001Good evening. I would like to call this meeting to order. Mr. Lsonheiser, may I have roll call, please? President Wade, let the record show that all members of the board are present tonight. Thank you. Please join me in a moment of silence followed by the pledge of allegiance. I motion to approve the agenda. Second. That would be Miss Van Hook seconding. If I could write all those in favor. I motion carries. Next up, this brings us to Mr. Lockheiser, President Wade, members of the board, pretty small superintendent update. Um, as we are just getting started and I'm enjoying day five in my new role as the superintendent. Um, as you look at upcoming events, summer's over, guys. It's Thursday, July 17th, school starts. We have our teachers reporting on Monday and then Thursday, July 17th
002is when school starts. We have Wednesday, July 30th, our middle school curriculum nights. Thursday, August 7th, our elementary school nights. And then Tuesday, August 12th, is our next board meeting. So that's when we'll have a little bit more robust update then. Thank you. All right. Thank you. Next on the agenda are the requests to speak. If you could please play the video. We value input from our constituents. This time on our agenda has been set aside for anyone from the audience who wishes to address the board. Those that wish to speak should have filled out speaker cards which are due prior to the start of our meeting. Members of the board may not discuss, comment, or take action on matters raised that are not specifically identified on the agenda. Therefore, pursuant to ARS 38-431.01i, action
003taken as a result of public comment will be limited to directing staff to study the matter, responding to any criticism, or scheduling the matter for further consideration and decision at a later date. Also, we ask that audience members practice proper public meeting decorum, refraining from either negative or positive responses, including clapping or verbal outbursts to ensure fairness to all points of view. Those that refuse to follow these rules may be asked to leave. In accordance with policy beedh public participation at board meetings, if considered necessary, the governing board president shall set a time limit on the length of the comment period in order to ensure that each individual has an opportunity to address the board. The president may also set a time limit for individual speakers. Thank you for your cooperation. First up, we have
004Maryanne. Good evening, board. Good evening, new Superintendent, I have a question. Um, as a new employee of our district, why do you think your influence on the board do you think you have by sitting up at the DAS? It is by our school district culture that you sit down with the rest of the department heads because the board is the voice of the people. the legislative branch of our district and you are executive. It would be like, I don't know, the governor walking in to the legislative branches and deciding that she should also be right there with all of the regular legislatures instead of with her department heads. You're relatively new. You do have power, but at this point in time, you have not earned the privilege of the influence you're trying to push. It
005takes time for that. Thank you. Next, we have Linda Payne. I am addressing this. Oh, members of the board, I'm sorry. I'm addressing the same same issue. I think that the board up there is for elected officials and the superintendent should be down here with the rest of the people that are running the school district. I don't know why or who gave him permission to be up there, but I know it's becoming more common in a lot of them, but I know on the Paradise Valley board, they just told him he needed to get down. And I'm hoping that that's what's going to happen now. If not, I think the community is going to come up in arms. I just barely found out about this yesterday or I would have had a lot more people
006here. A lot of them are out of town, but the ones I have talked to are very, very against you doing this. I thought you were for you're a brand new superintendent. I don't know who gave you permission to get up there. Number one and um I could have been the president of the board. I have no idea. But I think maybe all the board members should have a say in it. And I just feel like this school district is going downhill. Every one of most of my grandkids are leaving the school district. A lot of my friends have already left left the school district. we are really becoming a less desired school district and then this just is adding on to it because and I I I don't even know if it's in the
007state law. I'm going to look that up. I didn't have time to do that first, but um I don't even know why you're up there tonight without even having voted on it. So, um, and I'm not trying to be mean to you, but I would think as if you want to get along with the school district as a whole, that it would be nice for you to maybe start down here. And then if the school district gave permission for you to go up there, then that's one thing. But I I'm so completely against you being there. And I feel like this whole school board, you don't listen. You don't listen to the community. I mean, we voted on the clothing theme last year. We had so many people write in and come in and talk
008about it and you guys, you just do whatever you want. You don't care about the community. All you care about is what you want. And I think that it has really, really hurt our community. And I think that in the end it's going to come down and it's going to bite you guys in, you know, in the foot because of the fact that you're going to have lots of kids and students leaving this community already. We're having so many empty classrooms and other people are moving in, but they're finding out about the charter schools. And quite frankly, that's where they're going. They have the choice to go and that's where they're going because they are not happy with what is happening here in this school district. It's really, really bad right now. I hope you'll
009look at this and decide that maybe he needs to come down and sit with the other members of the of the the school. He's not an elected he's not even an elective official. Up there is for elected officials. So why is he up there? I don't understand. Anyway, that's all I have to say. All right. This brings us to consent agenda. I motion to approve consent agenda items 5.1 through 5.10. Second. I'm going to give that to uh Miss Schultz. All those in favor? I comments from the board before I motion. Oh, sorry. That was not on the microphone. Um, for record in posterity cuz I didn't have this on. That's on me. Um, the motion was seconded by Miss Schultz. It passed 504. The consent agenda. This brings us to superintendent seated with the
010governing board on the DIA. Any questions or comments from the board? Sorry, I thought I pushed it. President President Wade. Um, I'd like to address this concerning change that was communicated via email without board discussion or approval regarding superintendent Latenheiser decision Lenheiser's decision to move onto the dis during board meetings. It also said that we would continue to follow the same format of receiving our agendas on Wednesdays moving forward. The tone and manner of this announcement were concerning and immediately brought to mind a leadership approach I've seen in Scottsdale as an example. It also raises the question of whether this shift is being influenced by the superintendent association. I would like to understand what specifically led our superintendent to pursue sitting at the dis. If this decision is connected to mentorship or advice from organizations
011like ASA or AASA, I would strongly encourage him to reconsider. That approach does not reflect the kind of governance or leadership we value or need here in Higgley. To be absolutely clear, the DAS is meant for elected officials. It represents the authority entrusted to us directly by the voters. While the superintendent plays a vital role in our administrative leadership, he is not an elected representative. He reports to the board. His appro appropriate place is with administrative staff, not among those elected to govern. Though some may view this as a minor change, it carries significant symbolic weight. In a representative republic, it is essential to ma maintain a clear distinction between those elected to make policy and those hired to implement it. Blurring that line diminishes the role of elected office and falsely suggests equal standing
012between administrators and the board. This can also embolden superintendent to overstep their role or assert influence inappropriately, which seems to already be happening. What's even more troubling is the way this decision was made. According to the message we received, Superintendent Latenheiser requested this change from President Amanda Wade, who said it was okay. This is not how this board is supposed to operate. Neither the superintendent nor the board president has the authority to unilaterally make this decision. It should have been brought to the b to the full board as a discussion or action item without me needing to request it. Let me also remind everyone that the role of the board president is primarily procedural. Per board policy. The president facilitates meetings, signs documents when needed, and serves as a liaison. Beyond that, they have no
013more authority than any other board member. No single member can make such decisions on behalf of the entire board. Superintendent Latenheiser's sidelining diff differing viewpoints on this board and undermining both collaboration and mutual respect. If you truly want to foster a respectful and cooperative working relationship, that starts with listening to and valuing all board members, not just those that might share your perspective. And let me be clear, it is not the superintendent's role to dictate how this board operates. In the email, you said, "I'm so excited to start this new journey with you. I'm proud of this district, and I know we have great things in store to support our students, teachers, and community. If you truly meant that, then show it by respecting the governing process, the separation of roles, and the voices of
014every member on this board." former super state superintendent Diane Douglas recently addressed this very issue in an article um in reference to Poria's decision to remove their superintendent from the dis. She said I don't know when district superintendents began inviting themselves up to the seat on the dis among the elected officials of the district or why they think so little of elected officials and the office they hold to deem it inapprop to deem it appropriate or quite frankly why board members think so little of the office they hold to allow superintendent to even nominally abase the office in such manner. I couldn't agree more. For all these reasons, I cannot and will not support superintendent Lutzenheiser moving to the dis. It is not only disrespectful to the board and our community. It also undermines the
015very structure of our representative system and disrespects the role of the rest of the administration who continue to sit appropriately off the dis. And just because it is done elsewhere doesn't mean it's right for Higgley. We should lead by with principle not follow trends. Thank you. something to say Mr. You had your mic. President, members of the board, I would like to briefly address the topic of the superintendent sitting on the dis during our board meetings. While I absolutely support a strong working relationship between the governing board and the superintendent, I believe it's important to consider both the purpose of the dis and the precedent set by the district's history. For many years, history unified Higgley Unified School District operated effectively and professionally without the superintendent seated at the dis. The superintendent's role is to
016serve as the executive administrator of the district, reporting to the board, implementing policy, and ensuring the day-to-day operations of the school run smoothly. The board's role is governance, not management. Maintaining a physical distinction between the two helps reinforce the important separation of powers and protects the integrity of our oversight responsibilities. Thank you, President Wade. Um, first I just want to say that, correct me if I'm wrong, Mr. Glover, but uh the superintendent set up here until COVID, correct? And then um it was only during CO that he went down. No. Uh Dr. Thomasson um at some point before CO uh requested of the board u if he could sit down there so he could see for him it was a better way uh for him to lead to be able to see our faces and
017expressions and he felt it was a better uh a better back and forth that happened before co not as a result of co and then Dr. fully continued that and never changed it. But uh but for many years then they the superintendent Yeah. This is not unprecedented. No, it's not a new thing. And um I have a different perspective that I think by sitting together this promotes transparency and accountability. When the superintendent sits with the board, it signals a strong partnership and open communication between leadership and governance. It allows the public to see who is responsible for implementing the board's visions and policies in real time. The board can't function without the superintendent and vice versa. It encourages collaboration. Sitting together reflects a united front and encourages productive dialogue between the superintendent and the board
018members during the meeting as many other districts do in our community. It demonstrates leadership alignment. Having the superintendent um on the dis emphasis their role as the district's chief executive. It shows that the administrative and the policymaking branches of the district are aligned in mission and direction. It helps boost public confidence by seeing that we work together as a trusted leadership team. Um, and this supports also board government's best practices as many districts currently do this because it stren strengthens strategic decision- making and underscores the superintendent's accountability to the boarding community. Okay. Thank you, Madam President. Yeah. So um well I surprises uh has become an issue. I I mean for my part I'm not confused by what my role is or what the superintendent's role is and I don't think Mr. Lotsenheiser is would
019be either wherever he sits. Um it was communicated to me that this was an effort to be collaborative and I I take him at his word for that but I I'd like to hear from uh you also do Mr. Mr. Lassenheiser. Uh, I don't want to have an acrimonious relationship with anyone, with anyone on the board or or with the superintendent. Um, I do not think he was being intentionally disrespectful. Uh, my knowledge of Mr. Lenheiser is is is that he's he's not that way. Uh, he doesn't seek to insult uh or to be disrespectful. if it was, you know, if we can maybe learn about how we have to communicate with one another on the board, um that that that's that's an area that we all can improve on. But, um using that kind
020of I mean, I thought the rhetoric was a little bit excessive. Um so, I'd like to give him a chance to respond, but historically, uh it was Dr. Thomas, Mr. Thomasson, asked to be sit down there. That was his request. Um, you know, I looked at Queen Creek. Uh, that superintendent's up there. This is not uncommon. Chandler's is Mesa's was. Uh, who else? Gilbert's. Gilbert's always has been. And so there's, you can see that this is built for more than five seats. Um, but I you know what it whatever will work best to get this district working the best is what I would support. Well, sorry, President O. I just want to say well um I I want to say I agree that we should all there's no one decision and and while the president
021is um merely for formalities then this isn't an actual action item that we even have to to vote on it it's not something so it's just a a courtesy vote I guess right or is that the best way to explain it? Uh board member Schultz or sorry Vice President Schultz. Um well correct so essentially this is not a procedure. It's not a policy that is in place. There's no law against any of this. Um it the manner with which it happened is is the idea is it is to foster a collaborative relationship. Um I think considering some of the comments that we had today I think it is beneficial with respect to the community in that this is a partnership. Um full stop. Nothing we do gets done without the information that we receive from
022the district in order to be able to do this. And beyond that, nothing will get done if we don't have a superintendent in place to follow through and enforce the policies that we we create. Um, to piggyback off of uh board member Glover, I am aware of what my role and responsibilities are. I uh I don't appreciate the idea that because you have a differing opinion, it somehow then means that your different opinion translates to I have less care or understanding of the seriousness with which the role that I am in or the position that I was elected to. Um I don't believe that's fair or genuous. I think that is you have a different opinion and at the end of the day nothing I have done shows that I disrespect this position or this
023process or anything else. I also wish to express that as a board member, I value the other board members that are on this board, which is why the desire to make it a board issue and then put it on as an action item. Okay? Because again, there is no procedure, there is no policy, this is just something that we're doing and because we had people who have felt differently. This is why it's an action item at the present moment in time. Um I do think it is important. Uh oftentimes respect is viewed or in this manner today in this room it has been expressed as respect is a formality of a situation because we're up here and somebody else is down there that means we somehow command respect. Um, and I'm going to go as
024an individual who has to stand in front of a room as part of a career and understanding that those relationships are uh built upon respect. Where I sit and where the other individuals sit has nothing to do with respect. How I treat that person, how that person treats me, how we interact, that is where for me the respect comes down. The end of the day, we hired an individual to do a job. That is the way this works. That is our responsibility. At the end of the day, we look at policies and what is best and most conducive for our district to function. At the end of the day, considering something that it was common, considering this is where he gets an opportunity to do that, and I'm happy that we have an opportunity for
025you to be able to express your desires so we can go out there beyond the conversation that you and I had for this. Um, I just I I find it concerning that a respectful relationship is predicated on where you sit. I I find that to be um, at least for me concerning because at the end of the day, respect is is is based off of treatment for myself, my ideas, where my position is, and vice versa. Ma'am, if I would appreciate at the present moment in time that this is not the opportunity for that. We do have a board meeting August 12th. However, you're more than welcome to come back for public comments or email those types of things. Go ahead, Mr. Lenheiser. I'm sorry, President Wade, members of the board. Um, yeah, I understand
026that this is a change and it's something that's very different than what we've done here in Higgley. And from my aspect, I look at us as a team together. We are the leadership team, right? you I'm your employee and I'm well aware I am your only employee that you have and that you will uh uh you have tasked me for taking your directive and your policy and then putting it forward with my team and with our community. When I look at Adas and when I look up here I think it's important that people know that we are in communication and we are part of a team that we will provide that leadership going forward. It was not meant to be disrespectful at all. And matter of fact, I think by being up here, it's more
027I'm respecting and being part of this team and listen being able to listen to you and and represent that as we go forward. I am the lead educator. My job as a superintendent is to be the lead educator and that leazison and that face of the district from an educational perspective. And so I think it's important for us to be up here and to signify that we're going to move forward together. We know we might not always agree on everything. That's the nature of life. But I think it's important that we can be able to represent that we are moving things forward and that our goal is really what are we doing to be able to support our teachers to be able to support our kids and that's the goal. So no disrespect was intended
028by any of the communication is moving forward. Um I did feel like it was an appropriate time coming in instead of changing at randomly as we go through. I am aware I came on at CO that it's down. I do understand and with my with my peers that I see in every district I've ever been in, the superintendent has been on the dis moving forward. As Mr. Glover alluded, there are six spots up here. This was built for six with five being the uh governing board and one being the superintendent. And so, knowing that, I am happy to sit wherever you guys would like. And if the decision is if you would like me to sit back down, I I support that as well. Um, I do want to have a good working relationship with
029every single one of you because I think together we can do the best for this district and together we can make the appropriate decisions and you guys can make the decisions and you trust me then to move us forward and to support our kids. And so I appreciate that. I appreciate the comments and the perspectives and I'm happy to do what the board asks. Thank you, President Wade. This actually should have required a vote. It shouldn't have just been approved by one person. So the fact that it is an action item, it should have been from the beginning. Uh I think it's also disrespectful for the fact that the move occurred before the vote even took place. And according to the agenda, we wouldn't be voting to remove you. The the vote is to approve
030you being able to sit up here. and we've functioned just fine and collaborated just fine with you being able to sit with with the superintendent being able to sit with their administrative team because that's the team you're on. You are not an elected official to sit up here and blur the lines uh of governance and decision-making authority. And the way that this is perceived to the public is a problem. Because where you sit does matter and and the optics is huge. The dis is for governing board members, elected officials and you report to the governing board and you are part of the administrative team and you should be seated with the administrative team and not elected officials. And I said it when I walked in, I was surprised to see you already on the dis.
031And that should have waited until we were able to have a discussion and a vote. And if you truly want to be collaborative with the entire governing board, then those things should happen with without just one board member giving you authority to do something. All board members should be able to have a say. And another thing I mentioned was by you saying, you know, our board members will run this, you know, the same way you'll get the agendas on Wednesdays. That the fact that that was even mentioned. That's not up to the superintendent. That would be up to the board to decide how our meetings are ran. And I would assume that you are new to this and you're learning. Um, but again based on where this information is coming from and what prompted you
032to do this, I I'd like to know that as well. But um, this is not something I can support because it does blur the lines of what is expected from us and what's expected of you. Um, sorry. Before I motion, I wish I something concerning again that I wish we are on the same team. I don't know how else to express that like I it's concerning to me that you would make a statement that suggests otherwise. That is literally the scope of our position is to work as a team to best serve this district because again that cannot happen without both bodies present. Nothing can happen without both bodies present. I I hear that you feel differently and I again think that is more than okay. I also think it is okay that as a
033superintendent who is coming in to make a decision again a decision that is not in fact new to Higgley maybe new in the last seven or eight years but is not new to Higgley as a whole that also matters and in no way shape or form does it change any aspect of our process. I also again go I agree with you that if it's something that matters to you out of respect I go then yes let's make it an action item because again there is no policy or procedure for this. So I I I wish to at least ask the question on whether or not you view this as a partnership because it feels as if it's more adversarial rather than a partnership when you make expressions like we are not on the same team
034because again all of us are team Higgley. All of us are doing what is best for our students here in Higgley. And at the end of the day, this does not change any aspect of what our our authority is, what our job description is or any of that. If somebody else desires to communicate now that I have said more, that's totally fine. Otherwise, I can motion. Go ahead, ma'am. Can Yeah. Oh, go ahead, Miss Van Hook. Um, it's a decision. It's a change. So, it should require a board discussion and a vote. And it doesn't require a policy to say that such item should be a action item. It's should just be common knowledge that when we're making such a decision that it should be a board discussion. Um, and sitting locations doesn't prevent us
035from working as a team, but it does blur the lines of our roles, and that is the problem. Um, yeah, I don't maybe I mean, I was thinking about making a motion, so maybe we can talk this through. Make a motion to have this on the next meeting. So people have more time. Maybe you have more time to talk to board members um and give them more of your input. Mr. Lsonheiser, I I I'd be open to that. I could make that motion. Um you know, I don't I think we're wasting a lot of time that could be spent on other more important things. Um but if this needs more time, I'm perfectly happy to make a motion to give it more time. I guess I have to just put forth a motion then, right?
036I mean, if if you desire, by all means, for sure. I I I'm not going to stop you doing your motion. At the end of the day, obviously, you get to do that. I just I proceed, sir. All right. Well, then I'll make a motion to move I don't know if this is the right wording to uh to move this action item to the next meeting to give motion to table until the next meeting. Uh, do I need to explain to give more time to No, I mean I think I second your motion. So, um, we have a motion to table this item until uh the next board meeting. All those in favor of the motion to table I nay. I'm I'm a nay as well in that I feel like this is enough time,
037but that's totally fine. Um that motion to table carries 32. This brings us to action item 6.2. Approve personnel action items. Do we have any comments or questions from the board before I motion? President Wade. I asked for this item to be pulled due to the waving of liquidated damages for one employee. The staff member agreed to their contract terms and waving the liquidated damages weakens the enforcibility of future agreements. Board member Van Hook, the action item is not about waving of liquidated damages though. It's about the hiring and firing. So the personnel action item is not the waving of the liquidated damages. That's not the agenda item. that was part of I I understand in that that is your but I'm telling you that that is not the action item specifically has nothing to
038do with liquidated damages. Okay. I asked this item to be pulled because this one employee was listed on there as somebody who resigned and their liquidated damages were waved. And so because we no longer get liquidated damages separately, this is my only way to share my concern about this exa exact situation is that we no longer have visibility into liquidated damages being waved. They're placed on personnel action items and the only way to share my concern is to have this pulled and be able to say that this is a problem which is why that policy is a problem and I don't agree that we should continue to wave liquidated damages without the board being able to have visibility into it and vote on it separately. So, I'm put in a position where I have to
039vote no on the entire personal action item instead of just the liquidated damages. And that's a big problem. So, yes, it does have something to do with it. To be clear, uh the personnel action item uh is an individual who moved. We have historically always waved liquidated damages for moving. Is that not correct, Miss Johnson? President Wade and member Van Hook. Yes, we have and that is part of that policy and always has been. Thank you. Um Okay. Go. President Wade. Um Miss Johnson, uh was the move last minute? Yes, it was. And it's relocation out of the state. Okay. That was not shared with me at the time. Uh it it didn't say they were moved mo out of the state, but again just last minute moves cost the district money. Uh and and
040especially when that fee is waved, the district has to pay for hiring subs and everything else. Uh so that's why I have an issue with that. But again, when I asked, it was shared that it was a um I forget what the code was that was used. Relocation and so a relocation means more than 100 miles away from us. Got it. Thank you. You're welcome. I motion that the governing board approve the personnel action items. Second. Uh, I motion the governing board approves the personnel. Every time I hit it, it doesn't go. Approves the personnel action items. Mr. Glover seconded. Thank you. All those in favor? I I. All those opposed? Motion carries. 5-0. Does anyone have uh requests for future agenda items? I motion to adjourn this meeting? Second. That would be Miss Schultz.
041Seconding. All those in favor? I did it again, didn't it? It did not go through. I'm We had no requests for future agenda items. Motion to adjourn the meeting was seconded by Miss Schultz and uh motion carries 50. Have a good night everybody. Welcome back teachers by the way.