[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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",6623535,"mediaKeyId","2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12","parentId",2769694,"title","District outlines goals to expand advanced-learning participation in elementary, middle and high schools","audioSeconds",421,"startMs",3889000,"endMs",4310000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12&start=3889&end=4310","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12/thumbnail_3889000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6623535/Arizona/District-outlines-goals-to-expand-advanced-learning-participation-in-elementary-middle-and-high-schools","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623535-c1a2926848743aeddb6073641f0eed9f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770727381&Signature=WdxosaLAQt-i01QghftbhwW1cwVCYYAJB~Vv23~mgHcoo6gnVIjcbwF6U79IKvJm-jufn8NAOq1eVpWC04tAzO4fG7eMlRf62EGb8p-UNWzsp3iplQom~U4lcxccTCSeaIcbrKgOjtnPS~euON84CmkN2zp5nw-vfWa7uLoFXcqAINwhl-2MFfG~irbBsgBcrRPNk8Cg1LJcvb3F0K2X~i2JY38u8GnmAuLMaKlfUwsnIL5YM9djfP0EFAmCbzOn5N3vzJ8NXMi28Zv5xpbMj4OKMOjEmBCJTOdL~u0cyvoaEtmS6K2XK3tippqUqVwpnKfTshQJsCU56PCgQoL5wg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Gilbert Unified District (4239)","date","2025-03-26T04:22:05.573Z","article","District teaching-and-learning staff presented an academic spotlight March 25 describing current participation in advanced-learning programs and setting targets to expand enrollment and teacher capacity across elementary, junior high and high schools.

Jared Ryan, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning, introduced Brent Gardner, the district's coordinator of advanced learning. Gardner described program categories that include gifted services, accelerated/traditional honors classes, International Baccalaureate (IB), Advanced Placement (AP) and dual-enrollment/dual-credit offerings. He told the board that the district's goals (based on a 2023 baseline) include raising elementary advanced-program participation to 30 percent by 2026, junior high to 40 percent and high school to 70 percent.

Gardner said the district currently has roughly 20 percent of elementary students in one or more advanced programs, about 38 percent in junior high and about 63 percent in high school. He highlighted growth in AP participation: 6,620 AP course enrollments in 2025 representing 3,319 students (a 6 percent increase year over year) and an increase in AP exam takers and a 77 percent rate of 3-or-better on AP exams for the previous year.

To expand capacity the district proposes several actions: (1) increase gifted identification through current-request testing rounds and a planned universal screener of second graders in May; (2) endorse an additional 25 teachers (in addition to 64 current gifted-endorsed teachers) through district-provided coursework or endorsement pathways so more classrooms can offer gifted services; (3) add a section to the Highland Junior High gifted academy to serve an additional approximately 25 students; and (4) host an AP Summer Institute (APSI) locally to grow teacher capacity and collaboration.

Board members asked about the mechanics of gifted identification and the state's role in defining gifted status. Gardner explained the district primarily uses the CogAT (Cogap) assessment in the three domains (verbal, nonverbal and quantitative) and that Arizona defines gifted as students meeting the 97th percentile threshold in one or more categories; the district may also use lower percentiles operationally to identify candidates for services. Staff discussed expanding district-run testing events to reach students who are not currently enrolled in GPS and building more formal pathways for students who show potential but fall below the strict percentile cutoffs.

Board discussion explored capacity limits and tradeoffs (for example, how many gifted-endorsed teachers the district can train and whether accelerated classrooms can coexist with conventional classrooms on campuses with constrained room). Gardner said the district currently offers a provisional 90-hour endorsement and will provide in-district endorsement pathways for teachers (90 hours provisional; an additional 90 hours required for full endorsement). The district identified 25 priority teachers for endorsement next year and said that building internal mentor capacity will enable further growth.

Board members praised the plan but also cautioned the district to be intentional about capacity, to monitor impacts and to ensure students who try accelerated placements and struggle have clear supports and pathways back to conventional classrooms when appropriate. Gardner and Ryan emphasized the district's stated commitment to expand access without \"watering down\" academic expectations and to monitor results.

No board action was required; the presentation was informational and will inform staffing and program decisions in the upcoming budget and school-year planning cycles.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Gilbert Public Schools Board Meeting 3/25/2025","oneSentenceSummary","District staff presented an academic spotlight on advanced-learning programs, setting targets to increase enrollment in gifted, honors, AP, IB and dual-enrollment courses over the next two academic years and proposing local teacher endorsements and training to expand capacity.","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},6623540,"Board approves FY2025 budget revision to shift $11 million into unrestricted capital",311,3234000,3545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12&start=3234&end=3545","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12/thumbnail_3234000.jpg","/articles/6623540/Arizona/Board-approves-FY2025-budget-revision-to-shift-11-million-into-unrestricted-capital","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623540-c41b8e36691393a18365cdfbbbf88dca/orig.mp4?Expires=1770727381&Signature=jStbMxQU8QN2CC2UiYQ-U7UW1SjJR0OCX1Gce~5WY8TrXbExLQhyv8CPZ6Pa6CHGjZV5nRudB-wQ7zc3qTatJ2vo76-QvMbA7B-yu~sKXxWhFjhavBiddBoj9e~5xsw9CiS-GhnqeTN8kDtCsi5hRdQbHpJjUR6KKyyv~iRifNUg9t6KCk3A9yfTUyys2rWoTXXxU8NOJqtPA~w2wEue3csUJv9QKEd274cV1u2h2Xx5O7su6rCD1rO2N9AgShfbjFRWHUkbmF8mGwUXuqinTiX8CnSVYpqQ9~kr0wVAsMiqSWulC~hEtdj76ig9Y4Ej6csG80Dn-S25c5Zz3OWnBg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gilbert Unified District governing board approved Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Revision No. 2 on March 25, authorizing the transfer of $11,000,000 from the district's maintenance and operations (M&O) budget capacity into unrestricted capital (district additional assistance) to increase the district's capacity to earn interest and fund facilities work.

Finance director (presenter) Kristi Betts explained that state law prevents the district from directly spending interest earnings recorded in M&O, but allows designation of new revenue to unrestricted capital, where interest can be spent for capital projects. Betts said the move preserves spending flexibility and could increase unrestricted capital's interest earnings; the district earned roughly $825,000 in interest in unrestricted capital year-to-date and she estimated the larger pool could yield approximately $1.5 million in interest before the next budget cycle.

Under the revision, M&O control-limit capacity decreases from roughly $293.2 million to about $282.2 million; unrestricted capital outlay increases from a previously shown $18.9 million (with a $56.2 million budget limit including carryover) to approximately $29.8 million in planned capital expenditures and a $67.2 million unrestricted capital limit. Betts told the board the revision is primarily an accounting and designation change to maximize interest earnings without reducing operational capacity; she said available balances showed sufficient capacity and that the district expects to spend roughly $30 million in capital expenditures this year.

Board members asked clarifying questions about the plan to reclassify funds back to M&O in the next budget year, how much of the capital bucket is carryover versus newly designated revenue, and whether the district has the capacity to spend the higher unrestricted capital amount before June 30. Betts said the district will present encumbrance and expenditure details in the monthly financial report and reminded the board to sign associated documentation at meeting end to file revisions with the Arizona Department of Education.

The board approved the motion by voice vote; the motion passed with all four members present voting \"aye\" and one absent. Finance staff said they will return with monthly reports tracking encumbrances, expenditures and any need to transfer funds back to M&O for operational expenses during the next budget cycle.","The Gilbert Unified District governing board approved Budget Revision No. 2, moving $11 million from Maintenance & Operations into unrestricted capital to increase interest-earning capacity for future facility projects.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623545,"Gilbert Unified board approves weapons-detection systems for high schools",1199,7856000,9055000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12&start=7856&end=9055","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12/thumbnail_7856000.jpg","/articles/6623545/Arizona/Gilbert-Unified-board-approves-weapons-detection-systems-for-high-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623545-7a923fdc1b93525498c93f2e621dbd77/orig.mp4?Expires=1770727381&Signature=nCbfWjnWEk-CdMEwdVtCYD7X4~Gh0R45KXehOqfn~V1VDpK7I0OXblrCHyz75DmyDI~dLgZr9UeNJFO5olC-gcDHROTKVok6IziHdivFx0G5B7NIcHJo0bWJeGcE~Y362GiJgAxRV2LZxQEcKux-OBZjJi94rWEyJvN0kdEkyhKV0TmDL54bdR6oYp6n7sdp0lnO62MPlEIO5OdMAJUKeGCR7eKcLAiPor933bdq8lOtM-GInMM6Fg5JftAwyKwkxbPJMSV6-4IEannzOy7Eumoq9kSahjvGPWHfN45y~xsozl8S9B9Y7bmv6i39XsjExWEVbwZanaRxTQj5q7P6Mw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Gilbert Unified District governing board voted March 25 to approve a request-for-proposal (RFP) award to procure weapons-detection equipment for high schools and certain large events.

Superintendent Shane McCord told the board the move is intended to add another layer of security for students and staff after several recent incidents in which students brought firearms onto campuses elsewhere in the region. The approved package includes 32 open-gate metal-detection columns, stabilization plates, seven rechargeable handheld wands, 100 steel crowd-control barriers, 25 retractable stanchions, 90 heavy-duty folding tables, 32 plastic sandwich-board signs, staff training at each campus and a cloud-management system to monitor devices districtwide.

The district's vendor proposal, presented in the meeting as School Specialty's offer, totals approximately $573,000 in one-time equipment and service costs, plus a recurring $17,000 annual fee for the NetID cloud-management system that will allow administrators to monitor device status. McCord said the systems can be set to different sensitivity settings and that the district's first priority is to detect weapons consistent with international detection standards.

McCord described a pilot and planning process that began in November: administrators and high-school principals observed a demonstration, evaluated logistics for each campus and borrowed demonstration units from neighboring districts for large events. The superintendent said the district plans a phased rollout, starting with smaller campuses such as Gilbert Classical Academy and Canyon Valley, and finishing with the largest high schools, including Mesquite and Campo Verde, with the goal of completing initial rollout before the end of the school year.

Board members debated practicality, staff burden and community perceptions. Questions from board members and staff covered run time and warranty (the vendor offered a two-year warranty with an optional five-year extension), impacts on students who carry Chromebooks or metal water bottles and whether medical devices would be affected. Security staff said detectors are tuned to concentrate on localized metal (for example, laptop hinges) rather than all metal objects; district representatives presented written vendor documentation asserting the systems do not affect implanted medical devices such as pacemakers and insulin pumps.

Superintendent McCord and district security lead Al Kane said principals were asked to design campus-specific plans that use existing staff where possible to staff screening stations; McCord said the district would return to the board if additional personnel are required after rollout. The board also heard that the equipment would be used for large events such as sporting contests.

After extended discussion, the board approved the motion to award the weapons-detection RFP. The voice vote produced unanimous approval among the four board members present; one member (Sheena Murray) was absent.

Board members and district staff emphasized that the detectors are one layer among many (fencing, cameras, secure entries and security personnel) and not a complete solution. The superintendent said the decision responds to a duty to make campuses safer and that communications materials and campus-specific instructional videos will be produced for students, staff and families ahead of wider rollout.","The governing board approved an RFP to buy metal-detection and crowd-control equipment for high schools, authorizing roughly $573,000 in one-time purchases and a $17,000 annual management fee to add a new security layer.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6623550,"Students urge district to preserve Campo Verde librarian and library services",230,2838000,3068000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12&start=2838&end=3068","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2769694-7d4aed1473b792e336c4f9b5e10bbd12/thumbnail_2838000.jpg","/articles/6623550/Arizona/Students-urge-district-to-preserve-Campo-Verde-librarian-and-library-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6623550-521e72f611061525f8e686e4c7717d8b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770727381&Signature=Hulh7KHJNl-K10Bxio2LeSfivNTZYMP5Gp5b~2al6dJIxy7j2chIyD80TAWCpLBIrwQuI-tnQeB-Ji7D-5cxT9ucfpLQO1a4FbDUpFW2mrPRLhHoAEX076ujsuAutWFBFCbB3UQ0ftWKmlvIEkMm5NPKHaBnBFqq7XAhSwyTble6zXSfm~IhRxg6IC349oFh0td0Lzw9VSCWC~H5CWEfN6P2O-JriiVU6nrFFpOYdD75lHGTtngxIqTaFltl4qMBt-PZxHdVVR0wiRFYO7kBtvU0uOnzeEFGJ1HMXx1mJary6Sm3qGWfPRwh3gppL51bxMClu-qcTjIKzj3be6-wCA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two students from Campo Verde High School told the Gilbert Unified District governing board March 25 that recent staffing changes that removed the campus librarian threaten student access to books and to support services.

Lizzie Stone, who identified herself as the president of Campo Verde's book club and as a member of the class of 2025, told the board she uses the library daily and that recent budget-driven staffing cuts have eliminated the librarian position that she said helped students discover books and run programs such as book fairs and the 'Blind Date with a Book' display. Stone described the library's role in introducing her to a series she continued through public libraries and said the campus recorded 3,442 book checkouts at Campo Verde during the 2023-24 school year.

Another speaker, Stella Pavoni (surname pronounced \"Pavoni\" during the meeting), identified herself as a junior and a member of Campo Verde's book club and spoke about the role of the campus librarian, Miss Flaherty, who the speakers said has worked at the school since it opened in 2009. Pavoni said Flaherty holds qualifications in English literature and curriculum and that losing a certified librarian harms students' academic and social-emotional supports. She cited a national literacy statistic — that roughly 40 percent of students nationwide do not read at a basic level — and told the board that the district should not reduce certified library services while literacy challenges remain.

The students asked the board to reconsider library staffing decisions and to prioritize retention of qualified librarians. Board members invited the public comment and acknowledged they had received several emailed submissions the same night; no formal action or vote accompanied the public comments.

Board and senior staff responses during the meeting focused on listening and thanking the students for speaking. Superintendent Shane McCord and board members did not announce any immediate staffing changes during the meeting; they moved on to the published agenda.

The speakers' testimony adds to ongoing local discussion about library staffing and programming as the district finalizes its fiscal-year budget revisions. The board will consider budget matters later in the meeting, including a budget revision that moves $11 million from maintenance and operations to unrestricted capital to increase interest-earning capacity and support facility needs.

Community members who testified asked the district to maintain library staffing and to track how reduced librarian presence might affect student reading and engagement going forward.","Two Campo Verde High students told the Gilbert Unified District governing board they oppose recent staffing cuts that removed a certified librarian, saying the change harms student reading access and literacy supports.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District outlines goals to expand advanced-learning participation in elementary, middle and high schools

Board approves FY2025 budget revision to shift $11 million into unrestricted capital

Gilbert Unified board approves weapons-detection systems for high schools

Students urge district to preserve Campo Verde librarian and library services