001I'm going to call this meeting to order at 6:04 p.m. Can I have a roll call, please? >> Rosie Varela, >> present. >> De Laoya, >> present. >> Marona, >> present. >> Liliana Royo, >> present. >> Thank you. Can we all please stand for the pledge of allegiance? Miss Alban, would you please lead us? I aliance to the stand. >> You may be seated. Thank you. >> We're going to go to the approval agenda. Item number one, approval of the current meeting agenda. Do I have a motion? >> I make a motion to approve the agenda. >> Is there a second? >> Moved by board member Koncha, seconded by Varela. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. >> Motion carries unanimously. Approval of the
002minutes. Item number two, approval of the governing board meeting minutes of November 12th, 2015 and special board meeting board meeting minutes of December 2nd, 2025. Are there any questions, revisions to the minutes presented in your packet? >> Okay, I make a motion to approve the minutes. >> Moved by me. Is there a second? >> Second by clerela. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. If anyone opposes this, please say I so by stating nay. All right. Motion carries unanimously. We're going to go to item number three, district superintendent report. Hi, good afternoon. Thank you everybody for being here tonight. Um I want to start off by thanking uh the governing board members who had the opportunity to attend. Uh we had the migrant pala pala. I knew that our new um elected
003board member was very impressed, but white gassin does. I can assure our new board member that he's going to be impressed by all the great things that are going on at Gassin District. So, thank you for attending both of those and thank you for the generous donations. We have about 30 companies that donated towards sped kits to our migrant kids. We're very thankful for that. Um, and I just ask that you look at your calendars because we do have events all this week and then all next week um as well. So again, thank you for attending. And at this time, I'd like to call Mrs. Bethany Loss for the employees of the month. >> You're up. Not right. Left hand right. [applause] not everywhere. She tells me she takes care of is sorry. She is
004um just a phenomenal person. I admire her as a mom, as a full-time student, as a secretary. Um I don't know honestly how she juggles what she does. um there's not enough hours in the day for what she does. Um she's just a beautiful human being inside and out. Um and I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you do for me, for Rio, Colorado, and for everyone at your house, in your community, and our school. So, thank you so much. I love you. >> [applause] >> And this is just a small token of my appreciation. I already broke it. The next person I want to is Miss [applause] All right. Patty Patt. Got it. Miss Patty feeds um not only our stomachs, but she feeds um our hearts
005and souls at Rio, Colorado. Um it is her fault that I've gained like 10 pounds since I got there, [laughter] but um she greets us every day with this amazing kindness and these blessings that she brings to us. Um it is this smile and this um just the love that she gives us. Um Patty and I lost our moms at about the same time. Um I don't want to make it dark. Um but we um kind of shared a struggle together at the same time. And um it was um beautiful to watch our moms go to the next journey in their chapter. um knowing that they were loved so deeply in this world and Patty knew that um both of our moms had that journey together. Um and Patty is just an amazing human being.
006She always makes sure that we are always first of all that our bill is paid in the cafeteria because you ain't getting any food at Rio if your bill is not paid. Let me tell you that. She is like missita and I'm like okay sorry Patty let me go to the bank. So, uh, first of all, she's going to hold us accountable, and second, she just feeds us with love and admiration. So, thank you so much, Patty, for your kindness, and you make sure everyone at Rio is loved and taken care of. So, thank you. [applause] >> So, I am the luckiest principal in the world. So, thank you guys so much. >> Oh, yes. Yes. Thank you. funny story. found out small. >> Thank you for the superintend. >> Thank you, Musl. And congratulations
007to both the ladies and the hard work that you do. Um so that's it on presentations. Thank you. We're now going to Yes. >> One more thing. Um next week we're gonna um alongside the board members, we're going to be at the Arizona School Board Association where our current president is also the president and Mrs. Vanessa Gonzalez, Mrs. Galvan and myself will be uh presenting at the ASBA. So >> thank you for that. looking forward. Um, we're now going to go to call to the public. Any person wishing to speak concerning an item not on the agenda may present the information at this time. All presentations is limited to a maximum of three minutes. Um, I do have two people signed up for call to the public. Um, our just before I call on anyone,
008I want to make sure our online viewers are able to listen. That good to go. Okay. So, first person that I have is Miss Lisa. >> Sure. Miss Mariana. Good evening everybody. Um, I am here as the president of the Gaston Teacher Association and it truly touches my heart to stand here and warmly welcome our new board member, Mr. Gonchas, and our new board president, Mr. De Laoya. Your presence here marks the beginning of a new chapter, one filled with hope, collaboration, and the belief that together we can continue to make a real difference. In our district, every decision we make affects our affects lives, our student futures, our employees well-being, and the strength of our community. That is why we as an association sincerely are looking forward to working closely with our board members.
009We believe that when people come together with sincerity, compassion, and shared purpose, beautiful things can happen. We are eager to build a strong trusting relationships. one rooted in open dialogue and respect. Our students deserve leaders who believe in them and our employees deserve advocates who stand beside them. We know that by joining our efforts, we can continue to lift every classroom and every child. Once again, welcome and thank you for stepping into these roles with courage and commitment. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Miss. L Areola, please. >> [snorts] >> Good evening members of the board, superintendent and community. First, I want to congratulate Mark Koncha, our newly elected board member. That win was long overdue and it reflects years of work and commitment to this district. I also want to congratulate Dio de Laoya
010on becoming board president. Another long overdue step that brings leadership this district has needed. And I want to recognize Mariana Tovar. Adriana Silva who stepped up to serve as a new president of the Gazin Education Association. Adriana Silva is going to be in charge of the classified personnel. Our educators um our educators need a strong voice right now and I know this will carry that responsibility and courage and clarity. My name is Lisa Riola. I'm here tonight as an honorary member of the Gazin Education Association and as a former GA president who spent more than 20 years inside these classrooms. This district shaped me. It taught me the power of community and it taught me that strong schools depend on strong educators. educators who feel heard, valued, and protected. Right now, our staff are carrying
011heavy loads, safety concerns, emotional challenges, academic gaps, and a weight of being the backbone of so many students. When they raise concerns is not noise, it's guidance. It's the district's opportunity to respond, improve, and strengthen trust. My role now is simple and direct. I'm here to be the liaison. When any member becomes comes forward with concerns, whether it's about communication, workload, or workplace safety, I will help ensure their voice reaches the board respectfully and clearly. Not to divide, but to reinforce the foundation our students depend on. When educators feel supported, students rise. And when students rise, the entire community rises with them. Thank you for your time and your work to continue to do that you do for the guest and families and staff. >> Thank you, Miss. Um, that's everyone I have signed up
012for call to the public. Does anyone else? >> Yes, if may I? >> Okay, go ahead. >> Um, I want to take a minute to congrat for the second A that they obtained and DBS of course for the 9A that they obtained. I know it sounds easy to just say obtain an A but I know it's a hard work teachers, principal, masters, every person that I gets involved. I just want to congrats and I mean congratulations. >> Thank you. Anyone else? Seeing none, we're going to move to the consent agenda. item listed on the consent agenda. I presented for approval with one motions withhold motion. If any of the items need to be considered outside of the consent agenda, please let me know. We have item number four, student activity report. Item number five, ratification
013of vouchers. Item number six, uh, donations. Is there a motion to approve the consent agenda as presented? >> I make a motion. >> Move by member Kona. Is there a second? Second >> second by um Mr. Clerk Bella. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say nay. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Item number seven, expenditure report summary. Mr. Barhart. >> Uh yes. Good evening, members of the governing board and staff and members of the public. Uh this is the expenditure report as of the 5th of December 2025. The general fund maintenance and operations which is the largest fund in the district has a budget of $41 million. We've expended to date 13.5 million. We've uh encumbered a total of 21 million uh which means we've got POS and payroll
014uh contracts that amount to that number. And we have a budget balance of $5,837,000 as of the 5th of December, which is 14.4% of the total budget. I would also like to bring out that in our function 1000 which is uh education for the students directly we've got a budget for salaries and employee benefits of over $20 million and the total budget for function 1000 is 21 million. So 98% of that is salaries and benefits for teaching staff. uh function 2000 which is everything else. Uh we have a budget there for salaries of 9.1 9,150,000 employee benefits of 3,358,000. Uh and we've got a lot of other items there that total 19.5 million in budget. Again, the salary and benefits is by far the biggest single items on in budget for education purposes and function
0152000 does include all the master teachers u which are not included in the classroom budget. Um so that's where we stand now on m and capital outlay which is uh function or fund 610. We've got a budget there 13,957,000. We've expended to date 1,320,000. We've got uh incumbrances there of 644,000 uh for a total of about $2 million and a budget balance there of 11.9 million right now, which is 86% of that budget. The primary amount of that money is is reserved for capital items that are yet to be determined for future building projects primarily. And there's board discretion and superintendent discretion on how that is expended. And that's the sum of that. That's all I have for the budget for this month. >> Thank you, Mr. Bhart. Does anyone have any questions? Mr. first.
016Okay. Thank you, Mr. We're going to go to the action items. Item number eight, approval of stipen for eligible speech and language pathologist assistance, SLPA, Missto. >> Yes. Good afternoon everyone. Um due to the s shortage of speech and language pathologists, um it has been allowed um that SLPA's assistants who meet the following criteria complete student testing. So, um as the board would know, we have shortage of SLPAS across um you know Arizona at least. Um so in order for the state to allow SLPAs to do this kind of testing they have to complete all their graduate coursework be in good academic standing 70% of their services are independent and they work 25% under supervision can complete all testing all paperwork and direct service reports might be must be co-signed by by an SLP and
017parents must be notified that the SOPA is not fully certified because of the additional responsibilities for the SOPAS we are recommending a stipen up to 5,500 for the uh completion of student testing from August through December of 2025. Um this is something that we've done in the past um to help get uh up to date with the testing of the of the students. The administrative recommendation is to approve a stipen up to 5500 for eligible SLPAS that meet the above criteria from August through December of 2025 as presented. >> Thank you, Majest. Are there any questions, comments, or concerns from any of the board members? >> I do have a quick question. Um, when you say up to 5,500, where's the I guess was what's the starting? >> So, the starting would be zero. So,
018it depends on the evaluations. So, it depends on the number of the evaluations that they do. So right now, um, we currently have three that met this criteria, but they've now, you guys seen them in the board packets. They went from SLPAS to SLPs. So therefore, they wouldn't be eligible anymore. We still want to bring it to you guys because now those positions are open. So if we were to bring it in SLPAS that meet this criteria, they can assist us uh with uh the testing. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Estto. Um, the administrative recommendation is to approve the sip up to $5,500 for eligible SLPAS that meet the above criteria from August to December of 2025 as presented. Uh, do I have a motion? >> So move. >> Moved by board clerk uh,
019Vela. Do I have a second? >> Second by board member Aoyo. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes this, please say so. Please state. Say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. Action item number nine, approval of revision of policy GCC. Miss Vestto. >> Yes. So in discussion with our district attorney regarding the proposed changes, we are recommending a revision to policy GCC. The revision is intended to provide clearer guidance for employees on the use and acrual leave during family and medical leave which is FMLA. and you can please find attached the proposed revisions highlighted in yellow for your review. We are also requesting to wave the requirement of the second reading for policy BGB only for the revision proposed in this policy. So when we um we've been through
020trainings through ASBA and when we checked with the attorney as far as uh the policy the policy remains the same we're just changing the wording so it's very black and white and easy to understand. Um the administrative recommendation is to wave the second reading for policy BGB and to approve the revision to policy GCC as presented. >> Thank you. Merto, are there any questions, comments, or concerns from any of the board members? No. Um since we're on the on this topic, um is there a possibility that you would that you can look into as a stipen for our employees that we could uh implement um sick time donation from employee to employee? >> So we do have a sick leave bank. >> No. Can we look into uh actually making it making it a policy
021for as a stipend incentive for employees to have the ability for employees that have reached their maximum approve of hours or any employee for that matter? There's a >> 200 days >> 200 so they can donate it to other employees that are in need of CP to look at this. But what's your Yeah, we can look at it. So can you expand a little bit more on what you were asking? So >> uh to as an incentive or um not a stipen but as an incentive to our employees you know some employees that are in need. Um, and of course I know that they need to be employed full-time, be available for given that they're eligible for benefits and all that, you know, once all that criteria is met that employees to another employee are
022able to donate their sick leave because some employees like they're they just lose that every year and um >> so um can I touch on those two? So, we do have um as of right now in policy um full-time benefit eligible employees can acrue a max of 200 days. Once they reach the 200 days um let's say they have 202 days, they can only roll over every year 200. So, what Mr. Po was saying that instead of losing those two days, they could be donated. Um that's one I think. Uh and the other one is we do have a sick leave bank. Um and those when we do open enrollment in May, we allow every benefit eligible employee to enroll in the sick leaf bank. So the way that it works is that they donate
023a day and therefore if they need to take days out of that bank, they can take up to 20 days per year, but that bank is sustained by the donations. So if somebody unfortunately doesn't donate a day and they don't want to be part of it and something medically happens to them during the year, they can't take days from the bank because they didn't donate. >> Okay. So can we So not just the extra 100 hours. I mean 200 days. I'm sorry. I keep saying hours. Days. >> The 200 days. I know that's their maximum, but they can donate one employee to another eligible employees. This is my idea. Just again, not a >> I'm writing it down. >> Not a Yeah, it's it's not a not an order or a law change, but to
024look into possible for them to able to donate to eligible employees that need FMLA days throughout the year. So you don't have to say um FMLA as we cannot say that but we can say there's an employee that needs FMLA hours. Would you like to donate sick leave time to >> after the 200 days or regardless what the employee wants per >> No, since sometimes we have employees that exhaust their hours or are barely beginning and we have employees that have their maximum so they're able to donate to those employees that are in need of sick hours for FMLA occurrences. >> Okay. just for FMLA. >> Okay. >> Not any not just sick days just because >> So you like us to modify our sick leave bank policy. So regardless if >> looking to I
025mean looking >> so like let's say I get sick and I didn't donate I would still be eligible to get days if somebody donates them to me. >> Correct. >> Okay. >> I understand. >> Yeah. >> Okay. Okay. Thank you. Um any questions or comments? >> So in this case are we going to vote with this modification or where is going to be pending? >> Yeah. So, this is the policy. Uh the the one he's talking about is sick leave, not FM. >> Okay. Any more comments? Okay. The admin recommendation is to wave the second reading per policy BGV and to approve the revision of to policy G CC CCC as presented. Is there a motion? I make a motion. >> Moved by board member Koncha. Do I have a second? >> Second by board
026member Aoyo. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. Thank you. Okay, we're now going to go to personal items. Item number 10A, ratification and or new employment. Miss Estto. >> Yes. Uh so we have a total of seven. Number two is a new position for a sped classroom that was opened up at Cesar Chavez. And the same for number six is a new classroom for SPED at Rio Colorado. The rest of them are replacements. The administrative recommendation is to approve the personnel action as presented pending proper certification and clearance. >> Okay. Are there any questions from any of the employees listed on the list from one to seven? Okay. Seeing no questions, um the administrative recommendation is to approve the
027personal action as presented pending proper certification and clearance. Do I have a motion? >> Moved by board member Aoyo. Do I have a second? >> Second by board clerk um Varela. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries. Resignations. Yes, we have a total of six resignations and the letters are attached. Uh the administrative recommendation is to approve the resignations as presented. >> Thank you. Any questions on any of the people resigning from the list before you on one through six? Okay. No questions. Do I have a motion to approve the the recommendation is approved. The resignation is presented. >> So move. >> Moved by board clerk Varela. Do I have a second? Second >> seconded by board member Koncha. All those in
028favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say so by stating nay. Motion carries unanimously. And um transfer salary changes. >> Yes, we have a total of six. They're all transfers except number three. Got our master's degree. So it's a salary change. And the administrative recommendation is to approve the transfers and the salary change as presented. >> Thank you. Any questions on any of the people listed on one through six? No. Okay. So, the administr recommendation is approve that transfer salary changes as presented. Do I have a motion? >> So, move. >> Moved by board clerk Valera. Do I have a second? >> Second by board member Aoyo. Uh, those in favor signify by saying I. >> If anyone opposes, please say nay. >> Motion carries unanimously. Okay, seeing that there are no
029more items on the agenda and if no one opposes, I'm going to be adjourning this meeting at 6:34 p.m. Thank you everyone present and have a good evening.