enrollment. Right? So, then in September, we plan to bring you the revised budget. Um so, based on that revised budget, um that's what this presentation will reflect. Um and then also just to make sure you all know then the annual financial report for October will be due uh for this year will be due in October. Um the next
045one here is that also by October of 2025 then we'll have the bianual community forums and in these community forums not only will the the audience get a report but they'll be able to do that two-way communication and provide input to us on the budget. um requests on the budget so that as we plan in January for the next year's budget, we're able to include that as another source of of data and input. Um by December, we are supposed to be able to do the same but with students so that students are also providing input um towards the planning of next year's budget. So that's the guard rail as a in a nutshell. Um I explained the work that's going to be happening right now in August. Um than September, we've also uh met already
046with our communications team to start understanding what the guard rail is. Um at our next meeting um the entire team and I will be meeting to further discuss the the vision of what that visual might look like and then they'll continue then to work with our finance team to ensure that the content is reflected in in that visual um so that it's not only in the um required format that's required by the state but it's more digestible to a everyday um resident of the community who's not an expert in finance. And that is my update on my uh guardrail. And then the last part that we have is a recap of summer activities. So we have a brief video that we created. You'll see on it um uh some images from our summer school um
047accelerated uh math learning um Junth celebrations that we had over the summer. Um and then some different activities that we've had in the month of July. Um and as we started the school year. Sure. >> So, we have been uh working very hard uh over the summer. um something that occurred uh today that we didn't get a chance to include in our in our presentation um that I wanted to make sure that I spoke to the board about and then also um that our community was aware about um was a situation that occurred at Southwest Elementary School. I know I I was able to touch base with each of you individually, but I also wanted to make sure we spoke as a as a unit here. Um, we did have a situation at Southwest that
048was reported to us where um it was reported that um there was a parent that was arrested outside of our gates at Southwest. So, it didn't occur within the gates of Southwest, but outside of the gates of Southwest and one of the students was getting dropped off in the morning um by by his parent during that time. So you can um imagine the um the concern that was brought up to us by community um as that was uh it was it's scary for them and for our staff. I do want to commend the staff at Southwest who immediately implemented the plan that we had in place um that um they though we didn't have entry inside of the campus. I wanted to make make that clear. Um they did immediately notify the district office which
049is the step number one. Um, Dr. Battle and I um headed in that direction. We notified of course our board president and our attorney um and then the executive team all moved towards the that space to be able to provide the campus with support. Um the Southwest staff had it under under control. They did a great job. We were there to provide um uh presence support to our community. And then what we did afterwards is we we did um identified the young man who was um involved in the situation. He's um one of the students at Southwest. Our social worker was able to speak with him and provide support. Um our principal was able to speak with the parent to provide her support as well. Um and uh we did have a uh emergency or
050impromptu meeting. Um though we had planned to bring up this type a reminder of the policy that the board pa passed in February and the um and the um the protocols that we were going to put in place. We were going to already review that during our our administrator meetings and our um assistant meetings, our our secretar's meetings. Um we decided that it was best to not wait. So we called everyone together on a Zoom meeting today. So we had about 61 people on that Zoom meeting. um along with some social workers, face coordinators and and district personnel um to to uh review the situation, commend of course again Southwest for their response. Um and then also to um remind them of our practice and our policy and then our commitment to our community. Um
051I um also recorded we had in February sent a recording um summarizing the policy to our parents but we re-recorded that again today and sent it out again today. So this evening um all parents of all schools along with all our staff should have received the video along with a reminder that the policy exists and then also direction to go on to our district website which has a lot of know your rights um information on there as well as much lots more information and also a link to about an hour video that we created with the help of different um attorneys and uh earlier in the spring. So, all that information is in there, but we um wanted to make sure that everyone had that reminder. Um and then we also um I spoke with
052our director of student wellness, uh Miss Wadley, who um uh dusted off and reviewed a document that we created in the spring, which was um a guidance document to um for different job groups as to how they can interact with families and students when something like this happens. and where I'm going to further develop that into a professional development that's appropriate for the different job groups. So certainly the social worker and counselor one would be much more in depth and look different from what our front office secretary staff would look like, but we want to make sure that they're all trained and ready to be able to um to respond to families um when something like this happens. Thank you for for the update. Um, it's really sad. I have more to say, but I'm
053not going to say anything. Um, but thank you, Southwest, for your response and protecting our kids and our staff. Moving on to the next item on the agenda is the board member update. Um, do any board members have any updates you would like to share at this time? Madam President, I just want to say it was a pleasure to talk to some of our school leaders here this morning or this afternoon evening. Um, and hear how the first day went and hear about how you're starting uh culture on your campuses, hear about all the things that have improved from day one to day two. Um, and it was just lovely to hear that everyone's year is off to such an exciting and great start. Um, and I look forward to seeing again in our next
054board meeting how many things have improved and what other exciting challenges have come up between now and September. >> I just wanted to say welcome back everyone, all the students, all the staff. Um, and some some of the staff I think don't really get much of a summer break, but um, just wanted to express that gratitude. I had the opportunity to visit a few campuses last week and talk some to some teachers and of course the uh principles as well and it's just wonderful to get to see people and and hear their stories and um I just want to let you know that you know I'm always um happy to hear from you. I have a very open open door policy um and um always and looking for a way to help make things better
055for for you. Um so thank you for for that and continue to invite me. I would love to be at your campuses and and observing classrooms and hearing about it. Um another thing is I think you you spoke about it but you know for the community that doesn't understand our meanings unfortunately we can't really be interacting back and forth but we have the two-way communication and to simplify that it's a town hall. Okay. Um we want you there. We want you there. We actually had one about two, three months ago. Is that when it was? And hardly anyone came. So, we want you there. And I think we're going to have one in September. So, we'll keep we'll keep you posted on that date. And as we get more into making these town halls happen,
056um we'll be having them more regularly so that the community can feel like, hey, you know what, this district, this board, they're listening. They want to have interactions. Um we look forward to that. So, thank you. Thank you. The next item on the agenda um is our REA report and would you like to welcome Dr. Martha Thomas to the podium. Good afternoon, Madame President, governing board members, Dr. Boro and our executive team. We put together a PowerPoint presentation for you as promised from last month of a number of different events that we've done. So, we're going to go straight to the PowerPoint. Um, this is the Roosevelt Education Association. We recognize we're recognized by schoolboard policy as the sole representative for all district employees and we are very proud of that. Um I am the
057current president and currently am a social worker at Bernard Black. Um some of the wins that we've had over um when we meet when we do meet and confer with our district um we work directly with our elected officials from both parties. We um successfully advocated for more than a billion dollars in new funding for education and as a result the average teacher salary in Arizona has increased by $11,000 in less than a decade. Um those are some pictures of both REA and AEA members outdoing the work um that it takes for us to to get all these wonderful things. some of our accomplishments from our meet and confer. Um Nate, if you can um make it a little bit larger, so I can see. I can't see if some of you can see up
058there. Hopefully you can um as we work with um through our meet and confer OneStep for all employees um was what we came to an agreement with. Um we also in with um in partnership with our district increased there was an increase of $3,000 in salary um to the salary schedule for teachers and coaches. an increase for exceptional student services teachers between $2500 and $5,000, an endorsement compensation um of $2,000 for certifications for high school math and high school ELA and science. We also had a pay increase for for um the following groups, par profofessionals, transportation and trades. Um, we also had staff reassignments and procedures for reduction enforce per our policy implementation. And that was as we were going to um basically close down our five schools and and reassign all that needed to
059be reassigned. Um, we saw that as a win for us because that would that meant no one was going to lose their job. we would just get reassigned. Um profession, we also have um professional environment working conditions investment for employees. So those were some of the wins that came out of our last year's meet and confer and we're looking forward to our meet and confer um for this coming school year. Um election season, we do a lot of work um when it comes to elections. um whether it's canvasing, whether it's meeting one on-one um with congresswoman um going down to the capital supporting and um speaking up for those bills that need our educational support. We do a lot of that. We also had a community forum um for members and that was really successful.
060We had quite a few people that showed up for that. We also um do work at the delegate assembly. Um this is where all associations come together and all members are there representing their associations and their associations throughout our state. And so we get together, make lots of decisions, attend workshops, um, and elect officers also for the Arizona Education Association. We celebrated our classified staff. Um, we had um, we also had a workshop that was specifically for classified staff who wanted to attend. We also wanted to um show and congratulate our transportation department because they did on their own make majority status. So they have and they were the first group to do it. So that was really nice. Um, in celebrating our certified staff, we have um a number of different certified staff, whether
061it's teachers, social workers, counselors, um, a number of different people. Um, and so we try to do different events to celebrate them as well. Um, at one point we were asked, okay, why don't you just do it together so that everybody's together? Um, unfortunately the calendar doesn't allow us to do that. And um both groups are special and unique in their own way. And so we like celebrating their uniqueness. Um so we do that and we do that yearly um for each group. And then we also had our retirement dinner. We celebrate our retired staff from Roosevelt. These are a few of our staff that retired this past year. We provide a formal um dinner for them to attend. We welcome anyone who would like to attend. Um many of them will invite their families
062so they come and and celebrate with us and share their thoughts and memories and their contributions to the district. So we also do that yearly. And then we did our last event that we just um completed was our new teacher lunchon. Um we had approximately we started out the year with um or we ended the year with 347 members. We had our new hire event. we got approximately 75% of those people to um apply to be members. So we are now at 387 and that's with we're there's still a few more that are we'll say in the system um that we haven't counted. So right now we're at total altogether. We are at 39% density for the for the union. Um, and we are looking forward to visiting different schools with A.E.A. and checking in
063on anyone else who would like to become members who haven't had a chance to be members. Um, we were really, really excited for all of those who have now joined us and we look forward to anyone else who would like to join. So, we've had a busy first part of the year. Um, but we're looking forward to and and we know the elections are coming again. So, we're getting ready trying to get all that energy together so that we can get ready to help everybody. So, that is my report for this month. Any questions? very exciting to hear that 70% of the new staff have joined REA. We love working with you all and so I think our wins wouldn't be possible if we didn't have the relationship that we have with you. So, thank
064you. >> Thank you all of you. The next item on the agenda is 4 point. Can y'all hear me? Barely. Maybe. Everybody just looking. Okay, thank you. Everybody's just staring at me blankly. Okay, that's better. Um, next item on the agenda is item 4.04, reinventing Roosevelt. I will pass it to Dr. Portio for an update. Thank you, Madam President, members of the board Roosevelt community. Um, we have had this reinventing Roosevelt um, presentation that we started um, also this year um, to continue to keep the board and the community updated. Um, we also have um, reinventing Roosevelt community updates that we record and then we also make um, available and we push them out to our um, our parents through our um, app. And we do have an advisory committee that also meets with me
065um and supports me to uh make decisions and then they keep informed as well so that they can uh spread that message throughout the community. So um the first slide that we have up here is our update. agenda. We'll talk about facilities, a little bit about transportation, a little bit about the repurposing of buildings, um meet the teacher night, first day of school, and then our next um upcoming bond projects. So, um let's start out with um facilities. So, when we talk about facilities, we're very excited to report that Sunland is up and open for business. So, and uh Sunland had a tremendous um jump in enrollment um in the last few weeks. Um we uh had both Telmundo and Univision on campus capturing the reactions of the students, the parents, the staff as they
066came in um for their first day of school. And um actually I think it was uh um Demundo who did their weather forecast um out of the the campus throughout the whole day. So they were there um so we got lots of coverage throughout the day. Um staff expressed how much um they like the spaciousness of their new facility. Um I I was there um pretty much the whole middle of the day um as well. So staff was coming up to me. They express how much they they love the just the newness, the the modern um building. Our youngest students were so excited to play on that playground. It's a cool playground. It's also um underneath the second floor, so they don't get um burnt um at all. Um most of the campuses had indoor
067rees but they got a chance to do outdoor reces because they had their their newly designed um uh playground which is uh underneath the second floor. Um then the uh older students they were excited because they got a chance to um they were raving about first of all middle school and the middle school wing but then also they have these different open spaces. Um, so they were able to also do indoor um, board games. Um, just hang out and talk and chat. And then on the second floor, there's two bridges that are also covered. So um, our principal and assistant principal were um, running outdoor um, active games with them up there. So they were also undercover. Um, so they were also able to have outdoor recess um, and um, spend some energy there. So
068it was great to watch them. Um and then also uh just like moving into a new house, any new construction, there's um going to be as we live in the building, things that we need to improve, right? So, you know, they also came to me with some things that they need to improve, which I was able to pass on to the principal, he's also collecting um that list so that when we have our regular meetings with the builder um and our architect, they're able to respond to those and they have been very responsive um thus far. I want to do give a shout out to our um food services team who also delivered um water um to our kinder or our younger grades because though that playground is fabulous to be able to have cold
069water you have to go inside the building and um you know they were outside the building. So, um they did deliver that in the meanwhile because we will be adding um cold drinking fountains around the playground space um outside so that they'll be able to to drink the water for out there in the future. Um and also across the entire district, our operations team um led under Dr. Battle um but then also I know she has lots of people working hard and to support are tying up loose ends to ensure that they address any remaining uh furniture or technology needs ASAP. um as we combine campuses and then at our non-combined campuses, there's just things that we we learn every year to do better. So, they've been um addressing all of those um as we
070receive them. Um just want to make sure we um touch upon that it's been incredibly hot right across the whole nation um here in Arizona especially in our district just to give you perspective has more than 900 air conditioning units plus a chiller. So with 900 air conditioning units and that chiller um uh we have a lot when it comes to air conditioning to take care of. So, the facilities department um has been um providing preventative maintenance and support for all of those units. However, some units have gone down throughout the summer. So, as we've received that, we've um been uh responding to it the best we can as a district, but also recognizing that we had budgeted money to be able to reach out to different um air conditioning companies. um we are competing
071with them um fixing our air conditioners just with the rest of the county who's also um competing for people to um to fix the air conditioners. So um as soon as we're able to get them uh fixed um they're getting fixed, but um meanwhile the the principles have been able to manage um moving um children andor staff to other parts of the building that are cooler. Um, so we've been able to manage it within our campuses without having to move our students anywhere outside of their campus. Um, to be able to continue to be in a comfortable space that's also healthy for them. Um, then when it comes to transportation, um, it's we know that um that the bus routes for the the year have been uh released. They were also updated um and they're
072available on the reser uh on the Roosevelt School District website. Um they uh have the most current um pickup and drop off times and locations. Our transportation team is working to respond to that u huge jump in enrollment that happened over the last few weeks, which has definitely complicated planning. um and then listen to the feedback from families and schools um as they're refining their routes, their processes, and then revising um staffing as needed. Next, we have uh the repurposing of the buildings. So, this month um we'll continue our efforts to repurpose our district buildings that um were already um vacant pro previously and that that became vacant um through the re the consolidation of schools. So um u Dr. Dr. Battle and I met with our consultant um to uh continue the discussions and
073um the uh consultant will be meeting with our communic uh community engagement um department um our communications department to review the ideas that we discussed um develop a timeline, a visual um that we will then be able to post on our website and start communicating out to community regarding the process of how they might express um um interest if are interested in um in um perhaps uh becoming one of our tenants. Um also uh we are having him respond directly to those that have already expressed interest because we're wanting to make sure that we have a a transparent process for that. Um and he will um also uh uh in within this month he's been um sending his professional team into the buildings to start taking pictures and professional videos. Um and then also reviewing
074existing data and studies that are already done in South Phoenix. So we already have identified some needs um that are in South Phoenix that might be a match for the facilities that we have. Um but he'll be meeting with community members within that existing neighborhood also to elicit from them their input um as to what they want to see in their neighborhood um in that in that building. and we had meet the teacher night. And uh meet the teacher night is a yearly tradition that we have in our district, but also it was especially important to um have a great experience at meet the teacher night at those um combining um campuses. Um so let me see here. Sorry, I wasn't advancing on my site here. um families had the opportunity to meet their new
075teachers. Um again, we were able to maintain the teachers that we had. That was a promise we had to our community. So, we were able to maintain the uh the the teachers that were here prior. Um parents got the the opportunity to tour the school uh be begin forming those connections that they hadn't already during all of the different um activities that we had in the spring. And the evening was just really warm and exciting. It was it was fun events. Um I was able to go to um uh three of them and I know the rest of our exec team we split up so that every one of of the campuses received one of us um visiting and I saw um a couple of you there too. Um we're just grateful to the families
076and the staff and the students who participated um and that are are uh welcoming each other, you know, as new um classmates and as new peers um and then also for the community for the support that they provided us. And that brings me to the first day of school. So again, a very meaningful milestone, but especially for those that were attending the schools that um that were combined um for all of our schools, but especially those schools. Uh the receiving campuses, I can't say enough how um hard the principles um of those receiving campuses have worked over the summer um to get things ready for the kids. Um they have uh they and um the rest of the operations team have really um responded with um care. um the schools are ready. Of course, there's
077hiccups here and there and they're but they were absolutely welcoming. Um and then um those uh friendly greetings in the classrooms. I mean I tend I visited mostly kindergarten cuz I was a kindergarten teacher but also cuz you know they're the cutest ones. Um so I I you I walked mostly through those kindergarten classrooms and they were just amazing. Um I'm so proud of of what I observed in our classrooms and throughout the school in general. And the last thing that I wanted to talk about is the bond project. So, um, our reinventing initiatives are of course a lot more than just the cons consol consolidation of schools. We're reinventing when it comes to instruction, when it comes to our financial practices, when it comes with to communication, our board practices, our governance, all of
078that. Um, so as we transition to future reinventing Roosevelt updates, they'll focus more so on. We're going to trans transfer away from the consolidation of schools um and in the next month start talking a lot more about um about strategic planning about our other efforts to improve learning um specifically for our English language learners and our special education students but for all of our students and then also talk more about our upcoming bond projects. Um, so speaking of the bond, as you know, our community was very generous last uh election when they um passed a $150 million bond. Um, I know REA and other parent groups and uh community groups really helped us to get that um bond passed. Um, so I wanted to announce um Oh, and at upcoming projects will be shared with
079you in much more detail, but I did want to announce two uh big projects that are going to be paid out of this bond. Um, and I think that you'll be excited to hear as well as our principles be excited to hear that there are two new rebuilds um, paying paid out of this bond will be Irene Lopez and Chavez. Um so again, more information will be um forthcoming regarding that schedule, but know that our bond sales will happen this fall and then we'll start doing our preliminary planning and then um our architect competition will take place and that's all that I have. Um Madame President one great microphone up here. Um, Madam President, um, just to go back to the transportation question for a second, um, knowing that there's, you know, a lot of
080new enrollment and combining schools and we're rerouting, you know, changing those bus routes. If I am a parent who has questions or concerns about my child's bus route, what is the appropriate way for me to get that resolved? Do I go to my campus? Do I go to the district? Who am I going to to be able to fix that issue? Um, so parents that have concerns have um communicated them through the app. Um, some of them have come to the district and I know this morning there were a couple of parents that spoke with our transportation director. Um, also um should they have concerns that they want to share with their principal, those are routed up. Um, the transportation department, the director um, uh, reports directly to uh, Dr. Battle. Um, so Dr. Dr.
081Battle has also um had opportunity to engage with different parents. >> And with something like the app, do we have any sort of way to track or data on responses to those concerns? Cuz I just know with any of those messaging apps, we get the messages in, do we have data on this message was responded to, this concern was resolved? Like how are we tracking that those messages have been um addressed? So, in general, when um communication um comes through that app, then when I have my one-on-one with our communications team, they they give me a summary of them, but they do uh route them to the appropriate um director who is responsible then for being the first person that responds to them. If they're still concerned, then uh Dr. Battle might get involved or
082if they're still more concerned, then it comes to me. Got it. Thank you. So you're saying that they respond directly to the parent, whoever has the concern, whichever department or person is routed to. Is that correct? Is their response to the parent? >> That's the process. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions or comments? I would just like to say I know that we did holiday schools and it's hard and we're working out the kinks. Um but give us a little grace and we'll work through them and um and keep our word, but keep holding us accountable. The next item on the agenda is item 5.01. Um is the approval of the consent agenda as we share mics. Um is there a motion to approve the consent agendas items 5.02 through 5.11 as presented? >> So
083moved. >> It was move motion by Dr. Franklewoods. Is there a second? Second >> and seconded by Miss Pena. Any discussion? All in favor say I. I. >> Motion carries unanimously. The next item on our agenda is our board evaluation. As a reminder to the community, the board is committed to evaluating ourselves quarterly as a as a way to remain accountable to our roles and responsibility. Today marks our third evaluation together. Um, thank you to all the board members who submitted their evaluations in advance of our meeting. I've compiled the scores into a spreadsheet and we'll review them together focusing especially on the sections where there was no clear consensus and I will also share my screen so that we can see the questions. Oh, I can't. Actually, Maria, can you share your screen so
084I can look at the data because I did not print that out, please? Okay. I need two screens. >> Yeah, but I also need to see our Thank you so much, Nate. I appreciate you for getting me together. Okay, so for the vision and the goals, we all were in alignment or majority of us were at 825. So I'll go into the next one. Well, I guess for context, let me just give a little bit more context because some people might be saying this for the first time. So, basically, in order for us to move to the column, so it starts on the left. So, for example, the board has not adopted goals. We have the board has not consistently demonstrated the ability to distinguish between inputs, outputs, and outcomes. We have the board has
085not hosted opportunities to listen to the vision of the community during the previous 36-month period. We have. And so you move on to the next column. So if at any point if the board has not if we have not um met any of the the statements per per se um we can't move on to the next column. So we are here in the green at 25 points. So we're meeting outcomes focused for the vision and the goals. So the next one is the values in the guard rails. So the board will in collaboration with the superintendent adopt adopt guard rules and for this one we were in alignment with the 10 and that means we are meeting student outcomes focused. Um the next one is monitoring accountability. The board will devote significant time monthly to
086monitor progress toward the goals. And so this one I would like to ask you all to replay the tape over the last 3 months and let's reflect on our own leadership. Um and I'll go first um cuz this one talks about the owner versus customer service. And so for me, when I got the message this morning that ICE was at one of our campuses, instinctive I'm like, "Oh, I should go." Like, "I should go over there. I should respond." But that was a customer issue. That wasn't necessarily an owner issue. Um because as the owner, we set the or as the owner, I set the policy. I'm using my eye statements, but as a board collectively, we did it. But I as as the board as a board member um voted to approve the policy,
087our immigration policy and so we have our our policy there. So it wasn't my role to go over there and be part of the customer service piece of it. So that's an example of of when I stayed in my lane um and I didn't um impede in the customer service. So, I would just like you all to take a moment to reflect to see if there's any opportunities um where you feel like um you've done some owner versus customer service or you stayed in your lane or maybe you stepped outside your lane. Um so, I'm just going to ask you to stretch yourself a little bit. I think for me one opportunity we've had as a board is um especially with all excuse me all of the financial audit pieces that have come up because
088I think not that it's tempting I don't want to do this but like it's tempting to say hey we have an audit coming in so I as the board member need to go through every line item in the audit and double check every number and also when I'm not qualified to do that to um you know We actually have an a state auditor who does those things, who is checking to tell us whether or not they are on track. Um, and making sure that as a board member, I'm focused on our role as ensuring that we have systems in place and monitoring that progress is being made um on the timeline that it's supposed to be made. Um, and confirming that that work is being done, but not necessarily being involved in each step of
089of that workload. >> Thank you. Okay. So that with that particular question um there was no consensus. Um so so here we are trying to get our consensus. Um President Haj, can I name something that I was incorrect on when I put in my score? >> Yes, ma'am. I had thought because I was looking at our last meeting. um our last meeting we had spent 30% of the time of the total board meetings in um monitoring our goals. Um but when I look back over our last three meetings we had not spent um 25% of our last three meetings. Um so we had it would have been like 17% 13% and then 30%. So if we averaged that over our last two meetings and granted some of that was like it's June, it's July, we're
090not looking at a ton of academic data. So I'm confident we'll trend upwards as we get into the school year. But I think for me I had just made the assumption I looked at the just the last meeting and not the trend of the meeting. So that would put us um minimum in terms of or sorry maximum in terms of the points at a 10 not at the 20. So I had incorrectly calculated that. >> Wait. So did you just just so I understand did you do 10 or did you do 20? >> I dropped us from 20 to 10. >> Okay. >> I said 20 but you know I might have some some data wrong or I might not have all all things >> correct. Um I thought we were meaning everything but if
091if we weren't I'm okay with going down to 10. >> I think we were in just if we look at just the last meeting we were spent 30% of our time in just the last meeting. If we look at the last three meetings it's more like 22%. Okay. because we had June and July in there where we weren't spending a ton of time in student academic outcomes because it was summer and we didn't have fresh data coming back. So I think we will cuz when we have fresh we when we have that data we're spending a lot of time in student outcomes but I was looking at just the um just the July meeting and not the um May June and July meeting. >> Okay. I I think going for 10 I'm okay with that
092too. >> How do you feel about that? >> I agree. I I um gave us a 10 as well just for the sake of consistency. And yeah, it's great that we reached the the 20 the 30, but I would like to see that consistency throughout the months and so I wouldn't give us the meeting, but approaching it is is a good start. >> Yeah, I do think we're trending upwards and I think especially um kudos to our board president and the superintendent for setting the progress monitoring calendar. Um we're going to have that regular pro progress monitoring. So I'm confident we'll be looking at data regularly going to see a lot of Mr. Oo the next uh next year. Um so I think we will be in that space but we just had those two
093months where you know May and June we just didn't have a ton of data coming in. >> Okay. So then we landed at a 10. Thank you ladies. Um and the next the next one is communication and collaboration. And there was a consensus. We were at a one for that one. So, we're approaching student outcomes focused. Um, and I would just say the thing to get us to the next column is our board policies. And we're going to review that during our retreat this month. And so, we'll go through all of the B policies during that time. And so we can move to the next column um for our next eval. Are there any questions or comments about that? Okay, moving on to unity and trust. Um for that one, there was a consensus of
094a three and it looks like we moved um from last the last time we did our eval. So, great job. Get rid of three. The consensus was a three. And then the last one is continuous improvement in that one. We were at a consensus as well for three and I believe we moved up in that area as well. And I think actually Maria printed our last one. We have the last numbers as well. So yes, we did improve. We had us at a one for unity and trust and a one for continuous improvement. And I want to say a one for communication as well. Okay, so communication we didn't move, but the last two we did move. So great job. And our total score for this eval is it's a 52. We still didn't pass,
095but you know, it's okay. Um It does matter. It does. Well, we improved. So, we the when we did our first evaluation, I want to say February, we had a 37. Um, and then we did again in May, we had a 38 and now we have a 52. So, we are making improvements. So, great job team. Um, and it's out of 100, too, by the way. All right. So, the next one, um, before we move on, Dr. Just a also a huge shout out to the superintendent and the exact team because a lot of this involves like a ton of collaboration between the board and the exact team and we could not get that done without um the support of the team. Okay, so the next one um I think there wasn't a lot of
096consensus on this one. Okay, so this is our our governing board evaluation instrument and it capture all of the things that are not captured in our student outcome focus governance evaluation. Um, and so Let's see. So for the first one, the financial. So it says the board reviews and established district policies that help ensure proper budgeting and compliance with applicable laws, rules, and UF USFRs. And so the consensus was a two. So the board has plans in progress to review and take necessary action related to this item. Are there any questions about that one? Okay. Um, there was a consensus on the next one. The board approves a budget that would provide the necessary resources to properly manage the district finances. Um, and for the third one, the board is accountable for ensuring that the
097district funds are properly expended. So, it was half and half, two twos and two threes. Um, I can go either way. we are on the board is accountable for ensuring that the district funds are properly expended. My case for the two is that while we are still engaging with the you suffer process that I think it is prudent for us to put a two. Um and then once I think then the exiting out of that process for me is the like graduation to the three that we can say yes we confidently the state has said we've got this in place we confidently know we have this in place. Um, but I think it would for me it would be premature for us to do that until the state has signed off that we have and
098I don't know if that's true for everyone's from everyone's perspective for all three of those categories, but to me this ties back to those financial audit pieces that we've been talking about. >> I'm okay with bringing it down to two. I think that's that's the right way to do that. We were threes over here. Y'all were twos. Um so two it is. Um the next one is the board approves a budget that will promote high quality educational educational programs without compromising the district's long-term financial health. Um we were in alignment with the two on that one. Um the next one is the board keeps the community informed about the district's financial needs and there was not consensus there. Um, it was a split vote. Goal two is over here and three is over here. Um,
099I could explain to a three in terms of the communication piece because I think that that is separate from the policies and procedures as opposed to the like communication of the budget. Number four or five. We are only number five. Keeping the community updated about the district's financial needs. I'd like to Oh, Madame President, um I know that we we keep our community informed at the board meetings, but I'd just like to see different communication channels um where our parents, our families that don't attend the comm community, the our board meetings and are not virtually, how is this communication get like getting to them? Um so I'd just like to have more conversation about that. So, >> so almost like the um the launch of the newsletter that we were describing. So like once that's
100launched that would feel like hey more people are getting access to that information. Okay I'm back at it too. Sorry. >> I'm happy to come down to it too. >> Dr. Portio would like to say something because I feel like there's some communication to parents. I don't know what that looks like though. >> Yeah. Well, we've been sending um the communication to the parents in the superintendent um I'm sorry in the board um board recap meetings. So after every meeting we and since we've been talking about it here, it's part of every recap um the videos, but the guardrail number one specifically addresses that and that newsletter is going to now not only go to parents, but we're going to do a mailer mailer to the community as a whole. So all the residents of
101South Phoenix. So it'll be even more transparent. But again, it'll be only one insert within the broader newsletter. >> Dr. Is there is there data in to this like newsletter and what that's being sent like is are these being open like are they sitting in junk mail and spam? >> So um not recently. So um years back we used to send a a quarterly newsletter to the community. um we scaled that back to two a year and then none because of the cost and the number of um returned mails that we would receive um from our from our um families that actually live here and then um the residents of course we would get even more. So we're we're attempting it again. I know we've been doing a lot of work even in our reenrollment
102process. It requires people to reenroll with the actual address um that they have every year. So hopefully that'll cut back on some of those return mails. Um so we we don't and we know that um the mailers are expensive, but also as we did our polling for the override, we discovered that a lot of non-parents um didn't have a whole lot of knowledge of the district. So that was another piece of data that that prompted us to to try this approach. So, it'll be two a year and then we'll also send it through um through our um digital um to our parents or or contacts that we already have. Um and then also um it'll post on the website. >> Dr. has something to add um with our our meetings and I know we we
103did start making those changes of make it much easier to find the recordings of the of the meetings but I would still recommend that like when you get to RSD page and you go try to watch the live video you just see one screen and then when you click play sometimes it's the last meeting sometimes it's the meeting prior to that one um you find the actual meetings on our YouTube page but you have to go search on the YouTube page So I think if we're if we make it easier for the community to find that that will also show like hey we have this completely trans because it's great that there's the the board updates that are being done but some people really want to get to think they want to go in and
104see okay what were the actual presentations so if we can do something about that I think that will really help out too I can go to a two I don't know two or three two okay and then to your point we do have a system. I mean again it's about the processes and I know that our board meetings will start being posted on the next day. Is that correct? So the recordings will be posted to our YouTube channels the following day after our board meetings. Um and so thank you to our IT team for that. I know this is a a different lift and a transition. So we appreciate you posting our videos on YouTube. All right. So Oh, did you want to say go ahead? just wanted to make it that's the collaboration between
105um communications department and IT team. So they're they're both working on it and then also I could say that there's room for both both departments to collaborate more. So we've been bringing them together and they've been taking that opportunity themselves. So so they'll be on there and if any teacher wants to offer extra credit for watching the district board meetings that would be another opportunity collaboration. >> Watch it with your parents. Let's get creative. So, thank you to our communication team and our IT team for the work that you're doing. All right, so we're going two there. Um, the next one, the board reviews existing policies at least once annually and are also on an as needed basis to ensure compliance with applicable laws. We were all over the place with that one. Well, no,
106there was a one one, couple of twos, and a three. I guess technically it was a two if you want to do that. But I think that this is an opportunity for us to have a discussion. I know that we've been talking about policy and how we don't want that to be on consent agenda. And so I've been very mindful about not putting policy on consent agenda so that way we can have discord and we can talk about it which is one of the reasons why we viewing some other advisories during our um study session coming up and we will have our attorney present too so that way we can ask questions um together as a unit. Um, so I do want to name that, but I can go I can go either way. I
107think what is true is there was a lot of policy review that happened in the fall just as we were cleaning things up and trying to make sure that like you all didn't have to come on and like the first thing you did was like read the handbook because that was awful. Um, and so I know we did just clean up a lot of things that had not been updated or where there were multiple versions of the same policy or just like things that were really outdated of like the district's policy on like Walkman's and things that had been there. And so I I do think that that happened. So like for Ashley and I are or Dr. Dr. Hud and I like our experience of hey it was updated annually probably does feel different
108than both of yours because for you it has not been annually and for us it has been and so that timeline of like within the last year does feel different and so I I think the like setting the calendar for that policy work feels important. Um the other thing I'll just say and I know this came up for me in the um board eval is I think what we have not we we did not get to last year and I know we should do is I think as a board we need to talk about what are some of the policies that we want to keep as a district but move out of the board approved regulation and move it into like the superintendent or HR handbook like they do not need to be board approved
109policies things that are like an HR manual type of thing but are not a board approved approved policy or what are some of the things that like what actually are the board approved policies and what are the things that like nobody's saying we shouldn't do this thing but is it a board approved policy or does it yeah does it go into the HR manual or does it own then by the superintendent who can then respond or change or adjust as needed when circumstances arise. Um, I think that's something we haven't talked about as explicitly, mostly because we were trying to like clean up the really archaic policies. And so getting to some of the ones that are like what is our definition of what's a board policy versus a non-board policy and then pulling out
110some of those examples, I think that's something that's worth talking about as well. >> So you're saying a deep dive of all of our policies, not only our B policies. I'm saying defining what we say should be a board policy and what should not be a board policy and then what is our plan to review our existing policies and say these should be board policies these are board policies and we should keep these as board policies and then these are the ones that are not board policies that we should review at some point in time cuz I think right now what I don't know from our board policies is like I don't know that I confidently could look at our board policies and have the same answer as everyone of like this is a board
111policy this should not be a board policy does that make so what's our criteria for what should remain a board policy I think that's what would be helpful for us even if we don't get to the actual policies I think setting us up to do that work later on would be helpful to align on uh B1 correct Okay. So, I'm looking at because what I'm hearing from you, uh, Megan, is I feel like you're um more on with two. The board periodically reviews existing policies to ensure that they are relevant and are meeting the needs of the district. I kind of feel like it's more that. Yeah, I gave I gave um a three for number one because I was just following the directions. It said the board reviews existing existing policies at least once
112annually and also on an as needed basis to ensure compliance with applicable applicable laws. I I agree with what you just shared right there. I think we should put that with number two because I think that's where it fits more appropriately. And and with number one, I mean, I'm I'm I I don't know how it could be more picky because it's not really asking us to do that on number one. So, I just that's why I gave it a number three for that. So, I don't know. >> No, I I do appreciate that cuz I do think we get a lot of good updates like when a legal change comes through, we're notified in a timely manner. We have access to our attorney. I feel like we've been updated on a regular basis when there's
113been changes in the law. So, I appreciate you making that distinction and following the directions. I didn't hit it. Madam President, I actually scored a one rated a one just because I believe that they're at least once annually. I like I don't feel comfortable with just visiting the policies once annually. uh maybe like twice just because I mean I don't know changes can happen so I'd like to revisit them like maybe twice a year like maybe in the fall and the spring just so we are staying up to date and I mean things change statewide federally and just how can we stay up to like following the state statute and yeah any like things that are being passed I think to just push on that a little bit though is like the as needed basis
114that's where like the notifications from our attorney and from ASBA and from other groups come is not that like we're monitoring all of that, but that like we're getting notifications from our attorney from state groups saying, "Hey, FYI, there's been a change to Title 9, so you need to go look at your policy." Um, so I do think the like as needed piece of when we're receiving that notification because oftent times we're getting it from 10,000 people being like, "Hey, just a heads up." So, I I agree with the like maybe like what are the policies we want to review more regularly and like what are the ones that we know we're getting consistent communication on from our attorney or what are the ones that we you know get those regular updates on that we
115don't need as as regular communication and that might be more like this year or this season like hey we want to keep reviewing our immigration policy because we know that's going to come up regularly. our other policy on like attendance is not coming up regularly, so we can do that one once a year. I wonder if that's a way for us to be able to balance. >> Yeah. And there's also a lot of policy advisories that we'll have to review in the next I don't know like next year. I don't know. There's a lot there's a lot like literally there's a lot of policy advisories that we may have missed. And so now we're trying to be a little bit more proactive so that we don't miss them. and there's like a slew of them
116that I'll have to go through and figure out which ones are priority um for us to review. So, we do get notification when policies do change, but it's our responsibility to make sure that we're reviewing them. Um and we do have a lot of policies just in general. So, to look at them twice a year, it's a lot. That's a heavy lift. It's a heavy lift. Um and I I'll seek any support in anyone who would like to help like to help. So, where are we landing? >> I appreciate the point because it's not should we review them more than once. It's do we review them at least once. And so, I would say I agree with Adana. I would put a three for that one. And then uh the way we the way we
117look. Okay. Okay. So, tell us more. What's your three? I think we review them annually and then we also review them on an as needed basis. I think it's so like we either do it or we don't. >> That's I mean that's fair. >> I feel like we have a different read in that handbook in a study session last November and we're going to do that again this year. So I feel confident saying that we've reviewed all the policies and I do feel confident that especially with our attorney that we're getting regular updates on hey policy advisories things like that. So for me that when I feel confident I feel much lower for number two or lower for number two. >> How do you feel about that? I'll let you be the deciding vote my
118dear and I'll go whatever you want. Do you feel comfortable more comfortable with a two? Okay. >> Are we okay with going with the two? >> There's there's another opportunity. Well, after after our study session, >> we can confidently go >> after our study session, we'll be confident, and that's this month. >> Now, y'all create your own rules. Okay. >> But after our study session, we can confidently say that we review policies. >> And that's this month. >> I'm going to move. >> I can go for I can go for a three cuz you're right cuz it it's >> it's literally on our basically says at least once. I was pushing for twice, but we did preview it once, >> so that's valid. >> Oh, okay. Well, thank you. The next one we already talked
119about a little bit. So, are we landing at a two or one? Um, and that one is the board per periodically reviews existing policies to ensure that they are relevant and are meeting the needs of the district. >> I say it's two. It's not that we don't review policies, it's that we've haven't reviewed all of them. So, I don't think it's that we don't review policies. >> I agree. And then I'd like to also just add focus on like procedure, too. So, it has a like every policy has a good has a correlating procedure so our staff and our and our leadership can follow and feel supported. >> I really appreciate the feedback that both of you gave that um because that helped me see that uh question a little bit differently. So I agree
120two would be the appropriate number for that one as well. Okay. So two it is and then the next one is about our accomplishments and our strengths. Um are we pretending? I'm just kidding. I mean we made significant growth on our previous eval and I think like the amount of time we've been I would name like for for myself the thing that I think is a win for the district for us and for the exact team is the amount of time we've been spending the amount of time we've been spending in academic monitoring and the quality of the questions that we've submitted and for the executive team like a huge shout out to the amount of like pre-information we've gotten prior to the communication so we've been able to engage in those questions But we've
121also gotten a ton of information before the meeting started. Um, and I think that we've been able to say, "Hey, when am I going to ask this question and when am I going to not ask this question?" I think that that's it has felt really smooth in a way that I know we've been building to over the last year. So, I think that's just been a huge win. >> I had a question about this one cuz um I think we're very very proactive on this. I just want to understand if this is talking about us as a body or if this is more like feeling that everyone individually is okay. Okay. Are there any additional strengths that that we would add? I would say we're committed like we're committed to the random meetings and the
122non-me. And I appreciate you all for um being willing to meet um this month three times and I think in June we met like three or four times too. Was it? Yeah. So appreciate y'all for being committed. Um okay. And so the next one I'll kind of lump those in together. the strength and the accomplishment since the last month is the desired improvement. Where do you all think we need to improve as a board? We kind of talked about our policy review. Are there any other opportunities for improvement for us that you all can think of? Madam President, I would just like to first express my gratitude to like just the board the amount of study sessions and um board retreats and just opportunities to come together and just discuss um issues and and also
123celebrate what's happening in our district. So I'd like to continue this momentum and improve like not that I want to improve it but just continue these board retreats and I know that it does take away from the time with like the progress monitoring but I think the investment also in just us learning how to move together as a board co cohesively and getting to know each other and what we expect from each other as well um I think is very important. So I I give us a a two or a three. I think a two um sounds good. We I mean we we always have room for improvement and I think a lot of the things that we are needing improvement or that's what we put into these trainings and so um yeah I think
124it too would be okay for that one. Um I think for me one thing I'm thinking about um connected to some previous board experience is also the idea of you know we saw in this meeting we had four board members submit questions that we really should have five board members submitting questions and thinking about how in our retreat we really worked together as a board to say how are we kind of all coming together around um that commitment and for any board members who are struggling with that like how do we work through that all together because it is important that we're all engag engaging in this work together and making sure um that we as a board are presenting that united front especially as we're getting into the next school year and really setting
125that expectation that this academic work is our primary focus and so um I think just having an open conversation about that um as a board at our study retreat and just saying what do we need to do what needs to be true for our board to engage in this work what needs to be true for us is it systems is it communication how do we make sure that we're engaging in this work um both individually and as a team I know for myself there's commitments I need to make to be able to engage in this work better and more directly in terms of my preparation. How are we all kind of making those commitments and being clear about what we need? Um, and I think that that's we just have a real opportunity at the
126beginning of the school year to be able to have that frank conversation about like how do we set as a board ourselves up for success. Um, and how do we communicate transparently like what we need to be able to engage in those conversations. Okay, I was trying to make a note for our board retreat agenda um to add the individual commitment. And what I can say too is is I try to if there are missed opportunities or board members aren't present, I try to make sure that they still get the information. Um so whether it's like a one-on-one with our coach. Um so I do try to make sure that we we are giving the information um to each board member. Um and I'm happy to report that we all will be present at our
127retreat. Um, so there's an opportunity for us to have the conversations about even about how do we move to the next column, right? How do we set ourselves up for success? Because I think there's one where all board members have to set submit a question and we can't move unless we all are doing the work. And so I think that we'll have an opportunity to talk about that together collectively. Um, and so I did I I will add like individual commitments. Um, and maybe I need to add our um our board evaluation so that way we can be explicit and talk about how do we move from from one space to the next. >> Yeah. And just to add to I think like for myself, I know like I want to make sure for myself
128that I'm showing up the way I want our team to be able to see. And I know that there have been months and weeks where I have been less prepared than I should have been for a meeting or for a set of questions. as Maria knows because she knows when I send my questions in. Um, and I think that like that's probably true for all of us in one day or another. Um, and just making sure that we're setting the team up for success as well. So, definitely I am I am the problem. It's me. >> Oh, no. No. I'm the problem, too. The the amount of phone calls and text messages that me and Maria had today. H I was like, we'll get better. We'll get better. So there is um opportunity for me
129as well to improve um my preparation but it's a lot goes into this um okay any other opportunities for improvement. Okay. >> Oh go ahead. >> Yes. Um so I just want to commend the board um for modeling this transparency and this reflection. Um you know we our push this year is understanding that I individually I'm the genesis of change right collectively we are but we have to look inside first and hearing you all and going through all this is an incredible model for our district. um from the board, you know, then the executive team to our principles to our our all of our directors um and all of our different department. So, thank you for for that model. Okay, so now that we settled on a what was our score? It was a hold
130on what did I say? 52. So, do we vote to approve? It's already been motioned, so I already been second for us to talk about it. Do we vote to approve our board selfie vow scores? Is there Oh, I guess I already did the motion. I guess it's all in favor, huh? Yeah. Okay. All in favor of us approving our board evaluation, um, say I. >> I. Motion carries unanimously. The next item on the agenda is item 6.02 or the last item on the agenda I should say. Um is item 6.02 board policies and administrative. Um is there a motion to approve item 6.02? And so basically what it is is to appoint a board member um to be the ASBA representative in the alternate. May I have a motion please? So moved. >> Has
131been motioned by Dr. Frankle Woods. >> Um quick question though. Um does this include who the board member is? Oh, not yet. Okay. >> So basically we have to do a motion for us to talk about it and then once we once we do the motion to talk about it because just because we motion doesn't mean we approve, right? So we have to do the motion then we can talk about it and then at the end we vote to approve who we appoint. Second. Thank you for the clarification. You're welcome. And it was seconded by Miss Castro Coro. All right. So, um, so this is a recommendation for us to select a delegate in an alternative member to attend the Arizona School Board Association delegate assembly on September 6th, um, 2025. And you can, I
132don't know the times, but you can, um, attend remotely as well. the public school revenue boards that are a members of ASBA selected representative and an alternate to attend the yearly convening at this community representatives will determine ASBA's political positions on issues determined to be of interest to governing boards. So Maria has graciously printed out copies of um the political positions for each of us to review individually. So I don't know if you guys can locate the document. It is someone with the ASBA logo on it. >> Okay, everybody has it. Okay. Um, so similar to our board evaluation, because there are a lot of different positions, I didn't want to eat up our time discussing them individually. So, we'll do the same. We'll review it individually and then you can send me the items
133that you want to recommend or that you want to amend or change or you don't care for it. um and let me know and then we will talk about them during our September board meeting and come to a consensus and then our representative and our delegate will have that information um for the September 6th meeting and I will pass it to my madam vice president so she can share her experience from two years ago. She had the opportunity to go and represent us. Yeah. So, in a nutshell, all of the school boards in the state of Arizona send delegates um a variety of delegates and there's one voting member, I believe, from each school board and there's sometimes multiple delegates there from each school board, but one voting member and essentially we're going through each
134of these proposed items and it's a really great opportunity to be able to hear great discussion from a variety of school boards. Um people are able to share very much like our public um uh public comment. So individuals will come up, share public comment, share experience from their district on each of these individual issues. Once public comment on that item ends, um the individual districts will vote. Sometimes they'll propose an amended item. Sometimes they'll propose a completely new item. Um so if you think about it as a board meeting with public comment from the people who are voting in the meeting, um it it's a really interesting and spicy event. um if you like nerdy schoolboard stuff. Um and it was really good to just be able to hear also um from other school board
135members and some of their perspectives even um on issues that I agreed or knew I disagreed with people on to hear more about their specific experience. Um, for example, one of the things that I learned a lot about, more than I expected, was um the challenge of uh specifically busing routes in northern Arizona um that go through federal land um and the challenge of getting some of the transportation routes because of the funding of federal land versus um you know, state land or tribal land. So, that was a whole big issue that they were trying to get funding for that I just had no idea doesn't impact our kids, but it was something that they needed additional support with. um and things where hey we were having a specific issue here are other urban districts
136seeing that same issue how are they handling it is this proposal the right one um and it was just a really great time so these are essentially like not necessarily binding resolutions but when ASBA is lobbying they will then lobby or kind of speak for these positions so it's like how are we influencing the position of ASBA so I I think it's a really great experience if you get the chance to do it um just to be able to be in that space and hear from other board members um and really to connect with other board members across the state who are in the same experience who are you know have some of that board experience and to be able to hear their perspective on a variety of different um different issues. >> Do we
137know the time that this will be taking place yet? >> So is it like my guess is this is an all day thing cuz that's a lot of policies. I remember it being like 9 to 1 and then it ended early >> and then it ended whenever we were done going through all the items. So we I think we ended earlier than 1 and they fed you breakfast and lunch at the JW Marriott. It was lovely. >> So basically you have to decide who would like to go and then have a second in place. I'm interested. So, I would be interested too. >> I don't know how that would work. >> Who wants to be the representative and then who wants to be the alternate? Cuz I think it is a great opportunity for two
138of you to have the They both can go. >> I think they can both go, but only one person then the voting primate. >> So, who wants to be our voting person? But y'all will be there together. >> Rock, paper, scissors. Rock, paper, scissors. >> I I don't know how passionate you feel, but I'm a nerd for stuff like this, so I'd love it. Yeah. And maybe we can swap next year possibly cuz we all will be on the board still next year. So maybe we could do one of you be the representative this year and then the next one is the representative and vice versa. I don't know. I could be the al the alternate. Are you sure? >> Okay. Good. All right. So we are voting to appoint Miss Pinga as our delegate
139and Miss Castro Corel as the alternate. Um is there any further discussion? >> No, I graciously step back from this opportunity. >> No, I'm like I don't want to. >> I learned a lot to have that same opportunity. >> Yes, we love learning opportunities, professional development. Um okay, well now we will vote. All in favor of our representatives and our delegate say I. >> I. >> Motion carries unanimously. Um there's no information discussion, no executive session. The next item on the agenda is adjournment. >> Dr. Ashley Haj, I apologize to interrupt, but back on action agenda item 6.01, there was a motion. So, I do need a first and second and then all of you guys did vote yes. >> We did do a motion. I thought we did do a motion. I think it
140was Dr. Franklewoods and Miss Penny that did that one >> for 6.01 >> for the eval. >> Yeah, we had a conver Yeah. So, we have to we have to do the motion and the second first and then we have discussion and then we can vote on the item. >> Okay, perfect. Thank you. >> Thank you for interrupting me. I appreciate that. listen cuz I'm like, "Hey, interrupt me and make sure I get you because she's so what she's doing in real time is she's documenting who's doing the motion and who's doing the second so that our minutes can reflect it now." And so that's part of Robert's rules and we should have been doing that. I should have been doing that and so now I am doing that thing. Um but I asked for
141a little assistance in case I missed the mark. So thank you. Okay. So having concluded this meeting, is there a motion to adjurnn? >> So moved. >> Um a motion has been made by Dr. Franklin Woods. Is there second? Second by Miss Castro Cora. Are is there any discussion? All in favor? >> I meeting is adjourned.