[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6668505,"mediaKeyId","2220408-d7b29d70ff22aaedcc759c9f4c053eca","parentId",2220408,"title","District outlines secondary grading framework, proposes one‑page grade summaries and common syllabus to improve consistency","audioSeconds",636,"startMs",2209000,"endMs",2845000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220408-d7b29d70ff22aaedcc759c9f4c053eca&start=2209&end=2845","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220408-d7b29d70ff22aaedcc759c9f4c053eca/thumbnail_2209000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6668505/Arizona/District-outlines-secondary-grading-framework-proposes-onepage-grade-summaries-and-common-syllabus-to-improve-consistency","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668505-bec971a0b67f9cd4d7b0f31292a49bb9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175929&Signature=BNyEYBm64lTTOvy72R06Go-P76lQakh0eEBF9aqCoNvtqBbL1zW4Lbbp22RnY7nhIqO9AmPZuG1CLupRUjjSzJn67hD1m--PGWHDhrXUP29R32s4CCz85V5Ysln7~eI0ODPvdFl~RsWkOGGOLrqbju7oG8E4Dcu6IVMJuLn~p5ZVwiu2vpbSQfm3ftOr7xt2LwzbnHwHJHUG~gK1Av-oVgFfS1H~0~K5aNov~LVsgHeMK0Xo7ItXDbEEJF3c2cr7nV12R~RNQIFS3ictqo6DQBggVcAjmSHdBFQWXE~W14NdzUBmQ0jez2R3mrf-IXwcTgKjXWPrcp7DOzvwZjXl~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gilbert Unified District (4239)","date","2025-02-05T03:18:27.237Z","article","Gilbert Public Schools leaders and a district grading committee presented a multi‑year effort on Feb. 4 to align secondary grading practices across junior high and high schools, proposing a one‑page grade‑category summary for families and a district syllabus template intended to standardize key grade‑reporting elements while preserving department and campus-level professional judgment.

Dr. Krista Cox, director of secondary curriculum, instruction and assessment, described the project’s history and purpose and said the district’s work began before the pandemic and evolved through committees and school pilots. She told the board, “Grades are a piece of communication, and they are feedback.” The committee that met this year included teachers, principals and about 20 parent participants; staff said parent involvement produced clearer public-facing documents.

What the district proposes
- One‑page summary and syllabus template: The committee drafted a one‑page parent summary for junior high and high school and a more detailed syllabus template that teachers will populate via a Google form. The one‑pager is intended to give families a quick snapshot of how grades are configured and how common practices such as retests, redos and late work are handled.
- Grade configuration: For junior high the draft configuration is 60% assessments (summative) and 40% assignments (formative). High‑school courses and junior‑high courses taught at high‑school level would use a different, high‑school configuration (drafts were shared with the board). Committee members said these configuration percentages will be enforced at the district grade‑book level to reduce errors and improve comparability.
- Common syllabus and syllabus delivery: Teachers will complete a Google form to generate a standardized syllabus PDF for posting (and a signature page for families). The district intends to attach the one‑pager and syllabus language to the course description book to keep required wording consistent with board‑approved course descriptions.
- Implementation and training: Several campuses piloted the approach this year (staff cited Campo Verde, Highland and Mesquite Junior High). District staff said the plan includes targeted professional development, instructional coach support and recorded materials for families on how to access gradebooks and Google Classroom.

Pilot feedback and outcomes
- Classroom and campus leaders reported positive early results. Tyler Dumas, principal at Campo Verde High School, said his campus used a 50/40/10 split this year and, after implementation, “it has quelled many of the concerns that we had.” He described improved student engagement and fewer failing grades overall.
- Highland High School English department chair Shannon Houdegi said the handbook and appendix help bring new teachers to a common practice: “There isn't necessarily a class you take in grading,” she said, describing how the appendix provides FAQs, research citations and sample language for teachers to use in parent communications.
- Mesquite Junior High instructional coach Shannon Carter said staff surveys showed roughly three‑quarters of teachers willing to adopt the one‑pager and that remaining concerns focused on accommodations (special education, chronic absences) and how those cases will be handled consistently.

Board concerns and district responses
Board members asked whether the documents are recommendations or rules. Cox said the handbook and recommended practices are guidance aligned to district beliefs; district staff said the immediate mandate will be to encode the agreed‑upon category percentages and required syllabus fields into the district’s Infinite Campus gradebook settings to improve transparency and reduce human error, while other practices (for example, exact retake procedures) will remain at department or campus level during the phased rollout.

Parents and communication
Staff said parents who participated in committee meetings responded positively to the one‑page summary, reporting that parents welcomed straightforward, accessible expectations. District staff plan to provide parent‑facing videos and site‑level training to explain how to view grades and materials in Infinite Campus and Google Classroom.

Next steps
District leaders plan a phased, districtwide rollout: more schools will move from pilot to campus‑wide practice next year; the district will add grading guidance to course materials and continue committee work with parent and teacher representatives. The board was invited to submit feedback before staff finalize the documents at a follow‑up committee meeting next week.

Sources: presentation and Q&A at the Feb. 4 Gilbert Public Schools work‑study; remarks from Dr. Krista Cox, Tyler Dumas, Shannon Houdegi and Shannon Carter.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gilbert Public Schools Board Meeting 2/4/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Gilbert Public Schools curriculum leaders and a reconvened grading committee presented proposed district‑level grading beliefs, a one‑page parent summary and a syllabus template for secondary schools. The plan emphasizes communication, training and phased campus implementation rather than an immediate district policy change.","taxTitle","Gilbert Unified District (4239), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",12981,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6668509,"Gilbert Public Schools adopts FY2025 revised budget No. 1 after finance staff report showing multimillion-dollar increases",272,201000,473000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2220408-d7b29d70ff22aaedcc759c9f4c053eca&start=201&end=473","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2220408-d7b29d70ff22aaedcc759c9f4c053eca/thumbnail_201000.jpg","/articles/6668509/Arizona/Gilbert-Public-Schools-adopts-FY2025-revised-budget-No-1-after-finance-staff-report-showing-multimillion-dollar-increases","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6668509-e950cdbe425562477106ff556e670aec/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175929&Signature=oI-zGIknM01q7d5Q5Vzxsvb1HOQjPxIbyLTLKGFodp6-ChHEVEIKCQiZJyQFo9JbZeZTVv6PxVtjPwMr-wNfEPqb1WvHn6cWYkE40fOJVLvByQ4f7glk9KumUTuUQaQ5pV5TinnCYk-~SnPA5enr11e2v6UKZ-RvE7ii6W3Wfk-h-7vPgoDuHVIBa0SkE0MszM2ljzpStc64xkNpzEdXZHhQ3WzGKWCKCAbxsiInMI5Ffm8Fws6yBMXwZ5ipZKkfC91RXhrlChuiU0IqkpxqATqXvlbWBpj83RiGBxCxfkTnRGQlbDl8abT6lHVdrKTpRDTfgFYXmAiH7YXotPHIxA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gilbert Public Schools governing board on Feb. 4 voted 5-0 to approve Fiscal Year 2025 revised budget No. 1 after the district's finance team reported higher-than-estimated student counts, larger-than-expected carryforward balances and stronger interest and grant reimbursements.

Director of finance Jackie Netman presented the revision during the work study, saying, “We are presenting the fiscal 20 25 revised budget number 1. We are not required to revise the budget at this time.” Superintendent Shane McCord and budget staff explained the changes and took questions from board members before the vote.

Why it matters: The revision increases the district's M&O revenue control limit and unrestricted capital capacity, restores money the district had planned to transfer from capital to operations and incorporates final carryforward and grant completion reports that were unavailable when the budget was adopted in July.

Key figures and drivers
- Average daily membership (ADM) and weighted counts: The district reported an ADM of 30,065 for FY2024 recalculation, an increase from earlier adopted estimates, and an increase in weighted student count of 487. That higher weighted count raised the M&O revenue control limit by roughly $2.7 million.
- M&O revenue control limit and carryforward: District staff said carryforward and other adjustments produced an overall M&O budget limit increase of about $5,570,000 and removed a previously planned $2 million transfer from unrestricted capital into M&O because it is no longer necessary.
- Unrestricted capital: The district reported an increase in unrestricted capital capacity (district additional assistance) of roughly $5,580,000. Staff described an accounting judgment and reclassification that explained a $390,000 line-item change from the adopted budget to the revision.
- Interest earnings strategy: Finance staff said the district intentionally routes state and local revenue first into unrestricted capital to maximize spendable interest earnings. Interest earned on unrestricted capital last year was reported at $1,170,000 versus an original estimate of $420,000.
- Grants and federal funds: State and federal grant balances rose in the revision by about $8.6 million, largely from completion reports accepted by the Arizona Department of Education that permit certain unspent grant dollars to be carried forward. ESSER III funds were reported as fully spent and closed.
- E‑Rate reimbursement and bond proceeds: Technology services completed a network refresh and the district received roughly $2.2 million in E‑Rate reimbursement for equipment and cabling paid from bond funds; staff said they will propose how to spend that reimbursement over coming years.
- Employee benefit trust: The district flagged that recent claims trends are expected to draw down the employee benefit trust by an estimated $3.5 million in the current year; the trust committee will make premium recommendations that will be brought to the board.
- Transportation purchases: The district has purchased smaller, non‑CDL buses (10-passenger) to increase routing flexibility; staff expect additional vehicles to enter the fleet this year.

Budget process context and risk
Budget staff emphasized that the district is not required to file a revision unless it must reduce an overstated budget by Dec. 15; because the revision adds capacity, it is a voluntary update to reflect finalized FY2024 numbers and to set a current base for FY2026 planning. McCord told the board that legislative action remains an external risk: “When we're looking at projections for student loss, when we're looking at possible salary increases, we will be on the conservative side ... based on what the legislature does we will determine what we can give for an increase.”

Board action and vote
Board member Jesse Brainard moved to approve the FY2025 revised budget No. 1; Jill Humphreys seconded. The full board voted in favor 5-0 (Chad Thompson, Shana Murray, Blake Robinson, Jill Humphreys, Jesse Brainard).

What comes next
Staff said revised numbers will appear in the next monthly report and that some elements of the revision (for example, projected grant amounts that later change) may be adjusted again before the statutory final revision deadline in mid‑May. The board signed the budget documents as required.

Sources: presentation and discussion at the Feb. 4 Gilbert Public Schools work‑study and subsequent board business meeting; finance staff slides and Q&A with board members.","The Gilbert Public Schools governing board on Feb. 4 approved the district's fiscal year 2025 revised budget No. 1, which reflects higher student counts, removed an intra-fund transfer and increases maintenance and operations (M&O) and unrestricted capital capacity by several million dollars. The motion passed 5-0.","actionData","errors"]

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District outlines secondary grading framework, proposes one‑page grade summaries and common syllabus to improve consistency

Gilbert Public Schools adopts FY2025 revised budget No. 1 after finance staff report showing multimillion-dollar increases