Kory Burgess

The meeting featured an annual Title I presentation providing an overview of federal funding, its purpose for academic assistance, and the importance of family and community engagement. The board discussed current curriculum and assessment tools, including the need for better alignment with state standards in science. There was a focus on improving family participation through surveys and the requirement for school-specific parent engagement policies. Additionally, the board reviewed a proposed change to policy regarding audits and financial monitoring.

The meeting featured a presentation and discussion regarding student benchmark results for the third quarter across various grade levels in English Language Arts, Math, and Science. The board and staff reviewed growth patterns, discussed the impact of phonics instruction, and evaluated current screening tools, with a commitment to explore new math screening resources to better support student interventions. Additionally, the board received an update on the planning for an upcoming employee appreciation luncheon.

The workshop focused on a diagnostic review and demonstration of benchmark assessments used to evaluate student proficiency relative to Arizona standards. Board members participated in a mock testing session to experience the assessment interface firsthand, discussing topics such as test stamina, the cognitive demands of the questions, the role of text-to-speech features, and the alignment of test items with educational standards. The discussion also covered the logistical aspects of testing, including grade-level appropriateness and the software navigation process.

The board discussed and approved the fiscal year 2027 budgetary planning proposal, which involved difficult decisions regarding staff positions and departmental restructuring. Additionally, the board approved the renewal of current employee contracts and work agreements for the upcoming school year. The meeting concluded with a brief mention of future meeting logistics.

The board meeting focused on two primary presentations. The first addressed the core concepts of trust, including integrity, intent, capabilities, and character, and how these elements relate to board performance and organizational reputation. The second presentation provided a detailed overview of the fiscal budget development process, including the identification of stakeholders, the timeline for data gathering, and the methodology for forecasting expenditures such as personnel costs, insurance premiums, and utility rate increases.