Frank J. Armenta

The Special Meeting included an Executive Session to discuss student matters, personnel matters, negotiations for real property, and negotiations with employee groups. Following the executive session, the regular session addressed agenda adjustments, awards and recognitions, and public hearing regarding the TUSD Annual Report for the 2024-25 School Year. Action items involved approving several administrative appointments and reassignments, including the Internal Auditor, Director of African American Student Services, Director of Employee Relations, Director of Human Resources, Principal of Tucson High Magnet School, and Principal of Lineweaver Elementary School. The Board also approved Native American Policies and Procedures and accepted the 2024-25 Fiscal Year Annual Comprehensive Financial Report. Authorization was granted to procure goods and services for Bond Project Priorities. Study/Action items covered administrative budget reduction recommendations for the 2026-27 Fiscal Year and the approval of Employee Benefits for the 2026-27 School Year. Separately discussed Consent Agenda items included an easement agreement amendment with New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC, and the award of RFP 26-042-TUSD1 for Custodial Paper Products and Services.

The governing board meeting focused on significant personnel appointments and critical financial decisions. Key appointments included the naming of Dr. Norma Gonzalez as the new permanent principal of Tucson High, Mr. Jason Frerieded as the new Employee Relations Director, Christina Georgellos as the new principal at Lineweaver, Diana Reyes as the Director for Human Resources, and Tanisha Johnson as the new Director for African-American Student Services. Financially, the board approved the first $3 million of what is anticipated to be a $9 or $10 million budget reduction to address the district's ongoing financial deficit. Additionally, the meeting recognized Mary Portillo upon her retirement after four decades of service to TUSD.

Key discussions during the meeting focused on bond project updates provided by Dr. Carter, including the status of domestic waterline replacement (95% complete for Sabino), HVAC installations across 15 schools (16% complete), security gates and fencing (64% complete for the initial 32), and security window film phase two implementation. Significant updates were provided on the Electric Vehicle (EV) pilot infrastructure, where all 10 EV buses and 5 chargers passed testing, with a celebration scheduled for March 4th, which is expected to yield a rebate of approximately $1.1 million. Marquee replacements are switching vendors. Furthermore, approval was sought for Phase 1B of the Investment Grade Audit (IGA) with Veretch, covering facility improvement measures and energy conservation measures for 17 schools, totaling over $39 million including contingency, with Trustee Norquest raising specific technical questions regarding AI-driven operations within the new code operating system.

The meeting included proceedings concerning call to the audience items (8.1 to 8.6, 9.1, 9.2, 8.8). Board member activity reports were deferred to the next meeting. The session featured several awards and recognitions, specifically acknowledging the concluding service of Mr. Mark Mansfeld of the Employee Benefits Trust Board since 2011, and honoring Mary Portillo for approximately four decades of dedicated service, including roles from clerk typist to administrative assistant. A recognition was also given to student Zoe Sakoro Ambooster for her academic excellence, wrestling achievements, and Braille competition success, with aspirations to become the first blind Supreme Court Justice. During the call to the audience, significant public comment focused on the annual desegregation report timelines, which speakers claimed were unreasonably short, and the potential elimination of the attendance technician and registrar role at Davis Romero Bilingual Magnet School.

The final governing board meeting for February included several significant discussions and actions. Recognitions were presented for student and staff heroism, notably citing the quick actions of student Giovani Hernandez Varos. The board formally welcomed three new schools (Borton, John B Wright, and Kell) into the district's K-6 portfolio, approving them to add sixth grade. A critical discussion involved the desegregation budget development study session, which identified an approximate $2.5 million deficit for the 2526 school year. Initial presentations on budget balancing for this deficit were made by the Advanced Learning Experience Operations, and Student Relations departments. Information regarding all desegregation department budget proposals and the presentation schedule is available to the public online.