001Okay, I'm going to call this meeting to order at 602. Can I get roll call, please? >> Here. >> Present. If we can all please stand for the pledge of allegiance. Miss Roles, will you please lead us? >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Thank you. You may be seated. I'm going to go to call to the public item number three. Any item wishing to speak concerning an item not on the agenda may present information at this time. All presentations are limited to a maximum of three minutes. person is Christian. Interpretch. Gracias. organ inclusive. God. No. Ships. Teacher Appreciation Week. Appreciation District. Thank you. Next we have Mr. Jesus
002Lopez. That's it. Okay. Lopez. particip. Yeah. Gracias. Yes. >> Perfect. >> They had a PTO card in one. >> Gracias. >> Thank you. Um, anyone else on call to the public? for puzzle. Uh, my name is Alberto Ortiz. See particip Christian. Soch. participative. Okay, this is called to the public. Anyone else? Okay, seeing none, I'm going to go to item number four. Approval of the agenda. Do I have a motion to approve the agenda as presented? >> I make a motion. >> Moved by board clair concha. Do I have a second? >> Second by board member Varela. All those in favor, please signify by saying I. I >> if anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. Item number five, consent agenda. The consent agenda items are presented for approval with one
003motion. These items are considered regular items that we may require no discussion. If someone from the board would like to pull one of these items from the agenda, please say so before um entertaining the motion. If not, we have item number 5.1, approval of donations for teacher appreciation week and 5.2, ratification of approval of donations for district recruitment fair. Um, do I have a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> I make a motion. >> Moved by board member OOS. Do I have a second? >> Second by board member Varela. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. If anyone want to opposes please say so by stating nay. >> I will abstain on these items. >> Both of them. >> Yes. >> Okay. Duly noted motion consent agenda passes item
0045.1 5.2 four eyes to one abstension from Mr. Ber Koncha. Item number six information and discussion items 6.1 health insurance report. Mrs. Um yes, for the past two years, we've been meeting with the health insurance board and we've been talking to principles um directors and preparing our all our full-time employees that get free insurance. Um we've been talking about how the rates have gone up, how the uh medical bills have gone up um three uh three times more. we're paying. Last year we had to put in a little bit over I want to say $2 million. Um, so we've been having this conversation, but I know that our school board and our health insurance trust has been working together and after reviewing the district budget, um, it has been approved for Gazin Elementary School District
005to continue to provide the same health insurance at no cost uh to the eligible full-time employees um, including the PO medical, dental, and vision coverage. The district pays approximately uh 9,737 per eligible employee per year for the US Mexico coverage and 5,000 uh 694 uh per year for the family Mexico plan. Um the total estimated annual cost for providing these benefits is 4,630,509. So, I'm very pleased and happy to announce that our insurance trust board has approved for all employees to continue with the free medical insurance. >> Thank you, Mrs. Para. To add to that, um >> I know >> I Oh, that is great news. Um I've been attending to the trust meeting meetings as a member of the public for at least three no two three years more or less give or take.
006Um the board of trustees has has done a really good job at at having given us the ability to provide the benefits for full-time employees at no cost and eligible employees at no cost to the employees. Um we had the um insurance predictions the presentation we talked about the claims. Um we had our profit and loss report as well as our claims report. Um we will continue with Blue Cross with Shield. Uh we renewed the as to reiterate um free of charge to our employees how much we pay. Uh and we'll be we'll be doing some revisions to the board to the trust procedures. Um I just want to note that on 2021 um the assets and and which correlate to the expenses were at $2.7 million um in 2025 at 1.8 and the projected
007expenses for this year are $2.2 million for employee benefits which it's u self- sustained by the trust. So, it's really important to keep our employees informed as to what it takes to when they go directly to a doctor, when they request a a referral form and and all the benefits that they have with a flexible spending account, which that allows them to make expenses and and pre-tax before tax, so they don't pay any taxes on those claims. We have the win-win program which provides reimbursement and and allows the claims not to be too high for our our trust. And since that that is a self-sustained trust, it's very important to keep our claims at a low cost because if not, we'll be the trust will have no option but to recommend or or to start,
008you know, charging for our health insurance benefits which I think keep us being um one of the top districts in the in Yuma County when and and and and I will dare to say in the state because I I on a being being part of the ASVA Arizona School Board Association And we we also they I also have an they also have a trust. It just doesn't work for us because uh we are a border city and therefore it's hard to have that benefit that allows to cover medical expenses here in the US and just you know in Mexico and there only like four or five uh school district that are on the border. Um, but yeah, I want to thank the trustees and the board and finance and for doing a great presentation and
009and for making that decision last Friday. Anything else or anyone else? No. >> All right. >> Thank you. Um, we have translation devices, English to Spanish, Spanish to English. Thank you for the reminder for um >> yes >> no just just say it's a very good news because the health it it's very important important to to all the staff and this is extraordinary new so congratulations. >> Thank you for Royo. Okay, number seven action items. Item number 7.1 review and approve the corrected fiscal year for the independent auditing firm Hindel Mitch and Company PC. And Mrs. Parsa >> at the governing board meeting of April 14, 2026, the board approved the selection of adding firm um Heinfield and Mitch and COP PC. However, the award start date was incorrectly stated. The corrected beginning date is
010July 2025. The administrative recommendation is to approve the corrected start date of the audit firm Heinfield Mitch COPC beginning July 1, July 1st, 2025 as presented. >> Okay. Um, does anyone have any questions, comments, or concerns? >> Okay. And just to clarify, we did approve this at our last meeting. However, we presented it with a 2026 item, but our fiscal year starts in 2026. Therefore, we need to be audited for 2025. So, so not to confuse anyone that's why we we appro we are approving for the correct to be independently audited for the year 2025 which will be ending this upcoming July 31st. >> So with that I have the recommendation is to approve the item as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So move >> moved by board member Varela. Do I have
011a second? >> Second by board clerk Koncha. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If you have an opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. >> Item number 7.2 approval of employee contract templates for 2026 2027 fiscal year. Mrs. Vestto. >> Yes. Uh so we are submitting the employee contract templates to the governing board for approval. The contract templates include the following which is a total of six. So there is the administrators, the certified non-eing that goes to counselor, psyches and speech pathologist, the notice of appointments that go to classified exempt, full-time hourly and part-time hourly, and of course the teacher contract. These contracts have been prepared by the district attorney. The recommended revisions are highlighted in yellow to reflect updates to the fiscal year and the board president's signatures
012line. The administrative recommendation is to approve the above employee contract templates for the 2627 fiscal year as presented. >> Thank you, Mrs. Aestto. Do any of the board members have any questions or comments on the contracts in your packet? >> Uh, I know you highlighted the changes which are mainly dates and >> typographical. We're still keeping the clause that was added a couple years, right? That we are at a at a wheel state. >> Absolutely. Therefore, employment can be terminated at any >> Yes. >> day. >> Mhm. >> All right. With that, there's administrative recommendation is to approve the contracts as presented. Is there a motion? >> So move. >> Moved by board member oil. Do I have a second? >> Second by board member A Royo. All those in favor signify by saying I.
013>> If anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. Item number 7.3, approval of the work calendar for all current positions and number of paid holidays for support staff classified hourly positions for the 2026 27 fiscal year. Mrs. Vestto, >> yes. Uh, the administration is submitting to the governing board for approval the recommended work calendars for all the current district positions for the 2627 fiscal year. I do want to note that they're the same that were last year. We just have to bring them to you guys every year for approval. In addition, the administration requests approval of the number of paid holidays in accordance with policy GDD for all support staff classified and hourly employee groups for holidays that fall within their prospective contract days and attach are the the calendars. The
014administrative recommendation is to approve the work calendars for all current positions for the fiscal year 2627 and in addition the number of paid holidays for all support staff classified hourly positions as reflected in the attachment as presented. Thank you, Miss Vestto. Um, can you clarify the number of holidays that we pay and why some people claim that they are that they don't get their holidays pay paid? >> Um, I don't know how to explain it because I don't know which position they might be >> questioning. So, we do have a a total um so our fiscal year begins July 1st and it ends June 30th. Um so, we have a total of 33 paid holidays. Um it's usually the federal holidays and then we have about almost 3 weeks off in the winter, spring break.
015Um so, we we do have a total of 33 and every employee. The only thing I can think of is that when you're a salary employee, maybe you don't see it because your paycheck is divided equally through the year. So, you always get the same. Um, but there's paid holiday. It's in policy. >> So, everyone that qualifies for holidays, they get paid. >> Absolutely. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> May I add um for clarification? So when there is an hourly full-time, usually they get paid the time that they worked by hour. So what we do is we take their salary and we divide it. So that means that because we're dividing it throughout the days, they get those paid three weeks in the winter. >> So I think that that I think that might be
016a confusion because they get their paycheck every two weeks. So maybe our employees um believe that I'm supposed to be getting a check every two weeks, but in reality is that the board approved for us to be able to give him a check during those three weeks. >> Yes. >> Thank you. And I know I bring this up every couple years, but because they're on and off, people keep claiming that they don't get paid their holidays. I know they do, but it's just sometimes I get question about it. I don't know why. Does anyone from the board have any questions or comments on the board calendars? If not, the administrator recommendation is to approve as presented. Do I have a motion? >> Make a motion. >> Moved by board cler koncha. Do I have a
017second? >> Second by board member Aoyo. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. Item number 7.04, 4 approval of district proposition 301 paper performance plan be approved by the governing board every school year. Mrs. Vestto. >> Yes. So the Arizona Department of Education requires that the Proposition 301 pay for performance plan be approved by the governing board every school year. The recommendation is also to increase the total amount of payout to the following. So the easiest way to say it is that this year we were at 15,500 15,000 at 15,000. So it's uh for next year the recommendation is to go to 16500 and attach you can find find the 301 pay for performance for 2627 which is no changes from
018the previous year. The administrative recommendation is to approve the Gatsson proposition 301 pay for performance plan and the payout amounts for the 2627 fiscal year as presented. >> Thank you Miss Leto. So we're increasing it by $1,000 um >> 1500. It was 15,000 and it's going to 165. >> So $500 >> uh milentos 1 1500,000. >> So we're increasing by 1500. Yes. Okay. >> My bad. I heard I thought it said 500. >> So we're increasing by 1500. Do you do we know how much other >> Absolutely. >> school districts pay in the county? >> Yes. So um Summerton School District is below 10,000. It's 9,000 something. Crane is at 15,500 and Yuma Elementary uh is at 16,200. So, we're above all three of them. >> All right. >> And there's no um >> I
019know it's it's good news for our employees. Um, and we're still keeping the same criteria as previous years, right? For people. Yes. For employers that that plan is the same. >> Okay. I want to commend staff um for it's not funding the money for being able to allocate the funds to to be able to provide not just provide the u the 301 money but also increase it for $1,500 for for people that qualify >> for for this proposition um 30 um I'm sorry prop yeah proposition 301 I was going to say 21 301 so thank you for hard work on that one. Um any questions or comments from any other board members? >> Okay, seeing none, um the admin recommendation is to approve the recommendation as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So move.
020>> Moved by board member uh Varela. Do I have a second? >> Second by board member Aoyo. Those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. I. >> If anyone opposes, please say nay. Motion carries denied. Now you can do an applause because it's official. I didn't want to jinx it because I I don't you know I would I don't want to speak for the rest of the board, but you never know. It's a we still have to make an official vote on it. Moving along. Item number 7.5 approval of certified teacher salary schedule contracts and salary increase for all current eligible employees for the 2026 2027 fiscal year. Miss Eyest. >> Yes. So to remain competitive with Yuma County elementary school districts, the administration recommends an increase to certified teacher salary schedules for the
0212627 fiscal year. A 3.5% increase is proposed for all current eligible certified positions. You can see the list. All of those fall under the teacher contract. Um employees hired on or after January 1 of 2026 will receive a 1.75% increase. A list of employees receiving a certified teacher contract along with a recommended certified teacher salary schedule is attached for your approval. Um I do want to let you know that um we are the highest. Um this will um I believe the one right below us is at 468. We're starting at 47 and that school district's uh 301 is at 155 and we're at 165. Um the administrative recommendation is to approve the certified teacher salary schedule, contracts, list of employees, and increase to eligible current certified employees for the 2627 fiscal year as presented. >>
022Thank you, Miss Ato. So 3.5 increase, correct? >> Um so our neighboring school districts did 2% and 3%. >> And we're doing 3.5. >> 3.5. So we're still the highest in Yuma County. >> Yes. starting and the highest increase for internal. >> Okay, thank you for thank you for that as well staff. Um any questions or comments from any other members? >> Okay, >> just the teachers don't get dizzy. >> Don't get what >> they they should not get dizzy. >> Keep on being busy. >> They are busy. Mhm. >> So the administrative recommendation is to approve the certified teacher salary schedule contracts list of employees and increase to eligible current certified employees for the 2026 2027 fiscal year as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So move >> moved by Barber Vela. Do
023I have a second? >> Second by Berber Aoyo. Uh those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you everyone. Item number 7.6, approval of support staff classified hourly scheduled notice of appointment and hourly increase for eligible employees for the 2026 2027 fiscal year. Mrs. Vestto. >> Yes. Uh again, in order to remain competitive, the administration has reviewed the budget and recommends the following increases to all hourly current employees. a 3.5% increase for all eligible eligible current employees hired prior to January 1, 2026 on the paid grade B through Q. Employees hired after January 1 on grade B through Q will receive either a 1.75% increase to their current hourly rate or be placed on the entry level rate of their assigned grade,
024whichever is higher. And also, we're recommending um an increase to schedule A. So, just so you guys know, our minimum wage right now is at $1,515. Schedule A right now for this year is at $1,550 and we're recommending um to increase it to $16 um and move all the employees in schedule A to $16. So, I just wanted to reiterate that because the rest of the school districts wait until January 1st to move all these employees that are on minimum wage and we do it from the beginning of their contract. The proposed support um staff classified hourly schedule along with a list of employees receiving contract issuance is attached for your review. Um again, the neighbor school districts did 2% and 3%. The administrative recommendation is to approve um the support staff classified hourly placement
025schedule, list of employees, notice of appointments, and the hourly increases for all current eligible employees for the 2627 fiscal year as presented. >> Thank you. Um how many years ago did the salary that the state minimum wage was set? Is it four years? Because we're going into the fourth year. I think it's been more more >> um because from 8:15 it jumped to 10 >> then to 10:50 then 11 and then 12 um and it's been increasing ever ever since. So >> okay so so but when it went I think to 12 that's when we started actually doing it before. >> Yes. >> Oh so when we started doing the increases in August for minimum wage. Yes. >> Okay. So yeah it's been about three or four years. >> Okay. Yeah. I I just wanted
026to say that and because that's also also a misconception for the employees that are already working that usually gets a big media traction you know when the salary the minimum wage is increased in January 1. >> Yes. >> And we actually do it when they start working in August. Correct. So >> you know we start ahead of >> of the of the state a semester ahead of the state. So so thank you for keeping that up for three years now give or take. I can't remember when I started. So, I know it's I know it's a lot of work, but thank you for for doing that. I think I would think that you know the the employees on salary in schedule A are or would be appreciative of that. Um any questions or comments from
027any of the board members? >> I just want to make a comment. Um thank you for be proactive and pay more than what is the minimum wage. Um because I mean minimum wage is not enough and that that extra helps a lot to be honest. So, thank you for that. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. So, >> I do want to say that it's a team effort. So, I know Mr. Burnernhard is not here and you know it, it really is Mrs. Esparsa behind the scenes and working and budgeting and and this is not new. I mean, you start budgeting with time. So, so it is it is a team effort. >> Mrs. Parson, anything to add? Anything to add? I know you probably are burn about talking about salary increases but do
028you have anything to add to that? >> Um it is a big challenge to um make sure that especially now um to remain competitive and remain being the highest paid not only for our certified teachers but also for our classified exempt. Um that's why we I I know that principles want contracts around March, April, but uh one of the reasons we wait and we ask the governing board to come and do a special board meeting is because we do want to remain number one in the Yimma County, but we also want to remain competitive and we also want to make sure that we take care of all the employees and of course with the support of the board members because uh to all our board members that is a priority that we take care of
029our employees. Please. >> Thank you, Mrs. Parisa. Um, item number 7.6. So, the administrative recommendation is to approve the support staff classified and hourly placement schedule, list of employees, notice of appointments, and the hourly increases for current eligible employees for the 20 2026 2027 fiscal year as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So, move. Moved by Oyos. Do I have a second? >> Second by board clair concha. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. >> Thank you. Thank you. does it does deserve an applause. Uh being being you know the highest paid in Yuma County and also academically you guys for all the hard work that you do being academic also the the number one in Yuma County. It it
030does say a lot. It it and it does take a village to to get this done. So thank you. Um I do wish it could be more but it it we can't. And I know I'll get the eagle eye but um I know you you guys do great at working this out. Thank you. So I'm I'm appreciate appreciative of all the staff for that. Item number 7.7 approval of salary exempt placement schedule contracts and salary salary increase for all current eligible employees for 2026 2027 fiscal year. Mrs. Vestto. >> Yes. So in order again to remain competitive the administration had reviewed the vet budget and recommends the following increases to current eligible employees on salary schedules 2 through 18. a 3.5% increase for all eligible employees hired prior to January 1, 2026 and a 1.75%
031increase for employees hired on or after January 1, 2026. The recommended salary exempt placement schedule along with a list of employees receiving contract issuance is attached for your review and approval. The administrator recommendation is to approve the salary exempt placement schedule, list of employees contracts, and salary increases for all current eligible employees for the 2627 fiscal year as presented. Um again, 2% and 3% um in the uh Yuma County where the and we're doing a 3.5. So 3.5 you said 2 point uh I'm sorry 2% other districts but we're doing 3.5. >> Yes. So Summerton did 2% and uh Crane and Elementary one did a 3%. >> Okay. So that's good. Any questions, comments? >> Okay. So the recommendation is to approve the salary exempt placement schedule list of employees contract and salary increases for
032all current eligible employees for the 2026 2027 fiscal year as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Moved by board member Vela. Do I have a second? >> Second by board member Royo. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. >> Principal. I just want to congratulate you. Congratulate you. You all deserve this. You You work very hard and you make this a very special place for our children. So, keep up the good work and we'll try to keep the the moola. >> Thank you. Um item number 7.8 approval of additional increase adjustment for selected positions for the 2026 2027 fiscal year. Mrs. Vestto. Yes. So after reviewing and comparing our hourly and salary rates uh for
033all positions account across Yuma County elementary school districts, the following positions are compensated at higher rates in those districts for the 2627 fiscal year. So what we do is that we literally go through each position whether it's hourly salary or teachers and we compare it with what that position is paid in Summerton, Crane and Elementary. Because when we say we want to be number one, if we have to move certain positions to be there, then that's exactly what we're doing. So these positions currently, you can see the current rate that we had in our district and what what we are recommending for 2627, which is what you guys just approved in the schedules, but because we currently have employees in those positions, not only do we need to give them the 3.5%, but we need
034to give them the difference to put put them at the high. So if you guys see psychologist, speech and language pathologist, system administrators, parent liaison, lead cook, health assistant, bus driver, vehicle maintenance assistant, and vehicle maintenance technicians are currently paid higher at another neighboring school district. So we're just trying to put those in the high. So they would the in order to remain competitive, I guess if I read this, it would make sense. In order to remain competitive and maintain the highest paying rates with our other Yuma County elementary school districts, we are recommending that all current employees hired prior to January 1, 2026 in the position listed above receive the difference which is a highlighted in yellow and rate for after the application of the 3.5% salary increase. The administrative recommendation is to approve
035the difference in rate that's highlighted in yellow after application of the approved 3.5% increase for all current eligible employees hired prior to January 1, 2026 in the positions listed listed above as presented. >> Any questions for me for Miss Vice Mrs. Vestto? >> Thank you. Okay, with that the recommendation is to approve the increased adjustment for the selected position as presented. Do I have a motion? So make a motion. >> Moved by board member Bellarella. Do I have a second? >> Second by board clair contra. Uh those in favor signify by saying I. >> If you have no opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. Before adjouring the meeting, I want to thank my fellow board members for coming in on for a special meeting for this item. um staff was working
036really hard on on getting this and keeping us all being the highest paid and and and the number one in Yuma County, not just academically, but you know, highest pay to our employees. So, that's that's important to us. So, I want to thank um the rest of my colleagues on the board and staff for being here on another Monday for a special meeting for for this item. With that, does anyone have anything to add? >> Yes. I just want to congratulate you all and say that you deserve that and much much more for all what you do for our kids. Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Yes. I just want to say thank you. Thank you very much for your hard work and come every day and put that smile with
037our kids. really I appreciated that. So, gracias, much gracias. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? >> Um, yes. I just want to say thank you to everyone, Mrs. Sparsa, Mrs. Galban, Biseros, all the principles, teacher, everyone that is involved on our kids education. Thank you so much for all what you guys do for for our kids. Thank you. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Okay. >> Okay. Thank you. Okay. With that and if no one opposes and with no further business on the agenda, I'm going to be adjourning the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Thank you everyone. Have a good evening and thank you for being here on a Monday. Appreciate it. >> Thank you.