001I'd >> like to call this meeting to order and we'll begin with the pledge of allegiance which I'll lead. >> I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. Thank you everybody being here. Looks like we have a pretty decent crowd tonight. Appreciate your uh sacrifice to be here this evening. I know there's a lot of things going on in the month of May and this is just one more of those things. So, thank you for coming tonight. Uh we'll turn the time over to our superintendent so that we can get some recognition awards. Thanks. >> All right. Thank you. Sorry about that. Uh technical difficulties. Um we want to start with one of
002our favorite parts of the meeting, recognizing our May student of the month. So I think uh we will start with Miss Butler. Come on down. Can Michael Codlesie come up? Here's Michael. So, do you want to look at the audience or do you want to look at the board? It's up to you. >> I'll look at >> Okay, we'll talk to the board. There's less people, right? Okay. So, I had a couple people do some words about Michael and then I added some at the very end. So, Michael is a friend to everyone. He has a way of bringing people together. He's generous, kind, conscient conscientious, and attentive to others. He's also very thorough, and hardworking. Um, I added that he always has fun dress up costumes for every dress up day. He's so spirited.
003He has lots of school spirit. Um, he brings a joke of the day. So, does it do you come like a couple times a week? Yeah. >> To do our joke of the day. So, our student council does our joke of the day and him and another girl come and do a little joke and um it's cute because someone has to give him a little cue. So, he says he says the joke and then he waits for the because we don't want to give the the punchline too fast, right? So, she has to give him a little okay, now you can say what the the answer is. So, he does a great job with our joke of the day. He is also on our student council. He's the vice president there. So we're grateful for
004all he does to to serve our little elementary school. So Michael Cladalesi, you know, Michael, this Michael, this doesn't take Hey, Michael, this doesn't take unless you give your mom a hug. And I think I know where he gets his uh dressing up for costumes each day because I think his mom might do that as well for every spirit day. I I was going to ask dad Mark. I was going to ask how big this closet is full of costumes, but we'll we'll save that for another time. All right. Uh Dr. Johnson. >> Hello everyone. Um the student of the month for the junior high is Bryson Goss. Do you hear Bryson? I don't see him. Something must have came up, but I'm going to say nice things about him. Anyway, um and uh one
005of the things I want to mention about Bryson, um in case you haven't noticed, uh one of the things we do at the junior high is we try to pick students of the month who are those really high achievers, but also try to pick those kids who are making, um huge gains. And and I think it's important that we recognize students who engage in our after school programs and, you know, get involved and want to do extra and they they make these huge gains um and get that real growth and you can just tell it's they're on a totally different trajectory in life. Um and Bryson Goss is one of those kids. Um he came to us from Globe and uh had some really low foundational skills and was really struggling, but he got involved
006in the afterchool tutoring, after school programs. Um and he's done a really good job. In fact, he went from, and I don't want to, you know, his grades were a struggle. Um, and he's got straight A's and B's all the way from wondering if he was going to make it. And so, I think it's really important to recognize kids like that that make a conscious decision with them and their family to say we're going on a different path. So, I wanted to recognize Bryson Gus for uh for for his efforts, and I wish he was here. Looks like Mr. Grace is passing it off to Miss Penrod tonight, huh? Uh, the high school would like to honor Faith Weissy tonight. Faith, can you come up, please? Let you stand on the X. Okay. Faith demonstrates
007what it means to be hardworking and respectful. She always has a positive attitude and treats classmates and staff with kindness and consideration. She also works very hard at her job outside of school. You can see her often in the community, working hard, always has a smile on her face. Um, and I appreciate that she'll always speak to you when she sees you. So, that's fun. Fun to run into her out in the community. Faith, dedication, responsibility, and respectful behavior are much appreciated. So, we enjoy you having you as a student and appreciate all you do. So congratulations. >> Thank you. >> Awesome job, Faith. Thank you, Miss Penrod. And it looks like we're going to have a redo for uh our junior high. Come on up. We We just said some amazing words about you.
008That was exciting. But now we want you to make sure and hear them. >> Yeah. We we'll say it all again for mom and dad. Um gosh, word for word, I don't think I can do it, but I'll do my best. Um Bryson came to us from from Globe and was really struggling in some foundational skills and struggling in his grades mightily. I hope you don't imagine me telling that because the good news is he's a straight A student right now. Practically, he's got I think one B. He's doing really well. Um, and it's really important to recognize Bryson because he has made some decisions in his life and in his academic career that are send him on a trajectory that I think he's going to be shocked at all the amazing things he's going
009to do. And I think we should all be really proud of him. I'm proud of you, Bryson. Thanks. >> Congratulations, Bryson. And we're we're glad to have you here tonight. All right, we got uh Coach Kluff with uh quite the eclectic outfit on tonight. He's going to recognize our athlete of the month. >> Thank you. Could we have Kaden Edentine please come up? >> I'm going to read I'm going to read what uh Coach White had to say about him. He gave me a write up in an email here. You can see it's legit. He really said these things. So, Kaden Edgington is being recognized for an outstanding um month of April for Blueridge baseball. After missing the first month of the season due to an injury, Kaden put in the work to get himself
010back on the field and quickly become one of the team's leaders on the mound. His determination and work ethic showed in in the way he battled back and competed every time he stepped on the field. In April, he started four games, finished with a 2 and2 record, had a 1.8 erra. That's an earn run average right here. and 38 strikeouts. Cadence's hard work, leadership, and dependability have made a huge impact on the team and set a great example for those around him. He was also honored for the region pitcher of the year as well. So, did an amazing job. Kaden had a a pretty serious injury this year to his back and he wasn't able to do all the things that he wanted to do. And one of the things that you see these kids
011struggle with is they they want to play so bad as they come back before they're ready and they ended up hurting themselves a little more. Kaden was super patient. Uh stuck with his coaches, had a whole workout planned for him when he got ready, got back in the weight room, hit it hard and then came out and did a great job for his team and is a leader on our campus. We love him. We're real grateful for him. One thing that we've started doing this year, Kaden, is we have a challenge coin that we give to all our athletes of the month. And the idea behind this is this is going to bind you to people, athletes all throughout the years um in Blige. And it's it's a it's a pride thing. It's an honor
012thing and an integrity thing to have this challenge coin. You have one week to memorize the quote that's around the outside by Ella Willow Wilox that says, "There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can circumvent, hinder, or control the firm resolve of the determined soul." And one of the things I want to challenge you to do is there's people that have their coins. You have to keep it on your person all the time. And Mr. Rolloloff is a coin holder. So, if you get the chance to challenge him, let's see if he memorized the quote. And he still has it. So, Kaden Edington, please give him a round of applause. Thank you. >> Awesome job, Kaden. Uh, you know, we're glad to have great representation of student athletes each month as well. The
013next person we're very excited to honor is an one of our amazing elementary school teachers. So, is this Miss Butler or is that Mr. Robinson coming up? All right, Mr. Robinson, come on down. Miss Butler, team effort. So this is Rita Willhid. She's in her second year with us. Uh she came up from Tucson. Uh 22 years in education in Tucson and now is with us. Uh team says this about Rita. Arita has a Rita has worked tirelessly t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t t tutoring her students before school, during specials, and during recess in order to assure their academic success. She has a great sense of humor. Rita brings unique ideas to her team. It is a pleasure to have her
014on the BR elementary campus. Congratulations, Rita. >> Thank you. >> I'm just going to add to that. Rita always has a smile on her face. She's so positive and happy and kind and she has a really great way of connecting with children. She cares about the kids. She makes sure that they feel loved and cared for and accepted. So, we're so grateful for Miss Rita Wilhight. >> Thank you, Miss Will height, for all you do. Um, next we are going to do our employee of the month. Uh, Mr. Grace, >> I don't see Selena here tonight. Um, so I'm going to say what one of her co-workers uh sent me about her. So Selena is not a person of many words. And the uh Miss Jesse, who she's an aid in her class, is also
015not a person of just a whole bunch of words. But Selena is a person that works really hard for our district. She works in our self-contained sped at the high school. Um, she has worked with transportation, she has worked with maintenance, she does summer maintenance, she's kind of a person that's just always around. Um, so Miss Jesse writes that Selena is a caring co-worker who always puts others before herself. She will step in to help whenever and wherever she is needed. Even when dealing with her own day-to-day challenges, she shows up and puts the kids first, helping us think of fun foods to cook on Fridays with the class. She works hard and is willing to step up whenever a co-orker needs help. So, Selena Alex. >> All right. And next, we would like to
016recognize our May volunteer of the month. Um, so here we come. Looks like uh Miss Butler and Miss Yanos. >> All right. We would like Miss Lesie Inglehard to come up. Miss Inglar was a foundational teacher in our kindergarten for years and years and we were so grateful for the service that she had there and she's been helping out with our EL program this year. So, we're going to let Miss Yanos tell of all the beautiful things that she's done this year to help our school. >> Okay. to understand how great a volunteer I got this year. You need to understand the big problem that Lesie had two years ago. She had to retire and she's like, "What am I going to do with my life if I'm not teaching?" So, this is her passion,
017what brings happiness to her? And it's just uh great to get to experience that in my classroom have somebody that with a smile just wants to help and that's her moment of happiness and giving and the kids do ask for her if she's not there and just great to have you. So hopefully you continue with the problems. You help me more. Sure. All right. Thank you. That's always the best part of this meeting. It goes downhill from there. But we appreciate everybody that comes and uh is recognized for their efforts, especially the volunteers. That that is an impressive thing. So item uh number two on the agenda is a consent agenda. And uh if there's no objection, I'd like to take item 2.11 2.11 and uh vote on that independently if that's all right with
018the board. >> All right. So I have a motion to from >> Yeah, I'll move move to approve the consent agenda as stated with the removal of item 2.11. >> Okay, have a second. >> Second from Bridget. Okay, all in favor say I. >> I. That looks to be unanimous. Thank you. Okay. Item 2.11. Um, superintendent recommends that the governing board approve Alex Stevens for the head football coach position and approve a behavioral interventionist sorry position at the junior high school. The behavioral interventionist will support inschool suspensions and assist with administrative duties at the junior high. And I would just like our football coach to come up so we can embarrass him maybe. your sister. >> He does have uh his his mother is actually on the board here and she's so proud of that
019little granddaughter that u we're glad both of them are here. >> Can I just add one thing? >> So, this was posted on the agenda this week and Alex came to me and he go he goes, "Am I a head football coach and strength conditioning or am I now a behavior interventionist?" cuz I don't know about that. >> I was nervous for a second. >> Well, we're excited for you. This is a new big step in your life and we're excited. Any board member have a comment or uh >> question. No, Jack. >> I I would like to say something if that's okay. Um, you know, as we move forward with Blueridge with the pursuit of excellence, um, we interviewed a lot of folks and there was one person that really stood out. I'm excited
020for the future of the blue of the Blige football team. I'm excited with the link to the past and I think we got the right person who's going to be leading our team for the next generation of Yellow Jackets and I think we're going to do some amazing things. He did ask me if he was going to be given some grace from if he the expectation was a state championship. My answer was yes. The expectation is a state championship, but we're more concerned about the process because not all of our kids are going to play in the NFL, but all of our kids are going to be members of the community. Uh oh. And and we want great things to happen, but it's about the process of getting them there. So, we're we're excited about
021Coach Stebons joining us. >> Congratulations. Alec, how old are you anyway? >> 34. I just have a question. Anybody can answer this. When the legend Paul Marorrow started here, he was like 25. It was his first job out of college. >> He worked at >> Yeah, he went that young. >> He started when he was like 25, but he was the head coach. Yeah, he was a little older. >> So, you got a whole career ahead of you and we're looking forward to it. Excited. I'm looking forward I got to coach Alex when he was a little younger and I know what kind of intensity he brings to the to the program and so I'm excited about that. I know he'll hold kids accountable. That's what we need and I'm excited. >> Thank you. >>
022Looking forward to >> So we need a motion then to accept item 2.11 as presented to us. >> And can I before we motion, can I make one other clarification? Um, and it was stated on here as far as the behavior interventionist position, which is not Alex. Um, >> oh, >> that we stated it that it would be for an inschool suspension and that that actually is not going to be the priority because we want to get the kids back in class. We want it to be someone who works with our kids and gets them back in the classroom as opposed to an ISS monitor. So, it's going to be someone who continually works gets to know the kids and works with them on behavior. And this is not a new position. This is a
023classified position that we are um moving from the elementary school as one of the out of the classroom uh support positions that we had. >> Are we just voting on it as a position? >> Yes. So, we don't have a person they haven't interviewed for that position yet, but this will be per um someone that Dr. Johnson doesn't have an assistant principal at the junior high. And we we really want to make sure as we move forward with both our yellow yellow jacket profile and as we're evolving our mission and vision and working towards excellence that we want to make sure our kids have that constant support and without buying Dr. Johnson two pairs of roller skates to be roller skating down the hall supervising teachers helping kids and just get them a little bit
024more support in that out of classroom position. So the motion needs to be amended to exclude the in the U behavioral interventionist position. >> I think I think we keep I think we keep it as that we're approving the position not necessarily. Yeah. For it. >> Yes. Correct. We're Yeah. To change the position from an elementary aid to a >> junior high behavioral interventionist position. And my one clarification, it's not a person yet, but it's also not the inschool suspension focus that we have listed on here. So, I want to make that amendment. >> Understood. Everybody understands that we're approving the position from the elementary to the junior high. We're approving the position, but not Alex in the position. >> Alex is not. >> He's grateful for that right now. >> All right. So, can
025I have a motion as stated? >> Uh, I'll move as stated. >> Okay. A second. Second, >> second for Margaret and Sylviana is recusing herself for the obvious reasons she's grandma. So we all in favor say I. >> I. >> Are there any nays? All right. Thank you. That looked to be unanimous also. >> Good luck. >> All right. Good luck. Next item on the agenda is 3.1 and this is to consider amend if desired. Uh we have a whole list of things. Mr. roll off. I'm going to let you take over here and give us our options. And after the options are explained, and we've uh perhaps discussed this with our attorney somewhat, uh then I'm going to open it to the public since this is on the agenda. I'm going to open it
026to the public for some brief uh comments, positive or negative or whatever you would like to feel uh to help persuade the board in one way or another uh uh before we make a vote as a board. So, Mr. Rolloloff. Well, thank you. Uh, one of the things I think uh, as we look towards possibly um, adopting a resolution for a bond and override tonight is I think this has been almost a year-long process since I started and, you know, we were able to identify right away that we need to fix some things and get some things up to date on our main campus here especially. And um and then when we look at things like employee wages and the override, we want to make sure our employees are getting more competitive so they're not
027leaving us because as much as you know they love Blige and they're committed to Blige, we also want to make sure that they're it's it's not a temptation to move to another neighboring district because they get paid so much more. So um I don't think anybody on our campus is looking to become a millionaire. We do have Jim Gil here who's our um legal counsel who will be helping us out with this. And so he drafted resolutions for um a $50 million bond as well as a $30 million bond which are included in the packet. Um I think um you know Mark Reer from Stiffel did a good job of really breaking down those financials as far as $11 a month versus $8 a month for those two amounts. Um, and then the uh override
028as well. Um, they talked about the 15% being an average of $6 a month and the um and the 10% being an average of $4 a month, but that was for a $100,000 valuation versus like the average price in the district. So, as we looked at these, um, some of the ideas were that if we have 60% or more, that's a pretty strong support from the community. Um, all of our things, uh, all of our questions on all of the components that we've been discussing. We've discussed them in many forums. Um, had a couple study sessions here. You know, we've had our superintendent advisory committee where we've talked about it a lot. And I think ultimately some of the things that have come out of that is we have a technology integration committee which I'll
029talk a little bit about that Mr. Neil led where I don't think people are necessarily because we understand that technology is a part of life now but I think it's important that we pull it off the bond because of the push back we've gotten and try to see and but I do want to give credit because some of the strong voices I want to give credit to Nathan Neil you know Britney Hamlin's on that committee and several teachers joined in the committee and community members and parents and so what I think we're looking at doing what the committee is recommending is that for for K2 kids were going to a lab. So, they're reducing their amount of screen time, but they still get those technical skills. It's just a very limited um uh I'm sorry,
030that's K through two. Uh 3 through six. I think we're going to continue that discussion on 3 through six because we want to put time limitations for what they're using and how they're using technology. Um and then 7 through 8 and 9 through 12, they have some classes that are pretty technologydriven. So the administration and teachers will leave that based on the class, what they need to use the computer for, but then we're also going to have some limitations on things they shouldn't be using the computer for, similar to the cell phone policy where we outline that more. So I'm I'm recommending that we pull the technology piece off of the bond and we focus on infrastructure and safety. With that being said, our administrators are really good and and um one of the things
031that we'll be looking to approve is Courtney did a great job working with administration and really being wise with our money and as you guys probably know the cost of a lot of things are going up right now. Um the cost of computers are also going up and because they're wise with the money, they're going to be able to purchase the staff computers and and re refurbish those if we approve that in a couple items from now. But we thought pulling it off the bond and being wise with our money and being able to purchase our staff computers because those are things we really couldn't wait for another two years for the bond because our computers are pretty old. And so I got to credit uh Courtney and the rest of our administration of being
032really wise and efficient with our money this year so we can get our staff updated on computers. And then as our technology committee continues on to make decisions with community members, parents and teachers about, you know, what research is saying and what's good for kids and bad for kids in technology, then we'll look at purchasing student computers later, but completely pulling those off the bonds. But based on the survey, um overall everything was was very strong. the lowest support was for um the student technology and even that was 67% but we feel like that that's something that's important that we listen to the community and we work with the community that's something they didn't want on the bond even if it's only 33% so we want to pull it off and make a collaborative decision
033with them. Yes. So, it seems, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, would you say the majority of we got about 260 270 responses that the majority of those were probably parents? Because we obviously we have our our marquee out here, >> but I know we also send email and we have social media. I'm and I'm so my nervousness is that the the people who we kind of guess are not going to would not vote for it didn't probably fill out a survey because they're probably not on our social med on our on Blige social media because they probably don't care. Um, but they but they're going to care when it comes time to vote and and I and I'm wondering if there was a I I I mean I don't think that's going
034to sway whether or not we we try to go for a bond or override it at this point, but I'm just worried that the numbers are kind of skewed to people who have kids in in the district. >> Yeah. And and I I think you're probably right on that. And I think um you know, Mr. Gil and I actually had a really good nice discussion that was informative on surveys and polls and really what their usefulness is and you know he's he's been around for a while and so he knows and and I think some of it more so than the strict percentages as you look at the comments that people leave and and those are the things that we really need to address and I think we've done a good job with our forums
035and meetings and at least allowing everybody to have a voice so that we can look at addressing some of the issues because some people speak on behalf of themselves and some people speak on behalf of a broader co coalition and I think putting our plan together and um you know on how we go about things I think is important but yes you're 100% correct that we do not know and it it probably is leaning more towards people who have a connection with Blige I do know that some people shared it out on broader social media um But yeah, we didn't capture necessarily everybody in the community, but the people we did capture, >> it's it's a positive sign. Yeah. So, for sure, >> and it was anonymous, so we don't really know, but I think
036that's probably a safe assumption. Um so moving a little bit further when we talk about the higher level bond versus the 50 versus the 30 at 11 versus 8 a month. Both of those had the 74% support on the survey. The the higher level bond was actually had 61% were very likely compared to the lower level bond was 56% likely. My recommendation on that is I think the bond in 2016 and I I wasn't here for any of that, but my understanding was is there is there was a proposal for a more comprehensive bond to fix these things um a little bit deeper and at that point in time they went with a little bit lower bond and and seeing some of the repairs that were made. I it feels like if you fix one
037system and don't fix the system next to it. So if you're fixing the HVAC and not the electrical next to it, if you have electrical, you know, the systems work off of each other. And so my thing is is I think fixing them together would be a better long-term solution for so the systems can last longer. And so we're not going back to the community in another 5 10 years and needing to fix both of them now because the one wore on the other more. Um, that's that's my personal opinion and that's based on some conversations I've had. Um, but it's it's really up to you guys. And I think as far as the override, too, the override even had a lot stronger um support than the bond, that was 86% for the 15% rate
038and 84% for the um 10% rate. And it feels like people feel like if we're going to do it, then we might as well do it at a level to where it's gonna get the job done instead of doing it at a partial level and still be looking to fix things and and have more room to work. But I and so Mr. Gills here and like I said he he um prepared resolutions for both the higher bond rate and the lower bond rate but he also said if there's >> somewhere in the middle >> rate somewhere in the middle that we want to consider and approve then that um that that would be okay too that he can prepare the resolution for that and then for the override he prepared a resolution for 10 or
03915%. So it's really up to what we want to do. I would strongly me recommend based on all the conversation conversations that we had um talking to the community that we fix it right for our kids now and for moving forward for a generation of kids so we're not back here in 5 to 10 years that we just do it the right way and we go out for that and we let the community decide. But I think I I feel strong indications coming from the community that they want our school to be a place of excellence and I think when we can achieve that. One last thing and I'll I'll open it up, you know, if we want to open up to public or discussion here. I think going on the tours was really good
040and we didn't have a ton of people turn out for the tours, but I even think it was good for me because as we got into the guts of the school to see some of our electrical and plumbing systems that are working, they really are on their last legs. And so I think getting it down to the studs and and getting some of these components that have been here for a while that are, you know, we have um water pumps that are leaking in electrical rooms and that's just like to me that's okay. We can't have our our maintenance guys in there standing in water fixing electric. That that seems like a bad idea, you know. And um you know I know some of you guys were on the tour as well. But uh I
041I just I I think if we're going to do it, we got to we got to do it full instead of doing it half speed and being being here in 5 10 years again. That's my recommendation, but I'll I'll leave it up to you guys. >> Question I think everybody has in their mind is what do we get for 30 and what do we get for 50? Kind of a ballpark. Um what can we do with the 50 and what can we do? What minimums will we make it 30? >> I I think the the the biggest thing is we need to replace the HVAC systems. Um no matter what I think what happens then is you when you talk about some of the electrical you will replace the wiring but not the basically the
042grid in our school that has obsolete parts because we wouldn't have enough money to replace the grid. And so if our electrical systems failing and shorting out, once again, that might affect the life of our new AC units, we wouldn't be able to affect um the full plumbing system with some of our old pipes. We would have to and then are we pumping rust back through our system and seeing the cooling towers and seeing what the rust damage has done on in the corrosion and how the cooling towers are starting to leak. So what it would be more is that we would be half fixing systems and keeping like the heart of the electrical system which is an old archaic system. >> When you say the electrical system you're talking about like controls the control
043mechanism. And so if we look at like the AC, the cooling towers, the boilers, the controls that seems to be a total of about 24 million for a like that are HVAC related expenses. Is that about right? >> Yep. Okay. Is that is that kind of what you were looking for, Dave? >> Yeah. And uh in the 50 or the 30, is there enough money to to address the settlement issues at the elementary school and uh the parking lots? Courtney, shake her hand. >> No. >> Well, the parking lot is an adjacent >> this parking lot and the drainage and all that. So the parking lot is an adjacent ways thing and Courtney can talk about that because last summer we fixed the elementary school parking lot and so that's something if we can fix
044with adjacent ways. We don't want to go to our community and talk about the bond. But part of that is I think if if we can approve the higher um higher bond amount is if we go and kind of for lack of better words strip things down to the stud. some of the things and the drainage into the parking lot deals with things that are going on on the roof and bigger issues where if we can do a more comprehensive reform and and possibly figure out a solution to redo the roof that that would help the drainage into the parking lot and then that would also assist our parking lot situation as well. So when we talk about doing things, we're talking about a little bit bigger scale and doing them right. So it's not
045you're not still having a roof that's like a danger zone that would drain into the parking lot and just cause more issues um to to move on to the override. Are there any other questions about bond? I have a lot of questions, bud. >> Let's let's stick with the bond questions in >> um and and I just need to just ask these real quick. Which uh building six is which building? >> Um I don't have the financial pieces in front of me. >> I think I'm assuming that's the main gym area. >> Um yeah, I believe that is right because this was building one and then 2, three, four were the portables. Building six. There you go. New gym if you can. >> Is building six. And then building seven would be >> the old
046gym area. >> Yep. >> Yeah. Okay. Just cuz it says like locker room renovations, which I thought we had those already renovated in the old gym. >> So the the financials, the locker room and the bathroom renovations are grouped together. So if they're already renovated, we wouldn't renovate them again. >> And then um building nine and 13. That's >> So building nine is the front of the high school and building eight is the back of the high school and the auditorium. >> Okay. >> And building 13 is the junior high. >> Okay. Okay. >> Most of the money from the last bond went to the junior high to make it habitable again. >> I went and asked him for it. >> It's basically the same as this, but it's >> So on the facility costs,
047where is the elementary school? It's not very >> So on the bottom line since the elementary school is a great unknown um the bottom line is so we we really don't have a plan of action until we find out what's going on beneath it. I believe that they had put 300,000 in the estimate for just the facilities to assess it. Mr. Bosley actually has a a project that's going through the school facilities division that we think will be able to address that. But also in the facilities, the total price was 47 million which didn't leave the money for the school buses. And so with the school buses in there, that would be one of the things that we wouldn't add um we wouldn't add that. We that would be one of the things that we've
048talked about that when the school facilities division pays for it, we would not have to get that money from the bond to pay for it. That would be one of the items that we would look at replacing. And so with the 47 plus million on the facilities assessment that they were looking at, we don't anticipate needing that because the buses alone were going to be like 6 to 7 million. We're hoping that some of those school facilities division projects come through with Mr. Bosley and the elementary schools, one of the big ones, but we don't we have no idea how much it'll cost to fix that. And if it's something, honestly, we're hoping the state would pick up the bill on that. But if not, that's something that we will come back and come back
049to plan B once we find out what's going on. But there's only money allocated in that um to assess it. But we think that's that that's actually something that the Mr. Bosley will be able to get the school facilities division to take care of. Um sorry >> the in one of the lists that we had from earlier um classroom finishes and then general trades renovations. Do we kind of have an idea of what's in those two categories? >> So yeah on the classroom finishes basically as we talked about you know our our carpet is more worn in some place than in others. So what do we want? It's basically floor walls >> like cosmetic stuff >> and ceiling. Some of it's cosmetics, but like the ceiling as we went through, some of that's a barrier,
050too, that helps, right? Insulation and and and other things, durability and and flooring is one of those things that you need to replace every so often. So, yeah. >> And general trades renovation. >> Um, general trades, I think those were for some of the areas, just updates in the trades areas, the the um CTE classes, just getting those up a little bit. We didn't put a ton into the general trades areas. It's mainly and there's not even a ton as far as when you consider the cost of the bond into the classrooms. >> But I think what we can what what our idea is is is if we're doing electric once again if we're doing some of this doing it more stripping it down to the studs and then we can run the wire put
051new walls and put new ceilings. And I think the ceiling grid and just kind of the mismatch ceiling grid that has happened over the years between the original school, the addition and some of the like and you know where there's a wall in some places in our schools like in Mr. Grace's office was one of them that we pointed out on the tour where there's a wall that splits a light fixture. So there's there's just some construction things that I think taking it down to the studs and um rebuilding it so you know you don't have to go to your neighbor's office to the back of your neighbor's office and flip on a light. There's not a wall that splits a window where you can reach in behind your neighbor's office. Some things like that
052that have been done through the years where we can put a wall maybe where it needs to be and split those things up better. >> I have a couple questions. Um where do the sprinkler systems what does that fall under? What category will that come from? >> Um well that would be that would be with all of it. That would be both with the renovations between the safety and the security and the renovations. Um it would fit under both of those. And on the tour that was another thing that noticed and I'll just I'm sorry to go over this again but the narrative a lot of the places where the ceilings have been built in they're actually above where they cut out a hole in the ceiling tile but the sprinkler sits up above. And
053uh Taber is who's works with our local Timber Mesa, he was along with on the tour and he said those sprinklers are not effective. They're they're not going to be effective because they're up above the ceiling tile with a hole where the water could just come out that one spot. And so that would be part of the whole renovation that includes safety security on the ceiling tiles. It would be redone to make sure that we're up to code on that. >> And just a nosy question, Bosley, do we have a water treatment? Do we have a mini water treatment that treats the water before it runs through everything to help with all that corrosion on all your stuff and stuff >> as in for potable water or as in the HVAC system? It in which
054way are you asking? >> I'm talking about your HVAC system. Do we have >> There is some filters that yes are in line and yes, we pull them once a month. Uh, but the corrosion is always there. It It's just always degrading. But yes, ma'am, we do have filters that we use to try and filter out particulates throughout that HVAC loop. Yes, ma'am. >> That's as close as we get to water treatment. >> Uh, yes, ma'am. >> Okay. So, if we did later on have the ability to use wellwater, is that something we're going to need to look at? >> So, I think those are we're talking about two different things, right, Mr. Bosley? >> Yes, sir. So, um, because the water that goes through our HVAC system also has chemicals in it and so
055making sure that that is so I think the biggest problem with that is more of the corrosion of the pipes going through and stripping off the corrosion and even though they have the valve where they release it, corrosion still gets through it. It only helps so much. um going to a well, yes, we have to have a well inspector come out and make sure our water levels are where they need to be and um and make sure our water gets treated appropriately for human consumption, that it's potable water. So, and th those are a little bit different, but they're similar categories with making sure our water is doing what it needs to do. >> Thanks. >> Any more bond questions? Um the and and John knows this, but um I'm I'm very I'm just concerned
056that if we ask for 50 million, we'll get nothing. >> My thought >> and I'd rather get something. I just don't have a pulse on what the outside of the school community where they're going to fall on this. Yeah, I have a a similar concern and especially if we ask for an override at the same time, we're asking for two things. So my question is if we were to secure override, how much of those funds that we have existing in the overriding in our budget, could we take care of some of this stuff like buses possibly and uh not >> none of the override would be basically for teachers class sizes. I thought maybe it free up some money somewhere so it could be used. >> So the reverse would be true where if we
057if we're able to pass a bond that'll eventually free up override money. How would that free I'm sorry. Thank you. That would free up M because if we replace the AC units currently our AC units are six seere we would be replacing them with 16 SEIER AC units. So, we would be saving about $100,000 a year on um electric bills just from the AC units. So, the bond would actually but that would take because even if we pass a bond in November, we'd probably be looking at maybe starting construction that summer of 2027. And so, we wouldn't see those AC savings for probably another two, you know, at least another year and a half from now or two years. So, but the override only will last four to six years, right? Where it starts tapering
058off after that fourth year. And um so if we were able to pass both the override and the bond, the override would kind of get us through, but then hopefully some of those bond savings we'd be able to use wisely. And so then if the override tapers off and the community says, "Look, we supported you. will support you now, but then when the override tapers off, we expect you guys to be more efficient with your new resources that we're giving you. I think that's a fair thing to ask for. But once again, I don't think we'll see a lot of the bond savings on our um Money for probably about another year and a half, two years before those construction projects come to completion. >> Are you done? >> Go ahead. I was just thinking
059since we talked that the last time we had I think we had three levels that we suggested and we knew with the first one that all we were going to do was like stop things, stop the flow of everything decaying at once, but we weren't going to get that far ahead and so we didn't consider that. And then the second one gave us more to work with because at the time we didn't think the feeling in the community would support the highest one. Um, it would have been nice because then we wouldn't be in such dire straits now, but it did give us a lot at the time, but we don't want to approve something that's just going to stop what's going on and eventually slide backward, especially if we didn't get an override. So,
060if you can explain an override so it doesn't sound like a bad thing. >> The funny thing to the public, >> the math works. the math asking for 50 mathematically is the thing to do. It doesn't it it it's it's not as big a jump. I mean, if we're already going to go 30 that they go to 50, I mean, on your taxes, it's not that big of a jump. >> I'm just worried that people aren't going to look into that and just see, oh, 50 million and go, no. >> Well, I think we need to say, you know, how much it's going to cost people >> and what you're going to get for it. >> It's in it's in the resolution. >> Yeah, exactly. And so I I think you bring up a couple
061good points, Margaret, where I I would agree that one of my concerns is is that if we went for a lower amount, we'd be able to fix things >> halfway. And I think >> and I think that's what happened in 2016. And I think some of the things that I'm hearing now, right, wrong or indifferent, were that didn't we fund that in 2016? But I think since the lower amount was agreed upon, it wasn't a comprehensive thing. And when you have two systems working together, I just think if the one's not fixed and the other one is, it wears out other one. So like your engine and transmission are both both going bad on your car and you fix your transmission and not your engine or vice versa. It's going to be maybe that's not
062a great example. I don't know. No, it is. >> Maybe my mechanical knowledge >> 2006. No, >> excellent example. >> Um, and so I guess my thing is my interpretation of the 2016 bond is it did some really good things, but here we are 10 years later and going on the tour, we were we're in bad shape with things and I think inflation's only going to continue to go up and >> yeah, between the time if we passed it with a lower one and actually spending it, >> it's going to go down. what could have been passed for 30 million I think in 2016 I think going for 15 million >> the problems have come back up and they're they're here pretty strong I think that's why I think going in for the more amount
063I think if we do the lower my opinion is and I'll respect whatever we decide tonight I'm not going to be upset and I'm going to do I'm going to keep showing up and doing my best job I can every day no matter what no matter if we don't pass the bond you know 30 million 50 million or 120 million at our full bonding capacity. Whatever whatever we decide to go with, I'm going to keep on doing my best with the resources we have. I just feel like if we are going if we do the 30 million, we might end up going back to the community in a few years and they're saying, "I thought we we just fixed it." And so, I think we're going to be battling the narrative one way or another.
064I think getting out there right now and knowing what the narrative is and explaining that to people and this is our our path to excellence. I I would and and you know we're not asking for the 120 which is where our bonding capacity >> that's that that should be in our literature. We're not asking for 120 million. >> There's a lot of districts >> your thing went off. >> Yeah. >> And there's a lot of districts that go in Arizona that go for their full bonding capacity and once they start writing the bond off the books they try to recover those amounts right away. We have no bond money right now. And but once again does that matter to the voters? Maybe not. Some people might just be nos, but I think, you know, we're
065willing to help people out, educate the community, and I and I think most of the feedback I've gotten is pretty solid, even from people not connected with the school district. But, you know, um, whatever you guys decide, I I'm I'm going to, like I said, I'm going to show up and do my best and try to make Blidge the most amazing place no matter what we do. and I'm willing to put in the time between now and the election off the clock and you know >> did the did your advisory committee kind of come up with a number that they kind of thought of? >> Well, we we went back and forth between the 50 and the 30 million and there was some um one of the comment was made well what if we do
066the 30 million and we see if we can trust that the 30 million is being spent wisely. And the answer that was given was similar to the answer we just talked about because if we have to do things we're going to go back we're going to have to go back soon for another bond versus really fixing it down to the um systems level where you know we know it'll be good for this generation and probably a whole another generation of students where you know this building was built in 1963 and if you know our HVAC units are 30 years old right now I think we should be able to get a few classes through brand new because hopefully the techn I don't know. Sometimes things are made with plastic now. But hopefully the technology is
067just as good, if not better, than it was in the '9s when these AC units were. But at least it's a fresh start, you know, with some electrical things that are obsolete, some HVAC units, some plumbing, you know, getting the ceiling tiles and and doing that all together at once. And we could maybe even do a comprehensive thing because if we're doing a little bit more together, I feel like we can be a little bit more efficient with our funds. though like you said the difference between 30 and 50 million is $3 a month on taxes but I think when you have a little bit more buying power and you're doing things all together I think it becomes more cost effective to do it that way. So we can do probably more than twice as
068much with the 50 million than we could with the 30 million type of thing if we're doing it all together. I think too when with the last bond, we were in such dire need for buses that if it hadn't passed, we our buses I mean we couldn't take the bond money and buy two or three a year because we didn't we had to have them all. >> We had a fleet of 30-y old buses. >> Yes. And we we couldn't fix them anymore. So, we went with what we thought >> would assure us of the buses. And >> so, >> and our and our 10-year-old buses are getting up there. Here we are in the same spot, but ours were older then. >> But I think staggering I think Justin put together a great plan.
069I think I think that was a great plan of of staggering them and continuing to use the parts to >> once again to me it's about efficiency and I know this is a big ask for the community but I also think we have some big needs and you know I I would love the opportunity to show how great Blage can be if we can pass this and how we can hit that excellence mark. I'm wondering if um if we could continue the tours. >> Sure. >> You know, during the summer before the we've got a whole summer >> if we could have weekly weekly tours so that we could get a lot of people. Maybe we get the fire department in here to look and uh >> I was thinking, you know, that we should
070add a couple before school was one before school's out. when the word gets around that um some people have seen it and they start talking, maybe we'll get more to show up. >> Is there anything illegal about videotaping your walkth through and posting that for people that maybe don't want or physically come? >> No, >> I'm sorry. I think we got mine off >> a lot of microphones going here. Um, no. And I think just this time it was on a short timeline, but the one thing we need to do is make sure we schedule tours when students are not in the background so that it's the facility. And I think if we have enough time to plan that, is that something with our technology department we'd be able to pull off with enough planning?
071>> Yeah. >> And and in the summer, in the summer, we could take a bus up to Pinetop Lakes and have it break down on the way back and then people be like, "Hey, we need buses. Go for it. >> I have a question concerning Sorry. I have a question concerning technology. If we take that completely out of the bond, are we going to have monies to be able to continue to support technology for 5 to 10 years? >> Yeah. So, that's a great question because >> um last year um before I officially technically started, even though I was kind of, you know, helping out with a lot of things, uh Nathan actually made a proposal last year about replacing the staff computers. I was worried that we are were and are on a little
072bit of financial cliff at this time last year, and I thought it was not a wise decision. Unfortunately, fortunately, we've been very wise with our money and so we we were able, like I said, Courtney and our administrative team and and everybody who spends money in this district has been very good and able to keep that pocket of money so we have it available. Unfortunately, computers have gone up in price and the so let me go back to fortunately. Fortunately, the quote we have right now for purchasing the staff computers with that chunk of money, the computers have increased in price since then, but they have told us we'll they'll honor the quote if we can get it in by 1000 p.m. Eastern time tonight. So, I think Nathan's waiting to see if we'd approve
073it or not to hit send because I believe what was it? They've already increased by 17%. >> That 19%. So, if we don't get it, hit send and hit approve on that, then they're going to go up in price. And those are things that we're just we got the hamster wheel spinning behind the scenes. >> Even the things that we approve for the bond, by the time we get to use the bond money, things are going to be up even more. I was talking about general support of our technology department without having it on the bond. >> So, yes. So, as far as staff computers, yes. And with the >> staff computers, everything they do every day, >> everything. Well, >> without the bond supporting them, do we have enough money to >> So, I
074think in the next few years, if we're able, >> let me make sure I'm saying this right way. If we're able to pass the bond, I think that will take care of some of the things that we've been using our current funding to fix and to continue. And once again, it's more expensive to fix things in an emergency where if we are not necessarily spending those emergency funds so frequently, the things like the K2 lab, those are things we'll be able to support. And then and then from a personnel side, I think if we're able to support those and we have good communication between the community, the teachers and the tech team. Um, and we have a plan and we have a vision for what that looks like and starting off with the lab for
075K2 and and as we move up in the grades and continuing to support them, I think they can become more efficient with their time because then they're not chasing around working on old units as much. And so it it wouldn't free them up, but it would it would support them in making better use of their time if we have newer units and once again getting on a preventative maintenance schedule versus reacting constantly to emergencies. I >> have a question too about the computer lab situation. >> Is that going to be big enough to support each classroom and how often do they get to do it? because that's the way we first started with computers was in a computer lab and sometimes there weren't enough computers for the size classroom we had. >> Well, we like
076I said, we got we got the hamster wheels turning. Um Mr. Neil and I already went down to the elementary school >> or how often they could be in there. >> Yeah. And we looked at a lab. We have some good spaces at the elementary school that we can use for a lab. Um and when we're talking about a K2 lab, we were looking at on putting on K2 side. Miss Bloom. Sometimes people get very territorial. Miss Bloom has a beautiful room that used to be a lab and she like, I do not want to move out of this room. We Anyways, I I can keep that as a whole aside. But she um you know, but there's a room behind the library. There's two rooms 110 111 that are across from the art room
077and um and the um music room that were once labs as well. So, we used to have labs and so it would be a matter of getting Nathan and his guys in there and getting getting those things rewired and getting them set up and what is the best location >> support that without having to include it in the bond. >> Yeah, I believe so. Once again, that'll be a roll out because what we'll be able to do is if K2 is only going to be not only if K2 is going to be using a lab, their onetoone devices and stuff we can use and continue to integrate that as things break down, we'll have a few more devices freed up from there. And then as we move them up to the grade levels and there's
078less usage time, I think we will have enough to maintain that buying getting that lab set up would be one of our first priorities, which Nathan said it would be just under $60,000, correct? To set up a lab and Nathan's been working on this, too. Like I said, the we've been working on multi-acet all the things to try to bring this all together. And so that's something I think we can implement sooner rather than later. And then as we move up to the different grade levels and support them, we can start replacing the units. >> I trust him. I just want to make sure he has enough to work with. >> Yep. And I think I think we have a good a good plan for moving forward with that, too. And a good vision and
079good collaboration that Nathan had once again with parents, staff on what is research showing what's good for kids and which is ultimately what we all want is what's good for kids. >> Okay. board. Any questions about the bond and a direction to go? If not, I let's let's just talk about the bang for the buck with the override at 10% 15%. What the difference would be there. >> So, the difference I believe is is about um 500,000 um between and so the 15% would be um about 1.9 million to the community. Um, and so it it cost us about um 300,000ish to provide cost of living raises to our employees. And that's just keeping up with the cost of living. And so with the 15% I I believe we'd be able to get up to
080the median of what people we're not going to be the highest paid district on the mountain. and I don't think people are looking for that, but we'd be able to get up to the median of what the other school districts are making um as far as wages with that. And then looking at our salary schedule, moving more towards a salary schedule where we have steps that people can look into the future and know what we're going to make. I think we can make that a reality moving forward because right now we have an initial placement chart, but I think moving towards a salary schedule where we have cost of living raises built in. I think that's something we can move to if we get that. >> Does your override money come at the same time?
081I have a coaching voice, I'm afraid, to scream. Um, is it the same sequence of time? How long do you have to wait for that? you well it kind of but I with the override money we'll be able to put it in sooner where the bond money um so with construction when you're paying people you get the money and you can you can pay people when you have a construction project you pay some when it's >> right >> you know when it's completed and so it just takes a little longer to do the construction piece versus increased salary so technically the override money would be available earlier for and you'd be able to put it to work right away or not right away but a lot sooner. >> And is that something you would go
082back and say, "Oh, you have two master's degrees. This is our schedule. You receive this now or it would be with the up the next school year." >> So, right now, what we were able to do is offer with with that money, we were able to offer everybody a flat raise this year, right? But it would be so next year if we go for an override it would be in November. So the following year hopefully we would have >> not going backwards. Right. >> Not going backwards. >> Making sure I'm clear. >> So the following year we would put together what we would consider to be a fair salary schedule and get everybody placed on that based on education, years of experience, >> amount of Blige pride. Just kidding. Not the amount of Blige pride.
083>> They're they're they're doing it on Blueridge Pride right now. Can Money be carried over from year to year? >> Yep. >> Okay. Because we'll obviously need to, as you said, after four years, you start >> Yeah. >> amount goes down. So, you're have to kind of build some up a little bit. >> And I think right now part of the problem is our past override expired and so we don't have that. And then the ESR funds, which were a big pot, expired. So when I talk about a little bit of a financial cliff, that is where we have and then as we know the Roosevelt Bishop lawsuit from the state that they haven't funded to the levels that they're So we have really three things that are going up against us. I know right
084now it sounds like a lot of doom and gloom and it's we don't want to paint a picture of doom and gloom because we have amazing people doing amazing things with less than other districts have right now to do similar things. And I'm I'm just I'm very proud of our facility staff and our teaching staff of what they're able to do. And things are more expensive when things are are worn out. And I'm sorry that wasn't that was a little birdwalk from the question, but it's I don't want it to be doom and gloom. Like our staff is a resilient group and we're going to like I said, I'm going to continue to show up every day and they've continued to show up every day and do their best. >> So, in your opinion, what
085recommendation would you give us as a board? >> So, I would do I would say the $50 million bond and the 15% override. I would make that recommendation because I think if we don't do if we go for the 30 million and we're only going to partially fix things, I think we'll have the same problems in a few years down the road. And I think the 15% override a lot of time we think of teachers and some of the teachers we've lost this year to to seek out higher salaries elsewhere. We've lost bus drivers. We've lost other positions and um ultimately we're in the human industry. And I think um we don't want to lose people because they can go make more at McDonald's. No offense to um Abe or the Martinez family, but we
086don't want to lose our good people to other places. We want we don't want that to even be a carrot in front of them. If they're proud and they like working at Blige, we want them to continue it and not have to figure financial. So my recommendation, I'm sorry. I mean, I've been birdw walking a little bit here and just reign me in. I would I would recommend going for a 15% override and a $50 million bond. So this place I think in five years, three years looking at this place we and if we're able to get it past the finish line, we'll look back with a great sense of accomplishment. And I think this is one of the biggest things that maybe I was, you know, thinking I've been reflecting a lot about this.
087I think this is one of the biggest things we can do for the future of our community. not just for our children, but the future of the community, the Pinetop Lakeside community, is to have an amazing school system here. And and more money doesn't always equal better. But I also want to commit to the community that I want to see it through and that we will be efficient with our money and making the most out of our money and doing the right things and making the community and people proud of their investment in our school system. But I I'll leave that up to you guys as far you guys are representatives of the community. I know sometimes I'm just the coach and I'm fired up and I'm excited and I want to move forward and
088I want to be the best at everything we do from A to Z, but ultimately you guys are the representatives of the community. And so I'll I'll leave it up to you guys to invite people up, have the discussion and decide what we want to do. >> That's that's where we are right now, I think, unless the board has some more comments. >> One more thing, I think you you need to present when you do further talking about the bond and everything. Show people what is going to happen if it doesn't pass. What is going to happen to the school? And I don't care if you're doom and gloom because >> it's going to affect this. It's gonna affect the town because a small town is only as good as the school >> that is
089in the town. And if you lose your school or lose your high school because you have to consolidate. That's what's happened in the Midwest. >> And the towns die. >> Yep. >> The small towns just lose their identity if they don't keep their high school. So, um, I don't think we can survive without a bond in the next five years without drastic changes. >> And I can tell you, I think the people who went on the tour, I don't even think it's about where we're at in five years. I think it was very eye opening to me and others, >> like I said, when you have water on the floor in the electrical room and stuff like that, those are things that need to be fixed ASAP. And if >> and the things that don't
090show, people will go down the street and say, "Well, yeah, the school looks really great today, you know, but they don't know about everything hiding in the rooms." >> And I think part of the implications, and I know we've turned this over and over again, and I I'm sorry, but I think it's one of those things we're going to have to fix it. If we don't have a bond, it's going to be a patch until it breaks again, >> and then we're going to be right back in the situation. and fixing things in emergency, it's going to be more expensive and we're going to fix it with the money we have and that and that'll affect our classroom funds and what we're able to pay our employees to go in and fix those things. But
091if we don't fix it, I mean, if even if we do fix it, we're just patching that one specific area versus stripping it to the studs and doing the right way. Um, and so I think that's going to take money back out of our classrooms. And it's we're we're either gonna strip it down to the studs and build it up or we're going to continue to um plug holes in the dam with our fingers and do the best that we can until they pop back open again. And um and so I'm not trying to be doom and gloom, but I also think the people that were there on the tour see it's not even a fiveyear from now thing. Five years from now is now. It's there are things that we really need to address.
092And you hate using your money to plug a hole >> when it could be used for something much better than >> Well, yeah. And and I think once again going back to the car analogy, if you got this car with 500,000 miles on it, you need to at some point decide, am I going to am I just going to, you know, fix the whatever, like the fuel filter on it now, or am I is it time to, you know, get a whole new engine, get a new car and and replace things on a bigger level? And I think that's where we're at. We're in a state of deferred maintenance. And once again, not to be doom and gloom because people are working their tails off around here, but that's the reality of where we're at.
093>> All right. Thank you. Uh now as as I mentioned earlier even though we do call to the public at the end of this uh since this is on the agenda and uh we would like input if anybody would like to leave a comment with us please address the board right now and uh just uh state who you are and give a paper to Mary so she can add you add you into the uh regular minutes and we'd love to hear what the public has to say. >> All right. Good evening, Sada Chudnoff, parent, volunteer, registered voter, and a homeowner. Um, this is my expectation of the board. Whatever you guys decide to do and go forward with, my expectation is that you guys are out there in the public supporting it and saying to
094the voters, this is why the reason we're doing this call, we you're a very important voice and we hope to see you guys all out there. Um, a couple suggestions to help things go smoothly. rolling out a better web page with what the asks and costs are. Uh we hear a lot about school waste, fraud, and abuse. Like you guys are all pocketing the money, which we know is not true, but um detailing what the previous bond was spent on. Maybe some photos on a very easy to find link on the web page would be very helpful. We can point people directly there. uh the status of our SFB requests, have they been denied, approved, what has come through, what that progress looks like, a pledge that you guys will continue to work with SFB
095to get additional funding. So maybe we pull less of that bond money out, and um you know, after we get this bond and override passed because we're going to work really hard to do that. Please don't ice us out. continue to invite all of us up here to work with you guys and work on those parent caretaker and uh guardian relationships. Thank you. Thanks. >> Thank you. Some some great comment there. >> And John John, we have to we have to decide on this tonight. Yes. >> Um >> unless we have a emergency. Yeah, we we have basically until the first part of June. So, if you feel like more information is needed, I mean, we could table and call another um another special meeting if if we need to um before the 1st of
096June. I would just Yeah, if we need to do that, we need to. I with graduation and other things going on that might be a difficult thing but we I mean we can we'll make it work. >> Good evening. My name is Bridget Cobb. I'm a new resident uh from a place called California and uh I would like to speak on behalf of the proposed bond and override. I actually wrote this down so because I realize after sitting 15 years on that side of the dis three minutes goes really quick. With that, uh, good evening, Mr. President, board member, superintendent, cabinet, and members of the community. Thank you for the opportunity to speak tonight in support of both the bond and the override, and to share why the decision matters to every member of our
097community, especially those who are understandably concerned about taxes. I want to begin by acknowledging something important. No one wants to pay more in taxes. That's an real concern and it deserves respect. Every dollar matters for families, retirees, and property owners alike. The question before us tonight is not whether taxes are wanted, but whether this investment is necessary, responsible, and worthwhile. As you all know, and we've talked about, and I have experienced uh working here, our schools here are aging. Many of these systems are long past their uh lifespan. And ignoring these issues does not make them go away. It only guarantees that they will become more expensive and more urgent later. Just like maintaining our homes, taking care of problems is always taking care of problems before they become an emergency is always the more
098cost-effective choice. Ah, and of course I went right past where I was going. So the bond does allow us to do exactly that, to plan, fix what we already have and prevent much larger financial burdens in the future. This is not about overbuilding or unnecessary spending. It's about protecting the investments we've already made in the community. For property owners specifically, this matters in another critical way. Strong, well-maintained schools are one of the biggest factors in protecting and often increasing property values. Even if you do not have children in the school system, and this is for our most of our community, the quality of our local schools directly affects the desiraability of our community. People choose where to live based on schools. When schools struggle, property values fall. And when schools are strong, communities remain stable
099and attractive. And in a rural district like ours, that connection is even more important. We do not have the same growth or economic buffers as the larger cities down in the valley. Our schools are one of the primary drivers of community strength, workforce readiness, and long-term stability. For example, one of the things that I've been incredibly impressed with that we did not have uh in California to this degree is a career in technical CTE. It plays a vital role. These programs prepare students for real in- demand jobs often right here in our own town. Whether it's skilled trades, healthcare, agricultural, or technical careers, CTE gives students practical skills and certifications that directly support our local economy. When we invest in programs like these, we're investing in a workforce that sustains local businesses and keeps our
100community thriving and is an alternative path for those who may not uh may not wish to attend college or university systems. But these programs, like all of our programs, require proper facilities and equipment to function efficiently and safely. Without that investment, we limit the opportunities for our students and ultimately for our local economy. The override is equally important, and this is where the impact becomes even more immediate. While the bond takes care of the buildings, the override supports the people and programs inside them. It helps retain teachers, maintain reasonable class sizes, and preserve programs like CTE that give students real opportunities. Without an override, districts often forced into cuts. Cuts that directly affect students and weaken the quality of the education. Over time, that decline impacts not just families, but the entire community. It's also
101worth noting these decisions, I know, are not made lightly. I have seen the district in my short amount of time, my tenure here, I've seen this district has worked hard to prioritize needs, control costs, and be transparent about how the funds will be used. This is about responsible planning, not unchecked spending. So, the question becomes one of perspective. Is this an added tax burden or is it a strategic investment that protects our community's future, stabilizes property values, and avoids larger costs later? At its core, supporting the bond and override is about balance. It's about recognizing the realities of today while planning responsibly for tomorrow. It's about maintaining what we have, strengthening what we need, and ensuring this community remains a place people want to live, work, and invest in. I respect that this is not
102an easy decision, but I strongly believe it is the right one for our students, our property owners, and our community as a whole. Thank you. Can we put that in the >> Thank you. Maybe you could put that. We could borrow that >> statement. That was very inclusive. >> Send that to you. >> Yeah. Will that was impressive. Thank you very much. >> Anybody else like to say anything? Uh >> she should take that to the public. >> Can I can I ask a community member something or >> not? Are we allowed to or >> Yeah, we opened it up. We open. We can't. No, we really can't respond like that. We have an attorney here. Can we >> I wanted to ask a committee member that hasn't said anything like I'm not responding to
103him. I just >> No, let's I'm I'm not positive here. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Yeah. Mr. President, members of the board, Jim Gil with Gus Rosenfeld. Um first of all, an apology. I have Flagstaff Unified in my ear, so I'm have to listen into them as well. Um so, no. Yeah, I wouldn't advise having the back and forth with the community. Uh it's not an agenda item, but very good discussion uh so far tonight uh uh with respect to both the bond and the override. Uh the only thing I would add since I'm up here um is uh uh the superintendent put it very well the caution um that if you do videos um and tours that you don't focus on the students that it's more focused on the facilities. There was very good discussion
104from at least one board member about um stating what the repercussions would be if either the override or the bond failed. Uh we do have a voter information pamphlet that'll be the next step in the process. If the board chooses to go forward with one or both questions tonight, uh you're obligated under statute to produce a voter information pamphlet that I draft. Within the pamphlet, we can state factual and neutral information. So we can state here's what happens if this question fails or that question fails. So it's it's not uh persuading, it's just factual. And more and more districts are using that approach because they want their voters to be informed as to both the positives associated with the bond or the override and then the negatives if they don't come. And in fact, most
105of my school clients and I represent about 140 around the state do have bonds or overrides in effect. And I just just checked, I'm working on about 50 elections this year statewide. Um, and a handful are doing both bonds and overrides at the same time. And we don't see a lot of fall off. It seems like if the community uh supports one, they support both. Um, having said that, you know, a fair amount fail. I'm not suggesting yours will, but um it just seems like if there is support within the community, then uh both questions or I've even seen three questions on a ballot. Um two overrides and a bond all all pass. So um so I just leave you with that. And then I'm sorry, one other thing. Um we do have a statute
10615511 that you probably some of you are aware of. So assuming the board calls the election tonight or maybe in a couple weeks, um that is your final statement on it. um you're not as a board making any further statement with regards to the election. We're not persuading uh voters with district resources. You are a district resource as is anyone with access to your uh assets, your social media, your phones, your computers. You're all district resources. So, we can't persuade voters with that. The way we speak to the community is through the v voter information pamphlet. We can also do frequently asked questions, other things of that nature, videos. I'd like to review all of that um before it goes out is made available to the public just to make sure that we're not stepping
107over the line of persuading voters. I'm not suggesting you would. Um on the override, I'll point out that you do have the opportunity, in fact, are required to provide a prostatement within the voter information pamphlet for the override only. It's kind of a quirk in the statute. You can you must do so for the override. You you cannot do so for the bond as a board. the bond the board does not make a prostatement for the bond election only for the override but individual board members may submit prostatements for the bond if they choose to do so not using district resources >> and we could talk to community members individually >> exactly as as individuals you may identify yourself as a board member if you choose to do so uh just like the mayor may
108do so state legislators we see all different folks uh submitting prost statements and occasionally con statements but it's open to everyone in the public again not using district resources the deadline for that I believe is August 7th. >> So I have a state Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Margaret. >> I have a question too. When when uh if we'd want to continue visiting groups in the community, then that's okay as long as there's only one or two. >> Yes. Um right to avoid quorum issues. Um yes. Um individual board members, superintendent, district staff may tour uh conduct tours of the community. And the purpose of that is just to provide information. It's not to persuade. It's just here are the facilities. Um here's what would be repaired, replaced, renovated if the if the bond is approved.
109>> Okay. I think one of the biggest um I don't know biggest conquests up here is to get people to come out and vote for anything. And I think that we do such a good job with our staff and our maintenance everybody of making the school look good. A lot of people don't think there are any problems. And that's what that's why the need for going out and speaking to different groups and getting it out there and promoting people actually getting out and voting because we have very few people some years when this goes on the ballot that actually show up. And there was a misunderstanding the last time we tried this that you had to own a home to be able to vote. And that was a big misunderstanding at the um with the
110parents of the elementary kids. So we just have to make sure that everybody understands what they can do within the school district. >> Yeah. Um the district can absolutely conduct public, you know,formational sessions um assuming they're factual and neutral in nature. Individual board members or even members of district administration can speak to community groups and and even promote the election if if they choose to do so. But if they choose to do so, they're doing so as individuals with a disclaimer that it's as an individual and not as someone associated with the school district. >> Okay. >> The information packet is where you make the statement. Individual board members can make a statement is in the uh information packet. >> It'll be in the voter information pamphlet. Yes. >> Thank you. >> Absolutely. >> Yeah,
111we can do that. >> Any other questions? >> Can I clarify one thing? You said the board members can't use social media. They can use their personal social media to do Okay. I just wanted to clarify that they can use their personal time. So they heard Yeah. >> So I have a question. How many how many items can be on the ballot? Just one one bond amount and one override amount. So just two. >> Well, by tradition, um good question. Um so by tradition, we've we've always had just a single bond amount per election for each school district. Having said that, we have a district in the valley that is considering two bond questions on their ballot. I've never done it, but I think the statute is fine with it. And it seems like Maricopa
112is going to be fine with it as well. So, in theory, and I I think in reality, you could have two separate bond questions. I'm not advocating that, but but in that case, it's pretty unique. They have one project that's a little polarizing in the community, and they don't want that project to drag down the bigger bond question. So, that's why they're considering it. But I've never heard that come up before. So it's kind of a coincidence that it's happening this year. And on the override side, um it's it would you so you're considering a maintenance and operation override tonight. You can also have a district additional assistance, i.e. a capital override on the same election cycle. Be a separate ballot question, but you don't have a resolution for the for the DAA. You're not
113considering that this election cycle, but perhaps in the future. Would uh if there were two numbers for a bond, wouldn't that dilute the vote? >> Well, um each voter would get Well, possibly. I mean, I'm not a pollster, so I don't know how voters would would would approach that, but I think they're just trying to be safe um that district and they feel like they they can afford to lose on that kind of special bond for that special project as long as they get uh the bond for their for their the larger bond uh for the general district. So, um, each voter gets to vote on each bond question. So, it's not like you have to pick one or the other. They're going to be separate separate ballot questions, uh, for that particular district. But
114I'm not suggesting it for you. That's a very unique situation. >> Other questions? >> Thank you. And the only other thing I'll mention, um, it's probably clear, but, um, when it comes time to make the motion, if you can make it clear what dollar amount on the bond and what percentage on the override, just because you do have two resolutions, I don't want any confusion with the board or the public as to what was approved. So, if you could be clear to specify the the bond amount and the override percentage. >> Yeah, those are just those are just samples basically. >> Yeah. Right. Yeah, >> those are three those are both on 3.1. like that, >> right? >> So, what would that look like to us as a district if we decided to put the
11530 and the 50 million on on the ballot? >> Well, I don't know. Honestly, I think it would >> we could possibly do 80. >> Yeah, probably want to go 30 20 in order to try. You know what I'm saying? >> Yeah, >> I think it'd probably be wiser just to put one. People might think we were getting Yeah, people might think we were getting greedy and voting no over both, you know, trying to get two bonds at the same time. >> Ever Sorry, >> I don't remember having an override and a bond together. Have we done that >> before? Have we a long time ago? >> I don't know. I'm new. >> I don't know that we have. >> We haven't in the in the >> And I don't know that we've ever asked
116for 15% either. I think it's always been 10. >> Yeah. >> But here we are again. >> I don't want to do this again. No, it's it's nerve-wracking. It's bad dreams. >> You think you have bad dreams? >> Thank you. I think >> I think you've answered every question I've had board that all the questions answered. Great. Any other comments from the from the public here? >> Oh, good. >> Hi, I'm Katherine Shamway. I'm a parent in the district and I just wanted to give you some of my personal thoughts on the bond and override. Um I was very hesitant going for the full 50 a few months ago, maybe even a few weeks ago, but I've spent a lot of time um researching uh the politics of bonds and overrides, the needs of the
117school, talking with various people, and um I just really feel that our school needs the 50 million. And I want you guys to know that I am going to fight to support whatever you choose, whether it's the 30 or the 50. >> Um, I also just wanted, again, I know you were concerned about people turning out to vote. I wanted to remind you that it is a bigger election this year, and for that reason, I think we will get a bit of a better turnout. Um, and uh, sorry, my thoughts are just gone. I just, um, yeah, I just, it's a tough decision. I I I um understand it. I just wanted you to know that when I think about doing this whole fight again in five or 10 years, it exhausts me already. >>
118I know. >> And so, for that reason, I I think you're going to get people who are mad you've asked for 50 now. You're going to have people who are mad in 10 years that you're asking for money again. It's kind of a split. It's kind of a coin toss for me, >> but I just wanted you to know that you have my support. So, thank you. >> Thanks for those comments and thoughts. I think, and correct me somebody, but the bond that we we we bonded for 15 million last time, and I think that 90% of that went into the junior high to the renovation of the junior high to what it is now. >> She's got numbers. >> Courtney, >> I'd have to look at the numbers again, but I I I thought
119it was closer to three million at the junior high. Um, and then, but I and we can take a look at those numbers again as just as how the break the breakdown. Um, we we had it I think in the do we have that in the April board meeting that cost um comparison. >> I'm not sure. I but I I don't believe it was as as much as it wasn't that because there were several things that were on >> Well, the buses were >> on the buses. Yeah. So, there were other things that were on there, but I believe it was closer to um to three million for the junior high. I can take a look um and I can actually pull it up right now if you'd like me to and we can we
120can look at that. I think I think yeah if if you if you don't mind I think that would be good information just for anybody that's listening to us tonight where that money that previous bond went. I know we did the junior high there was technology >> buses and there were some safety issues um >> can't remember >> what's that >> the track >> no the track was done >> no it was redone >> down we had that's right it was bubbled >> dug out >> bubbled it had to >> some of the asphalt had to be Yeah they had to replace some of the asphalt >> yeah because it bubbled up >> because moisture got underneath the asphalt and it crumbled. I remember I remember that. That was ugly. >> Yeah. >> Um bleachers
121and F. Um isn't there an SF a request for the safety features in the high school football field bleachers? So do we have one right now? that was already completed. But we're also we're working on um SFD requests for the indoor bleachers on the indoor courts. But yeah, they completed that was one of the projects we completed this year on the football field where the bleachers they were they were not secured on one end. So if someone would sit on the one end, the other >> Yeah, that was a little bit of safety. >> I I think some of that money went to the remodeling of the bathrooms in the the old >> Yeah. And I think that's what locker rooms >> that's what Mr. Grenal was referring to. >> And the weight room turned
122the weight room was expanded from two rooms like bedrooms and the wrestling room was incorporated into the weight room and the wrestling room went to the went here. Yeah. Went here. >> So I was just curious where that's kind of some of that money went. >> Yeah. So we had um sorry 2.7 2.7 million was to the junior high renovation. biggest renovation we've done. >> I can send it. >> Well, yeah. Can we put it up on the screen because I think there's some things that are kind of um so that's specifically to the construction of the junior high school, but there's also some things that were some universal construction that was some of it was the junior high and some of it was the other facilities. So, we can put it up on the
123screen because Courtney actually pulled all of the items. This was something that came up at the advisory committee on where everything um fit in. So, if Chris pulls it up, we can take a quick look quick look at the spending um piece and we can just take a brief look at that >> since there's a lot of people in the YouTube world watching. It is available online. Um if you're on the school board website or the board and you click on it to the study session, you can pull up the sheet. My suggestion it was just something nice and comprehensive and very easy to get to like one click and you're there but it is available for anybody who wants to pull it up right now. >> Thank you. >> Thanks. >> So when you
124look at things like asbestous removal was 285 that that's you know some of that's related to the junior high and so it's not directly in the line item of the junior high but the high school athletic renovation. Um, so there was some with that architect fees. So that's inclusive of all of the components. So some there's some other components that were inclusive. >> Let's not have architect fees. >> What's that? >> So let's not have architect fees if we can help it. >> Yeah. And I think once again >> architect fees and they were so bad on the jun I mean the elementary school and you know that was >> I think once again if we do more of a comprehensive bond with a overall project you know we can when we go out for
125bid I think if we do a design build where then companies can come in once again if they do the whole thing get more bang for our buck that's something we can look at is doing a comprehensive like a remodel like all all together. So instead of seeing the fees individualized out, it'll just be here's all the things we get and the companies can have a bidding war and >> maybe we get a better company if we're doing a very good not just doing here and there. >> Yeah, we're not going to go for this and not not do our due diligence. And I know the elementary school is a sticking point to a lot of people. So we want to make sure, like I said, we've been spinning this hamster wheel. We've been working
126hard and we don't want all this work to go in vain. We want to make sure that our community is um using their money wisely because I don't want it to be a bad reflection on any of us. I want people to be proud of this and a great thing for generations, not a sticking point. Any other questions, comments, or anybody like to add anything to that? All right. So, we need to we need to um I don't know my opinion, we should follow the recommendation of our superintendent for a 50 million and 15% override unless there's any argument. Is there any question or concern about that? Any board members like to suggest something differently >> about that? But it but I mean I know we we kind of have to um does anybody think
127it would help at all to have it and I know it doesn't seem like a big deal but like 45 million because then when we list out all of our needs and our needs are more than that the community can kind of go well they're not asking for more than they need and there's a little I don't know it might be stupid but it might I'm just so worried that it's just not going to Yeah. It's a psych psychological thing. >> Did not want to slide backwards. It would have only stopped the bleeding and eventually would have not given us anything to go on. So, we took the next highest one and here we are. So, >> it's it's very hard decision. >> I don't think there's any I mean, I don't think we can
128ever say, "Well, we're not going to have to go to ask for bond again. call. We can't ever say that. >> Yeah. >> But yeah, >> part of our problem too is that a lot of things are not getting taken care of in a timely manner by the state. So that affects our school. That affects older schools. >> Hopefully that's fixed to some extent. >> Yes. So >> how much longer are you going to be here, Courtney? >> You're here for the long. >> Okay, that's good. >> So I I have a just a really quick question. So, let's say we do move forward with the 50 million and inflation continues and whatever, it takes longer to get some of these things done than than what we're hoping for. Do we get to say like,
129hey, out of that 50 million, these are our top one, two, three, four items that we want to make sure are done completely correctly full full through the whole thing, whole kitten koodle. And then if there's extra money after the fact, then we can do class updates, restrooms, things like that. or do we have to at that time split it up and only do partial things just to make sure we touch on everything that we say that we're going to do with the bond money >> kind of I think the categories are are general enough that we if I think when we go out for a bid I think we will actually get more bang for our buck than than what we're thinking and I think one of the things you know in response to
130Mike's point um you know I I think if we get all of our bids in for our buses and our buildings and it is less than 50 million once again we don't need to capture all of that if if and if we get projects funded by the SFD you know and I think that that's something once again um trying to earn the trust of the community and if inflation goes up and we can't afford everything. I completely agree. The other thing once again is as we're looking at staggering things with computers and the great job that our business department has done and with our administration. I think those are things that if we are paying for certain things, we're once again if we're talking about being wiser with our capital money that we're given by
131the state each year that we can figure out how much of that do we need to allocate for different projects and you know things. So, if we're redoing the whole school, but we're not putting in new ceilings and we're we're stuck with those ceilings and the fire sprinkles up, what we would do, I think, instead of just saying, "Okay, you know, we're we're going to take it off the bond." Yeah, we might take it off the bond funds, but then see what we can do on the backside because if we're fixing everything, but we still have those ceilings with the fire sprinkles sprinklers up because they're not as important as the HVAC units and the other things. I think those are things we look at shifting our capital funds and making them a priority with
132our purchase. And and there are things that we're not doing in our district when we talk about capital funds. And I'm sorry I'm going down another rabbit hole like textbook adoptions. Like it would be nice to adopt textbooks. And so those are the things that even if we have the bond money, we're still going to have to decide how do we get back into the textbook adoption cycle so we have current materials for our students to use. how you know and we talk about like right now we don't have a social studies curriculum adoption and that's one of the most contentious things and a good way to protect our teachers would be to have an adopted social studies curriculum. So it's they're not just out doing the best that they can with the things they
133have that they have an adopted curriculum that we've approved and that you've approved and that we've looked at and vetted out and make sure that they're teaching things appropriately and not going down any any rabbit holes that will get our district in trouble. So those are things down the rabbit hole that if inflation go So to answer your question, if inflation goes up, we will do the things that we're telling the public we're going to do and then we're still going to prioritize what else is important. Is it ceilings? Is it textbook adoptions? We're still going to have to make some difficult decisions and be efficient with our money, but we're going to make it happen. And this this place is going to be an amazing place if if we're able to get that bond
134passed. Period. and we'll figure we'll figure out the details and we will make it happen. >> I agree with you too that um that they are broad enough the topics are broad enough that some things can fit in different places >> the leftover things. >> We as a board still have to vote on each individual item. >> Good. >> I mean >> ultimately it comes down to our shoulders whether we're where we're going to put the money. >> Yeah. So, >> but you have we have the hearings after we get saying we get the money. We have the hearings to show where the money is going and it has to be what was mentioned in the >> Yeah, we can't pull something out of the sky. >> No, you can't just >> Yeah. One thing
135I've heard over and over again is transparency. And that's I think we've done a pretty good job getting out in front and trying to be as honest and forthright with people. And like um Sada brought up, I think after you know moving forward, we're going to we need to continue to be transparent and have a good trust relationship because you know as we talked about as the school goes the town will go as well you know in a positive or a negative way and we want people to be on our side. We want to have a good collaboration between the town and the school and the people who live here. We want it to be a positive uh synergy. So >> So I have another question. Sorry. um you you say you were saying that
136you're going to get a whole bid as a whole, you know, get the most bang for our buck, things like that. So, um is there a way to incorporate the bond money going towards back to the businesses in the community to have them bid on this stuff or is it Yeah. specific state like some of the vendors that we have to use have to be on the list or what does that look like? like putting money, you know, the bond money back into our community businesses is that >> so people any anybody can submit bids for the bond. Um, and we're going to go with whatever way once again is going to get us the most bang for our buck. And so, you know, supporting local businesses and having a good synergy with our community
137is an important thing. Um, but these are big projects and they're big dollar projects and so we we're still going to give it to whoever's going to do the best job for the least and and follow procurement. I mean, it's all about procurement where we can't and I think if you Yeah, you have to follow procurement period. And I want to make sure that people know that it's not a good old boys. for following the rules. But like you said, if there's people, everybody's welcome to come in and competit and make a competitive bid. We're not going to deny anybody for making a competitive bid. And I totally understand the importance of synergy with the community, but we have to follow the procurement process for for all of our bids. But yes, it will be
138available for members of our community just like it'll be available for um you know people in the greater Arizona area and anybody who has their licenses to do that and wants to submit a bid is more than welcome to. >> Can we have the general subcontract to locals as part of the bid acceptance? Yeah, I mean I think how we write our RFP that we you know if they can a general contractor can you know try to utilize is that something we can write in in the RFP? I think that's something we can >> I will need to look into making sure I know all the right answers for for that. I don't want to I don't feel like I can answer that with as much knowledge as you know with as needed right now.
139So, I would need to look into specifically what those procurement laws would look like as far as who's bidding. >> Would be a good idea >> if we could >> stipulate some of that. So, all right. Have we beat this to death yet? >> Yeah, I I feel like some of my apprehension has been alleviated a bit. Any questions or anything? >> Michael's still going. That's his personality. >> You are a little more experienced than your three babies over here. >> well, you will get it fast >> this year. >> Well, I think I think this made a good point. I mean, if we if we say 50 million and 15%, well, then we're going to have to work hard to educate and and >> tell show people the problems and and get it done.
140>> Sure looks better than 120 million. >> It does. It could go. Yeah, that's >> 120 million. We just tear the building down and build a new one. And I and I hope we do, you know, save some of that M money because, you know, that we're going to get a little more upfront u because it's gonna it's going to go away quickly and then we're just in another bind in four years. >> Yeah. >> And I think in some states this this 50 million we're talking about is average. >> For us it's big, but in some school districts that's just an average amount. >> We're small. >> Yeah, we're small. So, are we ready to to bring this up? This has to be a uh uh specific vote uh individual an I or an
141A and uh the motion would be for 50 million and 15%. >> Is it two motions? Two separate motions or do we do it? >> It's two separate motions. Yeah. So, we'll do the bond first for >> We'll do the bond first for 50 million and that will have to be an a yay or a nay and then we'll do a motion for the override for 15% unless there's somebody have a suggestion we change that. >> What I have one more question for Jonathan. So if we do the 15 and 50 and it does not come out favorably to us, what is going on on the back end on your guys's part right now to >> make it >> I mean where where do we stand like what is the plan moving forward if we
142do not get the community support you feel comfortable with the 50 and 15 it's what you're recommending. So, I know you're hopeful or >> you know, you're that way, but >> that you had to have processed what if it doesn't and what does that look like for us? >> Absolutely. And and I think and I'm sorry, I don't mean to repeat some of the things I've said before, but I think on the tour how we see the water in the electrical room, I think we're talking about taking money out of classrooms and vital resources to our school, cutting positions. so that we can put a patch on things like that. That is a shorter term solution that hopefully lasts a while until either the state comes to our rescue or it fails again. And we
143have to do that and I and just just to be honest, I think that's where we're at as far as the bond where we're going to have to continue to kind of be where we're at now. continue to just patch things up and and and then you as we walk around the school and look at things and a lot of things that aren't great, you know, whether it's the ceilings not matching up, whether it's the fire sprinklers out, whether it's our restrooms not being in ADA compliance, those are things that and once again, fixing things in in an emergency is more expensive than fixing things in a proactive measure. And so if it doesn't pass, we're going to continue to be in the deferred maintenance and plugging holes in the dam as they come our
144way and having to pull money out of classrooms essentially to do that. >> So if if it doesn't pass, when could we go out for it again? >> I mean, I think you can go out the next year, >> but I think if it doesn't pass, I think we would want to try to figure out why it didn't pass. because if people wouldn't support it this year, what would be the difference the following year? And I think I I'd want to get educated more on that. And so I'm really optimistic and I wouldn't be coming here. The last bond did not pass by 60some votes, only 60 votes in our community. So I'm here um with an optimistic viewpoint, but I think that's a fair point. if it doesn't pass that we will have to
145go to our plan B which is kind of where things are now cutting positions not having you know looking at salaries giving modest cost of living or no raises and that's is if we're very efficient with the resources we have and that's that's the reality and I don't want to rush it but we have >> nine minutes until the the computer prices are going to go up so I don't know if we want to table this and and and talk about item 34 really quick. >> I would suggest that we skip until 10 time. >> Oh, 10 our time. Okay. I was starting I was more worried about that than I was worried about the bond right now. >> So then I have another question. How much does it cost the district to go to
146ballot? So to the county fees that they cost, I believe it is about 30,000ish. And I'm just I'm spitballing right now. >> And that comes out of our district funds. That's not fundraising. And so where is that money coming from? >> Someone, >> you know, it's like Ken Dillingham went out and someone donated $10 million to him. If someone wants to step forward with $30,000, let me look out in the audience. I can't ask anybody to do that. Maybe someone's streaming online. If someone wanted to donate that, we would take it. But if not, it comes out of our budget. But it's one of those things right now where we're at a point where if we don't make that investment and and put ourselves out there Yeah. >> And doing the fix fixing as things
147break is a sad use of funds. >> Well, and some of them we're not fully fixing after they break. So some of the pumps that are running are cooling towers and stuff, the ones leaking water. And so even that like we're out of gum and duct tape fixing that and it's just leaking water in the electrical room and and but those are $25,000 each and so we're hoping that they don't die anytime. You know those type of things where like some of them aren't even really fixed. We're at that point. So when we say you know what's it going to look like in a couple years from now pretty similar or if not worse than what it looks like now with a lot of things in disrepair. >> Isn't it kind of a domino effect
148too? you start fixing something that's bad and then you find a lot of other things. >> Yeah. >> Well, it's like the corroded water coming through the pipes and the pump's not working, but then the corroded water and then you got that other pump that's working overtime. So, if you don't replace the one pump, the other pump's going to fail pretty quick and be overloaded and >> yeah, it's it's it's a domino effect for sure. >> Okay, I think we're ready. >> So, to be clear, we're not actually voting on each individual item. We are voting to go to bond for this amount of money. We will have the opportunity to vote on individual items in the future. If the bond passes if it doesn't pass, I don't know. We don't even want to think
149about what's going to be cut out of. So, >> so I need a motion then to establish a 50 million amount for a bond coming up in this future in this election. And it needs to be a yay or a nay on an individual basis. So I have Could I have that motion? >> I move that we're doing bond first. >> Okay. I move that we go um out for bond for the 50 that we talked about and >> this is to go on the ballot. >> Yes. >> Yeah. To put on the ballot. Yes. >> Or 50. Yeah. We got it. >> Good. Okay. We have a second. >> Somebody got a second. >> Second. >> A second. Silia. Okay, we'll start voting on the end. Michael, yay or nay? >> Yay. >> Bridget,
150>> Yay. Sylvia, >> yay. >> Siliana, I'm sorry. Yay. Margaret, >> yay. >> I also I'm a yay. So, that would be unanimous for the bond for 50 million. Okay. The next item uh would be in the same motion. >> Real quick, I'm sorry, and I don't mean to interrupt. Just clarification, Jim. Do we need to adopt vote to adopt the resolution? to send to the county for the 50 million just still so our language is >> I think the uh motion for the bond was sufficient to get us there. Um but yeah, in the second motion for the override um if you use the word resolution and election that would be preferable, but I I'm not concerned with the first one. I think I think we were fine. >> You're talking to a hick
151here. So you're lucky you're getting whole sentences out of me. That snowflake education's rearing its head again. I don't know. >> Resolution ordering a special. >> Now it's on. There we go. Okay. Resolution for a budget a special budget override. a resolution for a special override election to be held in and for the district declaring that the deadline for submitting arguments for and against the election to the Navajo County School Superintendent as August 6th, 2026 at 5:00 pm and approving the governing board's argument in support of the special maintenance and operation budget override election. I have a motion. >> Oh, did I mess that up? >> Oh, no, we >> for 15%. I got I >> 15% override. >> Just say it. >> Yeah. Thank you. Okay, >> Michael. >> I'm not going to repeat
152a motion. >> I'll move to adopt a resolution uh calling for a budget override election. >> Okay. Second from Margaret. >> Okay, Michael. Yay or nay? >> Yay. >> Bridget. >> Yay. Silian. >> Yay. >> Margaret, yay. David, yay. All right. Next item on the agenda is item 3.2 to to approve the revised budget for fiscal year 2026. Uh >> Courtney, you want to address that real quick? Uh and I know there are probably some questions in regard to that. Michael, you had a question. >> Thank you. >> Yes. Great. Thank you. >> Thank you for coming. You saved us. >> Thank you. >> This evening, we need to um we need I need to put the revised budget in front of the board. Uh this is a this is a mandatory requirement from Department
153of Education. It has to be a board approved by May 15th. Um we have already had so we had um we had our adopted budget back in August. We've got our um or July rather. we had our our revised budget um in the fall and then um this is our final revision. This comes after our annual financial report. So this is pulling in um information based on the FY26 school year. What we're going to see first is a decrease from our adopted budget. You're going to see a decrease in our group A enrollment. This is going to be our FTE, our number of FTE students. So, this is going to be our number of full-time um students. So, this takes into account, so even though our average daily membership is currently 1,566, I think as
154of today, um 1523, that's taking into account our kindergarten program plus our NAB students as well, who we share enrollment with. The decrease um on group B you can see from the adopted is uh from from the original adopted is 2140 to 20 uh 127. So remained relatively uh relatively the same. And this is taking into account our students with special needs. Um and so this is when we look at our adopted budget, we don't have those final numbers for FY26. We're kind of going on some um predictions of what it's going to look like on that 100th day. And so this is giving that um that actual number. You're going to see on this next slide is the budget balance carry forward. This is what was carried forward from FY25. And so there are
155no numbers on the FY26 adopted and FY26 revised because we didn't have that number yet. So this is showing that we carried forward $2.4 million into this school year and that's going to affect our M budget. which you'll see um you'll see two lines down going from that 13 million uh 13.1 to the 15.9 um for our M budget this year. The teacher experience index is uh that one went up from 1.05 to 1.07 07. Again, very similar. Um, but that's just our that's um kind of a another piece that we get. Not a bonus, but it's, you know, it kind of adds to our um our calculations when we have that high teacher experience index, the capital budget. Uh so you'll see the decrease on the capital budget and that is because if you
156recall, we moved $900,000 into M. And so um so that final $543,000 is due to that 900,000 that was moved into maintenance and operation. >> I just want to make sure I'm clear, Courtney. So the actual money that we got for our M this year was the 15.9. >> That's our that is our budget including that $900,000 that we moved over from capital. Correct. Um and so what we'll look at then next year is you know hopefully that carry forward into FY27 right and so um I think the with everybody being as conservative conservative as we've been with the capital um spending as well that's where we are in a position where we can go for you know we can um ask about those teacher laptops too. Can you say a few things about >>
157Can you say a few things about how the staff or the the entire staff work towards saving that much money? >> Um well, so one of the it's really more of the M cost as far as the salaries. Um, you know, I think we I'm excited that we can when we're looking at what we have and you know, being in my position for the first time this year, um, I think I was, you know, we and everybody being in their position for the first time this year, everybody approached it as, you know, we were being conservative as far as, you know, what what what did we spend last year and so we did a lot of comparisons to what we did last year. Um, I relied a lot on Kimberly Dougdale's support to, you know,
158to guide me through some of that spending and and some of the dollars that we put through. Um, I actually I have to give a lot of credit to Mr. Bosley um and also Mr. Neil on um how just how well they work with the vendors um and finding really great solutions to some of the you know some of the purchases that we have to make. Um and as and then as far as our um as far as our salaries, I mean those that's where you know that is our salaries and our benefits are those are costs that are you know naturally incurred and there's there's no change on that. But based on what we've seen this year, we can move forward with those thousand raises for the teachers um and absorbing some of that
159cost from next year's insurance as well. >> Good. I think you've done a great job. >> Thank you. Uh this final piece is the classroom site fund and this is the this is how we fund our teachers 301 compensation. Um and so again so we we stayed with that same $9,200 this year for qualifying teachers moving into next year. We're hopeful and I don't and I don't want to speak too much to the amount but I I'm confident that we can offer at least that much if not maybe a bit more to our teachers next year for our classroom um our classroom site funds. So those 301 um so this is but this is going towards that um this is that performance pay you know that classroom from site fund bucket >> does the state
160set the amount they say oh blurry this is how much you get >> so we get yeah we they will tell us how many how how many dollars we get per student this year was $842 per student next year it's going up to $882 a student which is good the the only issue is our enrollment has dropped a bit so it's probably going to balance out. >> Um, Courtney, there's some there's some numbers that, you know, where our expenses, our year-to-day expenses are are, you know, over what we've budgeted for expenses and then we have some revenues that are way behind. Can you kind of just tell about what why that might be? >> I can. So, if you look at the so in the monthly financial report that I we you receive every month,
161you'll see that there are some negative balances in um in the general connection report and those are due to our grant reimbursements. And so, we pay those we pay that dollar amount out and then we put that re reimbursement request into the state and they pay us back for that. And so we have several um several of those accounts, several of those funds that we um that we get those reimbursements back from. I believe that is it. That's all I have as far as the budget revision. Do you have any questions for me regarding um regarding anything I've discussed or anything else regarding the budget? Does that have to be turned in in the next hour? >> It does not. I've got until the 15th for this one. >> All right. All right. So, can
162we have a motion to accept the revised budget as presented? >> I move we accept the revised budget as presented. >> This item 3.2. Any second? >> I second. >> Second. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Any nays? Nope. All right. That looks to be passed. Also >> Courtney's like, >> yeah, I'll have to do that again. Uh, >> that is a big thing. I mean, you you make it sound so simple >> and it it's a big big job. >> I know you haven't slept for three nights. >> Your plate's full right now. Appreciate all you do and the hours you put into it. Thank you. >> Uh, item 3.3. Uh, >> Mr. Rolloff, do you want to explain kinder camp? Yeah, this is this is an exciting one and you know,
163Miss Butler could maybe share shed some light into this, but we're able to bring in our kids coming into kinder. It's a fully funded program from United Way. They pay our staff to bring our kids in as a jump start to kinder. I know some neighboring districts that do not have this program are trying to get the program. United Way has been really good to us um with a few of their things, but yeah, it's it's getting our kindergarten kids in, getting them a little kickstart before the school year starts and getting them off on the right foot. So hopefully there's not as many tears when kindergarten starts for the moms or for the students. Yes. >> Do they get to ride a bus? >> I don't think they ride a bus. No, they don't
164get to ride a bus. We we saved that >> grand reveal for for the first day of school. That's That's a whole new challenge. >> Yeah. >> Any other comments, questions about that? >> No, I think it's great. >> We have a motion then to accept item 3.3 regarding the outline for Kinder Cup Camp. >> Move that we recommend the motion for Kinder Camp. >> We get a second. Second from Bridget. All in favor say I. >> I. No. All right, that pass. Now, uh, recommendation to approve the purchase of teacher laptops. I think we've already discussed that just a little bit. So, we can we have a couple hours still to to discuss that. >> You want me to kill a couple work and what you've done. >> So, yeah. So, teacher laptops been
165after that, Mr. Rollolof, uh, Miss Hoffmire spent a ton of effort this year really prioritizing, uh, the teacher laptops. Um, we were able to, uh, work with Dell. Um, we have a great relationship with them. I built up some really good relationships over the last decade with them. Um, and we have been able to negotiate a 41% off the MSRP on these um, items. And then once that was done and they thought they had a deal, we went back with them um, and got 5 years of drops, damages, accidental uh, damage protection. So, we have full five years of full um, liquid coverage. they drop it, break it, anything, that's all covered um under warranty for the next five years, which is a few hundred dollars on top of um the discounted rate we already
166got on that. So, um coming to you now uh tonight to uh they call that Dell Pro support, by the way. Um and coming you to to you tonight um after the last three years of trying to do this to ask for your approval for our teachers uh laptops, please. >> Questions or comments or discussion? We have a motion then to accept the to approve the purchase of the teacher laptops as presented. >> So moved. >> A motion a second. I think that's true. >> Second Sylvia. All in favor say I. >> I. >> Again, this looks so easy that I know that a lot of hours went into this. >> You can go order them. >> Thank you so much. Teachers are very grateful to you all. Thank you. >> All right. >> You
167can leave. >> All right. Next item on the agenda is our superintendence report. I think we have somebody would like to do a call to the public first. Is that all right with you? >> Chad Ashcraft. >> Did he leave? >> I was afraid of that meeting got too long. >> Okay, >> I'll just read what it says. He He'd like to express appreciation for a school employee. So, that's a positive thing. Chad Ashcraft, >> he didn't say who the employee was. And I I won't I won't put words in his mouth, but I actually had a meeting with him specifically. And so I'll I'll let him present at a later time and talk to us, but he had a meeting with me earlier this year, and he he wanted to share with me just
168how much coach Halmerson supported his son and did a great job with developing his son and really cared and made a huge change in his life. So, I I look forward to his his comment to the public, but he he's expressed that to me before, his gratitude for um you know, just the personal relationship and all of us who know Coach Halmerson just know he's a he's a he's a sweetheart of a guy and he he'd give his shirt off his back for you and and he really saw some great changes with his son. And so we we've talked about that before, but I'll I'll let him speak for himself when when he's available to come to another meeting, but I want to make sure um and I don't mean to speak on his behalf,
169but I know that um Coach Halmerson did some great things with his son, so he want he was very thankful for that. >> All right. Would you like to give us a just kind of a brief update on what's going on? >> Keep it short. >> I know. I know. I've I've talked a lot tonight and I have some more talking with you guys a little bit later that I'm sure you're all looking forward to. But I have some really special exciting news that just happened today and Mary's going to crawl under the table right now. Mary received a very prestigious Miss Ford received a very prestigious award today. She's one of two ladies recognized throughout us throughout the state for the Carolyn Warner Award for excellence in educational leadership. So we want to congratulate
170Mary for receiving that award. Some of the components that went in in the award is there was an anonymous um nomination, but it um years of experience and leadership and um there were some different components that there were a lot of criteria that had to be met. And so her dedication, her long-standing dedication and care for this district were things that came out in in the award. So, we really want to congratulate Mary and thank her for her service and we think um we're very proud that she earned that recognition. We won't make her speak though because we know that she would really crawl underneath her desk for then. So, I I just wanted to make sure I >> say we're lucky to have Mary >> andbody on the marquee to I think with a
171picture. >> I I have a and I have a special connection with Caroline Warner. She actually came to Blige you I mean I was in sixth grade and she came and had like a little town hall with students um back then. So I was like wow and I didn't know who Caroline Warner was at the time but I do now. >> That's a great connection. And the award is presented by Arizona School Administrators Association and and sponsored by Grand Canyon University. And so they drove up from Phoenix today just to have a quick recognition with Miss Ford. So uh Miss Hoffmar got some good pictures. we'll be putting on social media putting her out there on that. So, congratulations. Um, also I want to I I just want to loop back and I and I
172want to commend another one of our district leaders. I think Nathan um Neil did a good job bringing in some different communities and I know that um our student computers have been a topic of contention that we've heard over and over again and I just want to appreciate him for listening listening to the folks and listening to a variety of viewpoints and um and working to come to a consensus with the group in a short amount of time. And that's not just listening in the one meeting, but listening to all these comments that have been said, looking up the research as what's best for kids. And just like Mary, you know, I think celebrate Nathan doing what he feels like is best for our kids for now and in the future. Um, uh, I also
173wanted to mentioned, Mr. Grace and I had talked and he asked me to talk about it today that there was some information that the high school was looking at moving to a seven period day and he wanted everybody to make sure and know that that's not something we're going to talk about that that's not something we're going to do this year and I I fully support that. But it's something he wants to start discussions about possibly for future years down the road to see what that looks like because it has a lot of implications. but it's not something we're starting and it's not something we're going to take on for next year. Um, we h I was excited to announce that we have a Blige concert in a 21st century highlight pro project highlight that
174starts at 6 p.m. We might be a little late for that, but that was going on tonight. And also online registration is already open for 2627. We know that um our um our registars did a great job at our school getting 100% that helped us with our free and reduced numbers and so we just wanted to get it out to the community that that was um going on right now and that's that's it for me for now. >> You're kind of horse. So >> well that's why you get paid the big bucks, right? >> Y >> um so open call to the public. Anybody who would like to address the board at this time, we'd appreciate those comments. We'd like you to keep them limited to about three minutes. If anybody would like to come
175up and do that on any topic, looks like that's it. Next item on the agenda then would be to announce our regular board meeting, which will be June 9th at this location at 5:00. We um at this time are going to go into executive session to discuss performance evaluation for our new superintendent, Mr. Jonathan Roloff. So I have a motion to move into executive session. >> So move. >> I have a motion of second. >> Second. >> A second from Sil in favor say I. >> I. That looked to be unanimous. We'll we'll adjourn to executive session in that room back there which is private to the public. And when we have results of that, we'll come back out into the public and uh announce the results of that uh executive session. So, thank you.
176We'll move to that