001Okay, I did call Donn >> [clears throat] >> Yeah, >> I better call the meeting to order and have a roll call vote, please. Or roll call. >> Mr. Hul >> here. >> Miss Mcronis. >> Mr. Alexander >> here. >> Miss Raymond >> present. >> Mr. Carlson is absent. >> Is there a motion to adopt the agenda? >> I move to adopt the agenda. >> Second. >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Please stand for the pledge of allegiance and moment of silence. [snorts] >> I pledge allegiance 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. Next item is D. Presentations. Dr. Shooter. You guys want to join me? Okay, tonight we get to recognize
002one of the very best uh in MU USD. So, I'm going to ask Jessica Leonard to please join me up front. [applause] [laughter] >> Come on up. So, this evening we are honored to recognize Jessica as an exceptional teacher from Butterfield Elementary School. Jessica was recently named the intermediate elementary division winner for the 2025 Rathon Leaders in Education Award. Now each year, Rathon Leaders in Education Awards celebrates Puma County prek through 12 teachers who demonstrate outstanding classroom performance, leadership within their schools and communities, and a strong commitment to supporting their colleagues and the broader educator workforce. Awards were presented across four divisions: early education, intermediate, elementary, middle school, and high school. Out of the finalists, four educators were selected and honored at the Stand Up for Teachers event. [laughter] [clears throat] >> So, the recognition
003took place at the Stand Up for Teachers event on November 6th. This was hosted by Tucson Values Teachers. Jessica's recognition as the intermediate elementary division winner reflects her dedication to students, her innovative teaching practices, and the positive impact she continues to have at Butterfield Elementary School and within the entire Morirana community. As part of this honor, each award recipient received a monetary gift from Rathon along with $2,500 that was presented. Please join us in congratulating Jessica Leonard on this incredible achievement, well-deserved achievement, and in celebrating the important role that all of our teachers across Southern Arizona play. [applause] >> Get your certificate ready for it. Ready for a picture? >> [laughter] >> Cheers. >> [laughter] [applause] [clears throat] >> Next item is e board communication. Is there anyone? >> Nope. >> I I will say
004something. >> Oh, go ahead. Sorry. Um, I had the opportunity to visit Torelita Middle School and uh was really impressed with what we heard from those students especially. They love their school. They're so happy with it and uh it was a real honor to spend some time with them. Next item is next item is item G super or sorry item F remarks from the public. First up is Sarah. >> Hi. Uh good evening President Holt, members of the board, senior staff and community here with us or virtually. On behalf of the Morirana Education Association, I want to extend our deepest appreciation to every educator, staff member, student, and family who has worked tires ty tirelessly throughout this first semester. Your commitment, creativity, and perseverance have carried our schools forward, and you have truly earned a
005well-deserved break. We hope this time away brings rest, connection, and renewal. As we look ahead to 2026, MEA is excited for the continued progress we can make together, strengthening student achievement, expanding professional support for educators, and building on the collaborative spirit that defines Morirana. Thank you for all you do, and we wish everyone a peaceful, restorative holiday season. Thank you. Next up is Megan Hawk. Good evening, President Hull, Dr. Shrader, members of the governing board, senior staff, and our community, both in person and virtual. My name is Megan Hawk, and I am a teacher at Torita Middle School. Uh, last time I was here was actually at the end of first quarter. Apparently, that's a thing for me lately. Uh, where I wanted to talk about the good things happening at my school. I wanted
006to come again and talk about some of the uh additional things that have been happening within the last quarter from last time. Uh last week we had two nights of phenomenal concerts by our orchestra, guitar and band uh organizations. I was lucky enough to be able to be a part of both and can truly say that our musicians did a fantastic job and I look forward to seeing how they continue to grow as musicians throughout the year. Um, additionally looking at our core content classes, our language arts teachers have been working very hard and diligently to improve our kids understanding of the standards and how well they are uh progressing to be prepared for the ASA test in uh April. [snorts] Um, we are seeing an increase in student scores um especially looking at the
007reading levels within our eighth grade department. At the beginning of the year for one of our language arts teacher sections, only about 67% of our students were at or above grade level in reading. At the most recent checkpoint, that same teacher sections had about a 95% of her students at or above grade level with reading, which shows how much work our language arts teachers are doing to help improve our students understandings and abilities, which is something that we all want to be able to celebrate. Additionally, we have been keeping track of our overall grades for our students. We have seen an increase in the number of A, B's, and C's that our students are earning and see that they are getting fewer and fewer D's and Fs. This helps to show the support that our
008teachers are doing with our summits on Monday where we are increasing the number of interventions we are doing to truly target the students who need the additional support. Um, and they are getting all those supports they need to be successful in athletics because I am a coach and I will always celebrate athletics. We had a great we've had great seasons and saw growth from all of our teams. Our eighth grade basketball team was able to take second place in the Northwest League playoffs this week. Sadly, we did lose to Miranda Middle. Uh, we are also showing a strong number of athletes signing up for our third quarter sports where we hope to continue having strong performances from all of our teams. Last week, as was previously mentioned, we had the pleasure of having Dr. Strereer,
009Miss Raymond, and Mr. Alexander on our campus, and they were able to see all the work that we have been doing and how we are continually striving to challenge our students and helping them succeed both in and out of the classroom. I appreciate you letting me have the time to talk with you all and discuss the great things happening at just one of our fantastic schools in the district. While it may be only one, I know that the schools are work schools and staff are working hard to help our students grow as individuals and productive members of our community. I hope that as we head towards winter break that all of us within the community are able to relax, enjoy time with our families, and have a happy holiday season. Thank you. >> Thank you.
010Next up is item G, superintendent comments. >> President Holt, governing board members, members of the audience, uh I just want to echo some of the things that have been shared. Uh last Thursday, uh we had our superintendent board campus visit. I want to thank the Torita community for opening their doors to Mr. Alexander, Mrs. Raymond, and myself. Uh we had a great day, a well planned out agenda, uh meaningful conversations and and many classroom visits. Uh we were able to visit a variety of activities taking place, uh small groupoup science explorations, activities around the giver. We saw the different professions that kids were choosing and not choosing their their top three, bottom three. Um, we saw uh some collaborative math groups, a fantastic uh orchestra performance. We had the the students rehashed some of the
011previous night's performance and a really impressive collaborative team in action. Additionally, our meetings with the different employee groups revealed really a strong theme around the team environment and the focus at Torita on their students. Probably one of the most unique experiences we had was during our time spent with the student leaders when we asked them what one thing they would like to change at Torita. The overwhelming number one answer, when I say overwhelming, it was the unanimous number one answer was there's nothing to change. Uh kids spoke uh highly of their teachers, highly of their campus. Uh they were excited about what was happening uh amongst the walls at Torita. The team at Torita should be incredibly proud of of your campus, uh the environment, everything that's been created at TMS. Congratulations and thank you
012for hosting us. Last Wednesday, we also held the Morirana Chamber principal business exchange lunchon. So each year, uh, this program creates a unique experience where principles spend a day gaining insights into the business world through one of our partner businesses while then business owners and leaders have the opportunity to better understand some of the challenges, needs, and successes within educa within the education sector. And it's through this program that both business and education have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships, explore the different ways that we can collaborate for the benefit of our students and our community as a whole. Uh this is really uh a great way to further build the strong relationships between MUSD and our local business community. So thank you to the chamber, our principles, and the businesses that participated in this
013experience. And then also back on November 18th, we held our fall MUSD student forum in which I was able to meet with student representatives from Morirana High School, Mountain View High School, and MCAT. I want to thank the students who joined me for some rich discussions around the student experience in MUSD. This included conversations around the best parts of MUSD, opportunities for enhancing their experiences, and specific examples of how these ideas may merge and move us forward. I'm looking forward to the continued conversation when we come out of the holiday break. And of course, I don't I want to wish everyone a wonderful holiday season and a very restful break in a week and a half. We still got a week and a half. >> Thank you. Next up is item H, the consent agenda.
014Is there a motion? >> I move that the governing board approve the governing board minutes uh meeting minutes as presented. >> I think [clears throat and cough] the consent agenda. >> I move that the governing board approve the consent agenda as presented. >> Second. Any questions? All those in favor? I >> I. >> Next up is item I, unfinished business. There is none. So we'll move to item J. J1, discussion approval of a new high school course proposal, Miss Re. >> Good evening, President Holt, members of the board, Dr. Strereer, and members of our in-person and virtual audience. This is my favorite time of year where I bring to you some exciting new high school courses that we would like to offer in MUSD next school year. And in fact, one of them would be
015offered Yeah. No, next school year. So the first course that the educational services department, high school principles, and our CTE leaders are bringing to you tonight is business management with economic credit 1, two, and three, four. You have already approved business management as a course and as a program. The difference between what you've approved and this course is that we would just overlay the ability for our students who are members uh who are completers of our business management program to also earn econ as a result of their particip successful participation and completion of this program. So we are excited to provide this or to bring this course to you for approval. students would not actually uh this is the first year of [clears throat] implementation of this program at Vista and so the students would
016earn this the completers of this program would earn that economics credit in the spring semester of 2027 that would be the first cohort that would be eligible. The second course is a 0.5 semester elective called sports officiating. This course of study would support sports would help students learn about sports officiating. So learning the rules, mechanics and fundamentals of sports and then also create some opportunities for participants to engage and participate in officiating opportunities in youth basketball, baseball, and softball within local leagues. The next two courses are both courses that we are bringing to you from the college board. They would be we wanted to get these courses on the books. These are not necessarily being scheduled to be implemented next year, but we wanted to get them approved to gauge our student interest. And so
017both of these uh courses, advanced placement, AP cyber security. Um AP cyber security is a year-long course that offers a broad introduction to the field and aligns closely with college level introductory cyber security courses. Um that curriculum is directly from the college board for that particular course. Um, and then advanced placement business with personal finance is also a 1.0 year-long course that would provide students with a year-long exposure to business and personal finance that aligns closely with college level introduction to a business course. The final course that I am bringing to you this evening is a.5 elective credit. This would be a self-paced course that students would take in ACT preparation at the last board meeting. Thank you so much for approving the um receipt of a grant that Moran Unified School District received for
018ACT preparation, a direct student services grant that actually will provide all 2,000 of our sophomores and juniors with access to an online ACT prep course. We are designing that course. So we are designing that um a preparation experience for our students that they would engage in in tiger time and summit at our high schools as well as um some discretionary time at Vista and MCAT. So all of our sophomores and juniors will have access to some of this dashboard and program. What we wanted to do is to create an uh an elective course where students who wanted to go through the entire course, complete every module and take some proctored outside of school course exams in order to better prepare for the ACT assessment. Uh we wanted to provide them with an opportunity to earn
019course credit. And so we've put together a scope and sequence that would allow them to do that if in fact they are successful completers of that course and participate in all of the practice test opportunities. >> Is there a motion? >> I move that the governing board approve the new high school course proposals as presented. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> Mronis >> I. >> Thank you. Next up is item J2, discussion, approval of policy considerations, policy IKF, graduation requirements. Miss reading. >> Thank you, President Holt. The second item I have for you this evening is a policy revision and I am requesting revision to policy IKF graduation requirements. At the last statuto at the last legislative session, uh there was a recommendation that the
020graduation requirements policy be amended to include opportunities for students students who have taken our state standardized assessment prior to enrolling in our district that we would accept those courses. Um and so they would not have to take the ACT again would be an example. uh and or the civics test that we wouldn't require them to also then take that test again. In addition, the policy revision also includes the the criteria and requirements and situations in which students would be allowed to request a written version of our standardized state test as opposed to taking it online like they currently do. Is there a motion? >> I move that the governing board approve the revisions to policy IKF graduation requirements as presented. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> All those in favor? >> I I >> Thank
021you. >> Next item is discussion approval policy considerations policy DGJF exc or E, excuse me, bidding and purchasing procedures. Move. Thank you, President Holt, governing board members and the whole wide world. Appreciate uh time to present a standard revision to board policy recommended by ASBA. Um really it's a further continuation of the cleanup job they've been doing on the greater policy. So a lot of this is deleting policy that's duplicated or moving it into the correct section of this policy. Happy to answer any specific questions you may have. >> Is there a motion? I move that the governing board approve revisions to policy DJ bidding purchasing procedures as presented. >> Second. >> Those in favor or questions? >> I I >> I J4 discussion approval of class participation various fees schedule. Mr. Bart. >> Thank
022you, President Holt. Governing board members and public. Uh this is the time of year in which we like to put together our registration documents to include the course fees associated to participation in those courses. Uh we did a comprehensive review with all site administrators and uh a review of all of the inflows and outflows of money for each of those accounts um to determine whether there was an actual use for that revenue collection. Um the only changes that we're recommending for next school year are the removal of two fees that have been unused for several years. That's safety goggles and instrument usage. And then a clarification on Puma Community College dual enrollment. We're reducing the cost for PCC dual enrollment for any course that's not math related because the math related courses have an additional
023software component that costs extra money. Um, and so we're reducing all of the other courses from PCC dual enrollment back to the original $50. Stand for any questions you may have. >> Any Is there a motion? I move that the governing board approve the class participation and various fees schedule as presented. >> Second. >> Any questions? >> All those in favor? >> I miss I. >> Next up is J5. J5 discussion approval affiliation agreement with Liberty University. Mr. Bane. >> Thank you. Uh President Holtz Holt, Vice President Mike Cronis, uh members of the board, Dr. Strereer, senior staff. Tonight I'm asking for approval um of an affiliation agreement between the Moran Unified School District and Liberty University specifically for the purpose of placing a social worker intern in MUSD uh during our second semester. Uh
024if approved, the social worker intern will work under the supervision of the student and family support services department. Um, additionally, the intern will have the opportunity to shadow and work alongside our district social workers, our school social workers, uh, work with our family resource coordinator, our McKenna Vento, migrant and Native American programs, participate in family engagement events, uh, and engage in professional development uh, much sim similar to a student teacher. Um, this agreement has been reviewed and approved by legal counsel and there is no cost to the district for this agreement. I'm here for any questions. Is her motion? >> I move that the governing board approve the affiliation agreement between Liberty University and the Morirana Unified School District. >> Second. >> Any questions? All those in favor? >> I. >> Thank you. >> Next
025item is J6 discussion approval additional staffing. Mr. Golosski. Good evening, President Holt, members of the governing board, Dr. Strereer, senior staff, and all in our audience. Um, I'm here to uh request the additional staffing of three positions. One is a nine-month clerk at Tangerine Farms effective January 5th of 2026. And then the addition of a 33 full-time um assistant or excuse me, full-time equivalent lab assistant and a.33 full-time equivalent network security teacher for Morirana Vista effective for the 2627 school year. >> Is there a motion? I move that that [clears throat] the governing board approve the following additional staffing. One nine-month clerk at Tangerine Farms K8 School effective January 5th, 2026 and 1.33 full-time equivalent lab assistant teacher and a 33 full-time equivalent network security teacher at Morirana Vista Academy effective for the 2026 2027
026school year. >> Second. >> Is there any questions? >> I have a question. So the um the the two the the lab assistant and the network security teacher says that they're being funded by CTE. Is that JED? >> Yes. >> So so we get or they're they're just paid directly by JED. >> Not we would be using our um uh the JTED funds that we have available that are provided there. So, but yeah, it would not be out of our specific ML budget. >> Okay. Thank you. >> All those in favor? >> I >> Next item is item J7, discussion approval of release of public sewer easement with Tom Marina, Mr. Gosski. >> Thank you again. So, uh, back on September 11th, uh, at our governing board meeting, uh, we approved a easement for the,
027uh, Tucson Electric Power to run utility through, um, our property adjacent, um, to town of Morirana property as well as our property that we um that we currently possess there. Uh, we also have in place an agreement with the town of Morirana for a sewer easement. They contacted us a few weeks ago and said they no longer need that easement as they have run the sewer line um sewer lines through the property adjacent. Um so they're just looking for approval to release them from that agreement. >> Is there a motion? >> I move that the governing board approve granting the town of Morirana a release from their public sewer easement located adjacent to the Morirana Unified School District property located in the Sorro Bloom neighborhood as described. Second. >> Any questions? >> All those in
028favor? >> I miss mccronis. >> I >> thank you. >> Next item is item J. Discussion approval of interventional agreement with Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona. Dr. Strereer, >> President Holt, governing board members, members of the audience. At our last study session meeting, we had a presentation from the University of Arizona's education department about their pathways to teaching program. Uh since we do view growing our own teachers as one of our recruiting strategies, we are asking the governing board to approve the pathways to teaching intergovernmental agreement. This IGA has been approved by district's legal council. >> Is there a motion? >> I recommend the governing board approve the pathways to teaching intergovernmental agreement between the Arizona Board of Regents, University of Arizona and the and Morirana Unified School District. >> Second. Any questions?
029All those in favor? I >> I >> Next item is item J9, discussion approval of opposition letter regarding potential Puma joint Puma JTAD special bond election. Dr. President Holt, governing board members, members of the audience, the topic of Puma JTED has uh been on our agenda at our last study session uh as well as a joint board meeting that we had with Puma Jed. Um, right now governing boards and superintendents of member districts that comprise the Puma County Joint Technical Education District, Puma Jed, are concerned that a special bond election that is currently under consideration by the Puma Jed, would have detrimental effects on further centralizing career and technical education opportunities and create additional challenges for students across the 10,000 square miles in Puma, Santa Cruz, and Panal counties that assess the access the different
030CTE programs. By signing the attached letter, the Morirana Unified School District will express formal opposition to the current draft of the Puma Jed special bond election. I do want to um make sure that people understand that um this is to express our opposition to the current draft plans for the Puma JTED proposed bond election. But this perspective should not be misconstrued as opposition to the goal of robust career and technical education for our shared students. I think all of us deeply believe in and are committed to the goal of not just enhancing our current CTE programs but really expanding the different opportunities that we have for students. One of the main concerns that member districts have is the percentage of dollars being allocated to central campus programs. um really prioritizing 80 85% of funds for
031central campus programs that are currently accessed by 8% of the JTAD students. So this has been a discussion that we've had. This is a topic that is being um reviewed by the 14 member districts throughout Puma Jed. >> Is there a motion? I move that the governing board approve signing a letter on behalf of the governing board to the board of to the board and administration of the Puma County Joint Technical Education District, Puma Jed, expressing formal opposition to the current draft of a potential special bond election under consideration for November 2026. >> Second. >> Is there any questions? >> I have a question. So, so back when JTED got started, what was their what was in in their original charter about how you know where these programs would be set up? I don't know
032that I can speak to what was specifically in the original charter. I think Mrs. Raymond might be able to speak to that. I can tell you that right now superintendent are uh pulling together superintendents that were serving during the time of that original charter. Um the conversation I do know at that time was an understanding of the importance that satellite programs play especially in a county and I I'll call it Puma County plus right because they're reaching down to Santa Cruz that trying to centralize uh programs to one building when you have such a spread out county uh is not going to be as productive as satellite programming on each of the campuses. So, I know the discussion was about that being the focus. Um, as far as the the exact wording in the charter,
033I'm not sure that I could speak to that uh with with 100% confidence. When when we started the efforts to pass Puma County JTED, uh it the all of the intention was to support satellite campuses and not have a central a central campus, but to make sure that all the the programs throughout Puma County at that time were supported and enhanced by the Jed funds. So it was never started with the intention to have a big central campus. >> So then looking at what's happened over the last many years, it's kind of gone the opposite way, right? >> I think we've seen the growth of their their kind the centralization of programs. We've seen that growth and then this proposed bond the way that it's currently structured further centralizes their programs. So, yes, absolutely. >>
034And and their their um enrollment, as I've looked uh through the years, uh once the bridge is opened, which is what they want to expand down off of, uh I 10, their central enrollment has remained pretty stagnant, uh just right below 3,000 for five to six years. Uh so even though they've built programs centrally, our kids still want to stay on on their on their campuses, their home campuses. >> So that's sort of been the friction between the school districts and the the JTAD organization, right? >> That's correct. And and that's true of all member districts, >> right? Okay. already knew the answers, but everyone else, nobody else did. So, I appreciate you walking us down that path. >> Those were softballs. >> Thank you. >> Okay. >> As the kids would say, I would
035say clock it. But they I I'm very proud to sign this letter on behalf of our district. I think that everyone here Yeah. Everyone here is very very proud of our CT programs and the fact that Puma Jed would consider disenfranchising 32,000 students comparison to 29,000 in this bond is absolutely ridiculous and they should be an answer for their decisions on this. Um >> can I also make another comment? >> Y please. Um it has also been [snorts] mentioned uh many of our students that go to central Jed attend to the campus on masterpieces which is River and Shannon and and I believe uh the intention is to close that campus and then build another one on Prince and I 10 which really puts it further away for our students and any students in the
036north part of of Tucson the AI students and Morirana San Manuelas as well. So it takes it further away from from our students and accessibility. >> Anyone else? >> All those in favor? >> I [snorts] >> Next item is J10 conducted an executive session pursuant to ARS 38-431-3A1 personnel relating to the superintendent evaluation. Is there a motion? I move that that the governing [clears throat] board conduct an an executive session pursuant to ARS 38-431.03A1 personnel relating to the s superintendent's evaluation. >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> We will see you in January. All those in favor? >> I thank you for asking those questions. Let's say Catherine, can you hear me? Okay. I think they're going to they're