[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6622155,"mediaKeyId","2787522-21ef794a7e3cf36cc15aa8c38891ef3c","parentId",2787522,"title","Liberty Elementary District approves remaining FY26 contracts; vice president votes no over job-description concerns","audioSeconds",307,"startMs",171000,"endMs",478000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787522-21ef794a7e3cf36cc15aa8c38891ef3c&start=171&end=478","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787522-21ef794a7e3cf36cc15aa8c38891ef3c/thumbnail_171000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6622155/Arizona/Liberty-Elementary-District-approves-remaining-FY26-contracts-vice-president-votes-no-over-job-description-concerns","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622155-9e9d2293c6a558764f2356adfb63bee4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126843&Signature=G8S2v9tw0v1P1wLRx9V~HnbPNIY0-Mx0dPCUtKRv~LoAfcKkG-2JDSf1r7rtC5-lAY2FnPFstBhDlHOyTO4Y8VZeODrn1CbuD~7F3sJkhH9maKn3JdBLU40oSYQmspWIfy1D1Y-mCHBinIYTJbmUsBr4d103afsMiW-b6cylum39J3AUaKRZgPTKYvA3a0ooXwEr13Rd-51ZsUz-zO6sjCFLTXTbn0TGApxRCWPRGyuoQQjIG5MbyQ5KOpG-P~V81qEXY03-wonpyxMHlwP5d8UKaheNF381kKHv1abZcbWT6J3eEfXcr6~nlRqm44irrKILuyll6SmmYzTEe20dmA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Liberty Elementary District","date","2025-03-27T00:22:19.603Z","article","The Liberty Elementary District governing board voted 3-1 on March 26 to approve issuance of remaining contracts and work agreements for the 2025–26 school year, covering administration, instructional coaches, renewed interventionists, psychologists, exempt support staff and hourly support staff.

The vote follows a presentation by Dr. Mahorn, who asked the board to approve the remaining contracts and said the listed salaries reflect current pay with no raises attached. \"The remaining groups are administration, instructional coaches, renewed interventionists, psychologists, exempt support support staff, and hourly support staff,\" Dr. Mahorn told the board.

Why it matters: the approved contracts cover key district positions that affect classroom support and district operations going into 2025–26. One contract item discussed was a half-time (0.5 FTE) placement for Dr. Sloat, the district's director of research; administration said it expects to use funds from a Project Momentum grant but does not yet know the grant balance.

Discussion and unresolved items

Board members asked for details about funding and about job descriptions for administrative positions. Dr. Mahorn said administration is \"very confident that we'll be able to cover his part time salary\" from Project Momentum funds but acknowledged the district does not yet know the grant balance. He told the board that revised job descriptions will be returned on April 15, and that a small committee will begin work immediately to update descriptions for positions that are changing or being dissolved.

Vice President Zimmerman voted no. He explained his vote by saying he felt the board needed current job descriptions in hand before approving administrator contracts: \"...only a nay just because of the job descriptions and as my responsibility as a board member, I feel like I needed those before I could approve the contracts for administrators.\" Board members Chris Kenyon, Sarah Schmidt and Brian Cinceroni voted to approve the motion.

Outcome and next steps

The motion to issue the remaining contracts passed 3 to 1. Administration will provide revised job descriptions to the board on April 15 and continue work with a small committee to reconcile duties for positions being altered or dissolved.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03.26.2025 LESD 25 Special Governing Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Liberty Elementary District governing board voted 3-1 on March 26 to approve issuance of remaining contracts and work agreements for the 2025\t6 school year, covering administration, instructional coaches, interventionists, psychologists and support staff.","taxTitle","Liberty Elementary District (4266), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",64408,"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},6622146,"Board approves FY25 hourly support-staff wage schedule to fill payroll vacancies",245,866000,1111000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787522-21ef794a7e3cf36cc15aa8c38891ef3c&start=866&end=1111","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787522-21ef794a7e3cf36cc15aa8c38891ef3c/thumbnail_866000.jpg","/articles/6622146/Arizona/Board-approves-FY25-hourly-support-staff-wage-schedule-to-fill-payroll-vacancies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622146-d32ff6a998f330acee237d61b810e6da/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126843&Signature=cm0LkEXU6SBvmnGbu3oSN-io-qtZUBKpYBlHrSLsvTHZcHkmZ09Ayjoal-ZSWFADu5YER1z0Y58kcovdgPpuZyOF7t1njrUmmahokEYps9fz2cVnivUWMBpZhKr7w0deGhxX3vYexJBMRoQRXR9sxgPvcJOOiZtiRc9AHxf617wH5EUy3etfuXJWFYbHUESWcI0ToU55SQnTRBLXKlttXWxo~eea-e-~UzL9BUnOFHm2z75eIlvZo5Z2Bn-0Tte32GD5Mdl7DQSosC1U355rJjS0R-0pMarBhRtrx7TzlLEtXokOFoXjU8YpMAQEX5i73I9Izw2hNSer1XV9chqVuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty Elementary District governing board voted unanimously to approve changes to the FY25 hourly support-staff wage schedule, effective March 27, 2025. The change aims to make certain business-services and payroll positions more competitive and to reduce the district's reliance on outside contractors.

Crystal Mosher, who presented the item, said the revisions are intended to address openings in the business services department and payroll, positions the district has struggled to fill. \"We've done the work to move those positions to a higher level,\" Mosher said, adding the district hopes to avoid continued use of higher-cost consultants.

Why it matters: payroll and business-services continuity affects timely pay for staff and day-to-day district operations. Mosher said the proposal moves one position to a part-time role (seven hours per day, four days per week) and adjusts pay levels for vacant positions to attract candidates.

Board discussion and financial implications

Board members praised the move as a way to retain work in-house and reduce contractor spending. Chris Kenyon said the change \"is actually going to save the district some money, and getting away from contract stuff\" and called payroll a critical service.

Mosher told the board the proposal also saves money by reducing hours for one role and eliminating a consultant; she did not include consultant savings in the written comparison but said overall costs would be lower despite pay increases for some positions.

Outcome

A motion to approve the FY25 hourly support staff wage schedule, effective 03/27/2025, passed 4-0. The district will proceed with recruiting and filling the reclassified positions.","The Liberty Elementary District governing board approved changes to the FY25 hourly support-staff wage schedule effective March 27 to help fill payroll and business-services openings and reduce reliance on contractors, a move administration said will save money overall.",{"_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},6622151,"Liberty Elementary District names Brandon Valdez principal at Blue Horizons Elementary",226,489000,715000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2787522-21ef794a7e3cf36cc15aa8c38891ef3c&start=489&end=715","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2787522-21ef794a7e3cf36cc15aa8c38891ef3c/thumbnail_489000.jpg","/articles/6622151/Arizona/Liberty-Elementary-District-names-Brandon-Valdez-principal-at-Blue-Horizons-Elementary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6622151-ae073b50ac6efa83b9301318df19c446/orig.mp4?Expires=1771126843&Signature=JaKCtS5TcB1RufnPIw61YLw4OqypnkdOiZVcdvQQBcN-lKHnxy7j7tplwX4A7wve8p3JCMp4ZYPmGLV~FA2h6vWcWFQxXf6~SEkwW4uj7ZBAuMfAt2CdJdUGEoD7dv7ynZ8aj4x0TgauA-f2AdKl-o5vKp1qOrhk3XaBASlS-IOYdfe3E1A2eJkrGXJrocmqv56TW0rBnJkmdSGt1AKxN0TmJ1nCCo4U3Osa4wHGFhxGlyv~sJUOazmwQDUU6hfB4lt5y0DSysjniVlnEDDxovhf31VBLyXIgjcddRa8P19308dGHi3-ZXRlT3ytpo4afpSYyH~SgCRxfBwfWCr7HQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty Elementary District governing board unanimously approved the appointment of Brandon Valdez as principal of Blue Horizons Elementary School for the 2025–26 school year at its March 26 special meeting.

Administration presented the recommendation. \"It is recommended that the governing board approve Mr. Brandon Valdez as the principal for Blue Horizons Elementary school for the 2025-26 school year,\" Dr. Mahorn said, noting that principal interviews were held Jan. 29 and the selection committee included teachers, parents, classified staff, an instructional coach and administrative personnel.

Why it matters: The principal leads school-level administration and sets instructional and personnel priorities for the campus. The board's action fills a leadership vacancy ahead of the 2025\t6 year.

Selection details and discussion

Administration said the district received eight applicants for the position, with three advancing to final interview and one finalist a no-show, resulting in two candidates interviewed by the committee. Administration stated that Mr. Valdez has five years of administration experience. When board members asked whether finalists had the posted requirement of three years' principal experience, administration clarified that finalists had principal experience but not all had three full years; candidates with some principal experience were advanced to the full interview.

The board voted 4-0 to approve Mr. Valdez. Following the vote, the district arranged to introduce Valdez to staff the next morning and to have him spend a day at the campus getting to know personnel.

Details not specified in the meeting record

The transcript includes a recommended salary figure that is not clearly transcribed; the precise salary amount is not specified in the meeting record provided to the board.","The Liberty Elementary District governing board unanimously approved Brandon Valdez as principal of Blue Horizons Elementary for the 2025–26 school year after a selection process that included eight applicants and a committee of teachers, parents and staff.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Liberty Elementary District approves remaining FY26 contracts; vice president votes no over job-description concerns

Board approves FY25 hourly support-staff wage schedule to fill payroll vacancies

Liberty Elementary District names Brandon Valdez principal at Blue Horizons Elementary