Randy Cheatheam

This document outlines KUSD's mission to welcome all students on a learning pathway towards informed and engaged citizenship. The strategic priorities focus on enhancing Staff & Student Wellbeing, fostering Communication & Collaboration, establishing Equitable & Accessible Learning Environments, and ensuring Effective & Transparent Transitions.

The special board meeting and budget workshop included discussions and potential action regarding the approval of three-year academic calendars and a staff calendar for the 2026-2027 school year. Feedback surveys indicated that 65% of parents favored the proposed calendar change, while 72% of staff were in favor. Key concerns raised included the impact of the two-week break on childcare availability and potential learning loss, balanced against the preference for shorter summers. The meeting also involved a review of the Fiscal Year 2026 budget workshop, covering state-reported financial risk analysis, which showed the district is no longer considered high-risk, although a concern remains regarding declining student enrollment (ADM). Discussions detailed revenue calculations, including a projected decrease of approximately $1.2 million due to enrollment loss, and a review of major budget allocations, such as salaries and benefits constituting about 70% of the budget. Potential costs associated with adding teacher preparation days were also presented.

The regular meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance and confirmation of a quorum. During the Call to the Public section, information was presented regarding an endorsed ballot initiative to place guard rails on empowerment scholarship account vouchers due to concerns over fraud and waste. The Superintendent's report highlighted the presentation of Jennifer Hannon, principal of Lee Williams School, regarding the school's art program, followed by an invitation to the parking lot for a showcase. A representative from the Lee Williams band reported on successful fundraising efforts to replace old uniforms, recognizing significant contributions from Preston Investments, Arizona Furniture, McDonald's of Kingman, Origin Mining Company, Martin Swante, Mission Bank, and 66 Auto, as well as community organizations like the Kingman Rotary Club and Kingman's Elk Lodge. Following the routine orders of business, the first reading was conducted for changes in policy regarding mandatory third-party audits for districts expending over one million in federal funds. A possible action was taken to approve the school zone map for the 2026 school year, following extensive review by a rezoning committee addressing boundary changes, student transportation, and capacity balancing. Finally, the board reviewed and discussed a proposed three-year academic calendar (2026-2027 through 2029) developed by a 35-member committee, which aimed to adjust intersession breaks to better accommodate classified staff needs and improve hiring timelines for new teachers.

The regular board meeting included a call to order and the pledge of allegiance, followed by establishing a quorum. Key discussions involved a celebration and recognition ceremony for students who achieved perfect scores on Arizona statewide assessments from the previous school year. The board also received presentations regarding the "Speak Up, Stand Up, and Save a Life" youth conference experience from attending students, who formed a leadership team named "Charging Rams." Additionally, an annual strategic partnership review was presented by SSC regarding facilities and maintenance services, detailing key performance indicators such as a 99.32% work order completion rate, a 4.5/5 customer service score, and project highlights including summer cleaning task enforcement and maintenance projects like irrigation line installation and HVAC unit servicing. The presentation also covered grounds improvements and SSC's focus on employee appreciation culture.

The academic workshop focused on reviewing the district's achievement plan, specifically setting the vision, goals, and guardrails around learning outcomes. Key discussion points included recommitting to standards, curriculum, and assessment plans to measure student progress. Detailed information was presented regarding the Arizona academic standards and the core curriculum adoption procedure, which involves piloting, educator input, and public review periods before final adoption. Furthermore, the continuum of assessment was reviewed, covering formative, benchmark, and summative assessments, detailing how results inform instruction and contribute to school letter grades.