Marisela Baca

The Agua Fria High School District's Senior to Senior Program, established in Fall 2022, is an intergenerational initiative designed to connect graduating high school seniors with senior adult retirees. The program's strategic objectives include building intergenerational relationships that foster empathy, leadership, and civic engagement; increasing community partnerships and awareness; creating a sustainable, scalable districtwide volunteer program; strengthening the district's reputation; and increasing adult community engagement within school walls. The plan outlines a strategic sequence of monthly themed events and aims to empower students while cultivating community bonds across generations.

The governing board meeting included the election of 2026 governing board officers, where Kristen Actton was nominated and elected as president, and Landis was nominated as vice president. A key agenda item was the student recognition segment focused on National Merit Scholars, featuring two students recognized for top academic excellence. A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to an update on the Millennium High School remodel project, Phase Two, which centers on revitalizing the core campus by creating a central plaza/courtyard to connect vital components like the cafeteria, library, administration, and new labs/white box spaces. The construction sequence, which avoids portable classrooms by phasing demolition and reconstruction between 2026 and 2028, was detailed. Finally, the board approved the 2026-2027 work and holiday calendars, which adjusted instructional days to align with the previously approved school calendar.

The board discussed and approved the medical academy and fire rescue pathway. Policy updates recommended by the trust model policy program were reviewed and approved. The adoption of the 2026-2027 and 2027-2028 school calendars was tabled for a future meeting. A graduation facility rental and the Hilltop property were discussed, including soil and construction updates. The superintendent shared updates, including congratulating a partner district and addressing a recent tragedy involving a student. Board members summarized current events, including attending the Millennium High School Friday Night Lights event, the Westmart Best of the West award, the Gala, and the Veterans Day event.

The board discussed the progress of the strategic plan for the 23-24 school year, highlighting the community input, policy implementation, and transparency. The district achieved 100% completion of action steps across all five tenants. The board reviewed the annual report and goals at a glance, which are now available on the website for stakeholders to monitor progress in real time. The discussion included the steps taken to gather community input, align priorities with the district's vision and values, and roll out the strategic plan to all sites.

The meeting included discussions on strategic plan progress, bond project updates, and policy updates recommended by the tax model policy program. There was also a consideration of approval of revisions to the 2025-2026 school year calendar to move the graduation date to accommodate a preferred venue.