Kathleen Owen-Jones

This document outlines the Balsz Elementary School District's plan for school repurposing and strategic growth, stemming from a Governing Board Study Session on February 5th, 2026. The plan addresses a projected $3 million budget reduction for the 2026-2027 school year by exploring school closure options, notably proposing the transformation of Brunson Lee Elementary into a STEM Academy. It details strategic initiatives to enhance student retention and recruitment, including expanded marketing, community sports programs, new preschool options, and the creation of family resource centers. The overarching goals are to maintain academic excellence, ensure fiscal responsibility, and foster innovation through strategic partnerships.

The 2022-2024 Strategic Plan for the Baltz School District outlines a roadmap for achieving educational equity and excellence, developed after extensive community engagement. It is rooted in a leadership philosophy focused on setting quantitatively measured, relevant, and time-bound goals. The plan aims to significantly improve student academic proficiency, striving for 80-90% across all grades, and to enhance student support from early education through post-secondary pursuits. Key initiatives include increasing brand awareness, securing district safety on campuses and in cyber spaces (addressing physical and biological threats), and providing robust support for staff to ensure high-quality instruction.

The Governing Board study session focused on budget adjustments and a review of Balsz School sites. Discussions included communication efforts with staff and stakeholders, survey data updates, and results regarding budget reduction priorities. The session also covered details on school sites, including enrollment, cash value assessments, recent investments, and future improvement costs. The board considered repurposing school sites based on demographic information and discussed a larger reduction model update. The Arizona School Board Association provided an update on their support and actions.

The governing board study session focused on the 25/26 budget adjustment in light of declining enrollment trends. The discussion covered reasons for the increased rate of decline in enrollment, including birth rate decline, school choice, economic factors, and housing trends. The board reviewed enrollment updates, potential future scenarios, and strategies to address the enrollment decline, aiming to reduce the annual budget by $3 million. Communication efforts and survey results regarding top priorities and essential services were presented. Options such as school closures/repurposing and reductions in force were considered, with an emphasis on maintaining high-quality education, maximizing resources, minimizing disruption, ensuring transparency, and long-term sustainability. The board also explored potential recruitment and retention efforts to counter the enrollment decline.

The meeting included a presentation and discussion of the Fiscal Year 2024-2025 Annual Financial Report (AFR). The AFR reflects expenditures for the fiscal year 2024-2025 and will be published on the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) website and the District's website.