Linda Coronado

The meeting commenced with the pledge of allegiance, presented by the Southwest Junior High Color Guard, followed by a moment of silence to honor the mother of a colleague. Key discussions involved recognizing two staff members: Gabriella Boskeet, a third-grade teacher recognized for being reliable, caring, dedicated, and patient, and Miss Avina, a full-time SPED instructional assistant in a life skills classroom, praised for her patience and loving treatment of students. The Principal's Report covered the district spelling bee winners and acknowledged Desert View Elementary for achieving third place in the county spelling bee. The Director's Report introduced the Parent Educator Academy, a new professional development opportunity for parent liaisons through a partnership with All in Education, scheduled to launch on March 17th. Additionally, a report was given on the recently completed four-day CPI training focused on crisis prevention, de-escalation, and physical intervention, which certified staff and School Resource Officers for two years. Action items included the approval of intergovernmental agreements for junior high athletic programs for the 2025-2026 fiscal year and the approval of the 2026-2027 fiscal year district calendar, which aligns closely with the high school calendar. The Board also initiated action to approve the creation of a new Assistant Finance Director position, noting the district is currently understaffed in that department compared to other Yuma County elementary districts.

The meeting commenced with a roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. Key agenda items involved the approval of the current meeting agenda and the minutes from the November 12th, 2015, and December 2nd, 2025, board meetings. The District Superintendent provided a report, thanking board members for attending external events and noting generous donations for migrant kits. Presentations included recognizing employees of the month and addressing upcoming attendance at the Arizona School Board Association conference. During the Call to the Public, representatives from the Teacher and Education Associations welcomed new board members and emphasized the importance of collaboration and employee advocacy. Action items included the approval of a stipend of up to $5,500 for eligible Speech-Language Pathologist Assistants (SLPAs) to complete student testing due to staffing shortages. The board also approved the revision of Policy GCC regarding employee leave during FMLA, waiving the second reading for Policy BGB revision, and discussed the possibility of creating a policy for employee sick leave donation incentives.

The meeting included a public hearing to revise the budget due to legislative changes in the funding formula for education, resulting in a 1.4 million increase. A public hearing was also held for the dual language guesting academy's Spanish curriculum. The superintendent reported on a preschool hosting the South County Yuma family and childcare photo event and highlighted the funding of the preschool through grants. The initiation of junior explorers programs at Southwest Junior High and St. Louis Middle School was introduced, focusing on law, public safety, and community service. Additionally, there was discussion regarding proposals for various conferences, including the Arizona Tissel conference and the Alys conference, focusing on student ownership and engaging English language learners.

The board meeting included recognition of employees of the month, discussion of preschool funding, and congratulations to Mrs. Vanessa Gonzalez for her accepted proposals. The board discussed the district's annual financial report for fiscal year 2025, a list of sole source vendors for fiscal year 2025-2026, and the gifted education scope and sequence. They also discussed a memorandum of agreement between Gadsden Elementary School District #32 and Wake Head Start, a memorandum of understanding, and the use of premises memorandum.

The budget includes total budgeted revenues for fiscal year 2024 and estimated revenues by source for fiscal year 2025, including local, intermediate, state, and federal sources. It also details the district tax rates for prior and budget fiscal years, including the proposed primary tax rate and adopted secondary tax rates. The budget outlines total budgeted expenditures and the aggregate school district budget limit for the Maintenance and Operation Fund, Unrestricted Capital Fund, and Federal projects. Average teacher salaries for FY 2025 and FY 2024 are compared, along with the percentage increase. The document includes information on special education programs, classroom site funds, unrestricted capital outlay, and other funds, detailing expenditures and select object codes. It also covers federal projects, state projects, and instructional improvement fund expenditures. The calculation of the FY 2025 General Budget Limit and Unrestricted Capital Budget Limit is presented, along with a summary of the school district's proposed expenditure budget.