[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6568385,"mediaKeyId","3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a","parentId",3195408,"title","Votes at a glance: agenda changes, minutes, consent and multiple policy updates approved","audioSeconds",7488,"startMs",41000,"endMs",7529000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a&start=41&end=7529","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a/thumbnail_41000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568385/Votes-at-a-glance-agenda-changes-minutes-consent-and-multiple-policy-updates-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568385-839a6aadf3caa94bd1240976402a6261/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080248&Signature=SQPwoCZ7BOQeY2TKTDNlVRS3rTrKqCebH5qQn9tsT2gvp7LiMYXSrkjbMDw0s96H7HJyredveYWROlzbsp5jcj-LfqKdxpGX7CgcHmYutsYZFBjICWXGMcdwFU8-uNy1ATEFTPoUEDyXVbuErSOhT91m0AZclJ5PuaBaxP1~QCz06ZEX9b45fBzMyS5IUjSyzKzj4op5KTJOpLqXYa4sxcnqHE3Gv-dpn2s66aa4JLQAizvEL8um47yVAupBoYWDmvXyVps9qC-wF9WKiazd87KW6v-qzAxCpYNzyfY~pQ8JNpkPrZISwb0-UmK7WaprivnQaRFuWqhqsW6~DebttA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","ELIZABETH SCHOOL DISTRICT","date","2025-05-06T03:39:35.68Z","article","The Elizabeth School District Board of Education took multiple procedural and policy votes during the meeting. Key outcomes are summarized below.

Amended agenda and minutes
- The board approved an amendment to remove item 9.3 from the consent agenda and table it until the next meeting (roll call recorded during the meeting; motion recorded and approved). The board later approved the amended agenda and subsequently approved minutes from April 7 and April 15.

Consent items
- The amended consent agenda was approved by roll call.

Regulations repealed
- The board voted to repeal several outdated regulations that staff said were not followed and had not been updated for many years: DI‑R‑1 (expenditure review process), DI‑R‑2 (credit card and local vendor charge account usage), DI‑R‑3 (cellular phone usage). Roll calls for each repeal were recorded and the motions carried.

Policy revisions and first/final readings
- The board approved first‑and‑final or first readings for multiple fiscal and procurement policies to align district rules with recent federal uniform grant guidance and to raise certain equipment thresholds from $5,000 to $10,000 where federal guidance allows. The policies approved on first and final reading included: DAC (Federal Fiscal Compliance), DID (Inventories), DIE (Audits and Financial Monitoring), DJ/DJA (Purchasing and Purchasing Authority), DJB (Federal Procurements), DJB‑R (Federal Procurements regulation review), DJE (Bidding Procedures) and DI (Fiscal Accounting review). Several of those votes were unanimous on roll call.

Other action notes
- Staff introduced the repeal/revision package as mostly housekeeping and federal‑guidance alignment. Directors asked whether grants and funding notification language would be preserved; staff proposed moving required notifications into another policy or procedure and agreed to return with suggested language and location.

All votes listed above were recorded by roll call in the meeting transcript. For specific motions and roll‑call tallies see the action list below.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","ESD Board Meeting: Business Session for Monday, May 5, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a set of procedural and policy items including an amended agenda, minutes, consent items and a package of policy revisions and repeals; several outdated regulations were repealed and multiple policies were adopted on first‑and‑final reading.","taxTitle","taxId",0,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6568386,"Teachers, students and parents urge board to keep or expand classroom cell‑phone restrictions",428,5338000,5766000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a&start=5338&end=5766","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a/thumbnail_5338000.jpg","/articles/6568386/Teachers-students-and-parents-urge-board-to-keep-or-expand-classroom-cellphone-restrictions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568386-58293339bdac1b6b778fa232fdb47535/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080248&Signature=RJRSyRvKY0szc6z9CQ6xr9zQz90LyrfwUjaabAvniCwsOMDxrhaF2ZUBloxED0Y-JYkZ6~NqT-FJrgW1pbgjRIiH6jADTOk~WVVv83mUNcd1rJsfKGyNJHvl1es2bb4XCyj-kcOHTbuRq-Qr6bIt0-PHAY7kS-TyOuZ5i5O-5fHeI91xGfdXyF8eV5223REKhe-Y5wqRsmxTDDOQ97vAWgYY-ln7kpFccOHfAtdn6Cf9QVUhF4pxQavMPbnbJOygHPclJ7P8SFTAexop3-kRHryOaHNPx7xXGfHPvgJBx5qOiHurSwpweO34n0A~iTT8ZEUevOwlBVVOVvRoY9ktuA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple parents, teachers and students used the district public‑comment period to urge the Elizabeth School District board to retain and enforce a strict cell‑phone ban in classrooms and at school. Speakers described negative effects on student attention, mental health and classroom management.

A number of teachers said they support a district‑wide policy rather than individual teacher enforcement. Adam Peyton, who said he has taught since 2011, told the board he now supports banning “cell phones, earbuds, smartwatches, and other forms of personal wearable technology in my classroom and our schools.” Peyton said a department survey of EMS and EHS teachers found 91 percent report cell phones are a classroom distraction and 80 percent support a ban next year.

Students and parents also spoke. A senior at Elizabeth High School described the mental‑health research in the book The Anxious Generation and said being off phones in class increased her ability to socialize and focus. A parent and resident said the phone ban change improved middle school socialization and reduced discipline incidents, while flagging a need for reasonable exceptions for emergencies and after‑school messaging.

Several speakers urged the board to keep the policy for next year and urged a district‑level, unified approach so teachers are not left to create ad‑hoc rules. “If we’re going to improve our environments in our schools, we must show a united front,” a teacher speaker said.

Board members and staff said they would consider the comments as they review related policies and as part of any future policy modifications.","Multiple teachers, students and parents spoke at public comment urging the board to retain or expand a bell‑to‑bell cell‑phone ban; teachers cited survey results showing high levels of classroom distraction.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6568387,"District treasurer and CFO present third‑quarter finances and draft 2025–26 budget; board seeks more granularity",844,7824000,8668000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a&start=7824&end=8668","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a/thumbnail_7824000.jpg","/articles/6568387/District-treasurer-and-CFO-present-thirdquarter-finances-and-draft-202526-budget-board-seeks-more-granularity","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568387-b1ef27038794291c1a34b4efc1999d01/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080248&Signature=hbT3L-q7SmMPIoFfhlsnU~tG6z3CxaKxnTSSAxqCZLzIPvH36T80V10eY2AToSv7eAFKsQdz56Bn5ezV44CMFYrHRynEylj9c4D-WSBtV9cM3QKlOfpPx~V2~hexLnbuNxhbMZbTwjBA7xfqDu~5wCI~m9vvof~bMDlsk22xEFyQ1VYvAERwxHz1v7fpgqUjbqSacfSJ3IZbvBMW7qiXKVBgkfzh8369~0zKlEMYvTsDAeREg7RkYakCk3~dvjmXh0fjZhp4KXXCA51op~-AEZbt~o9cOFuuGqqsCSUOInDukIKq0iZyYQxWrgSNBVkPGJRVrfhYo1oQ7v4cMBE4rA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","District financial staff presented the third‑quarter financial report and an early draft of the 2025–26 budget, saying the documents are a work in progress and that the board should expect a more granular version before the public budget hearing.

New CFO Jason Henry and business staff told the board the third‑quarter numbers were prepared through mid‑March and do not include later collection activity. Jason said the district is still awaiting roughly $7.8 million in local property‑tax revenue that will materially change the fund‑balance picture when received. “Third quarters are always a challenge because of when property taxes are collected,” staff said.

The presentation highlighted several areas for closer attention. The activities (athletics) fund had $353,000 in expenses recorded at the time of the report while the budget included a planned transfer of about $550,000; staff said the activities fund is performing better than anticipated but the timing and transfers require reconciliation. Transportation and out‑of‑district trips also emerged as drivers of increased costs: staff said a flat $8 per‑student field‑trip fee currently applies to all trips and does not reflect distance, bus requirements or overtime for drivers on longer or overnight trips. Justin (district staff) said the district will propose a more detailed cost assignment for trips (for example zone or distance tiers) and that any fee increases would be brought to the board for approval.

Staff described steps to make the budget more granular: moving copier costs and other items out of general utilities, aligning purchases and expenses in Skyward so budget lines and actuals match, and adding backup detail that shows individual salaries and benefits for each department. A staff memo and spreadsheet will be provided to the board treasurer and made available to any board member who requests it.

Board members asked about purchasing‑card limits, reconciliations and controls; staff described monthly reconciliation in Skyward, receipt uploads by cardholders and supervisory approvals. The board asked about card limits (the single‑transaction card limit is $5,000 by default, with the district able to authorize higher single purchases by temporarily changing a card limit and recording approvals).

Superintendent and staff emphasized the work is ongoing: they will publish a more detailed draft budget about a week before the next meeting and hold the required public budget hearing prior to adoption. Staff also said they will return with a proposal to reclassify transport and athletics expenses so programs show the actual cost of operation rather than centralizing those costs in transportation.

Board treasurer and staff said they will continue to refine the numbers and present updated April financials at the next board meeting.","CFO and district staff reviewed third‑quarter financials and presented a more granular draft 2025–26 budget, flagging uncollected property tax revenue, athletics and transportation cost pressures and proposed changes to fee and field‑trip accounting.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":-5,"_68":69,"_70":-5,"_71":72,"_73":72},6568388,"Elizabeth School Board grants one‑year extension to Independence Classical Academy with conditions",6009,4656000,10665000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a&start=4656&end=10665","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195408-d43ac3b93352910b25349e4238e3650a/thumbnail_4656000.jpg","/articles/6568388/Elizabeth-School-Board-grants-oneyear-extension-to-Independence-Classical-Academy-with-conditions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568388-57c4beccb9d1d9c2c86ae95a78260e1f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771080248&Signature=ipsTY-EOtlfMQv31XzUb~evXhsOjZKkdqHfKVus1E60n2lxdXtykCIq6uFWGbWxtLsJcKR7-KMvhsnWXoph0zK-tOguuRotrWJnnMMHETYEHhSY-vtyCCGfGIsac1xK-fnwJwI4cgbFBdZLsIRsvXMO3IhFOGq4kPzsqNR0RH-5396phEsY5KfTYjrNl0JSt4mklkST5CjksGhZ3ezJsaFDf5RZ1SPJ8xxzX6Ks4WqMKtjXUT3ZGW0GwUpHc1~OMLq0vCPNRRGtaf~IQSHMC2v4rVmGkYWlXGpyLaCP5Md2spmrpX3E2vTPPXK8wLD9mWpgMB5Ibb8Rm~QS-EJFJaQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Elizabeth School District Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night to grant Independence Classical Academy (ICA) a one‑year extension to open, attaching several conditions that ICA must meet before opening in fall 2026.

The board’s resolution, adopted by roll call, directs ICA to provide evidence of a temporary facility, documentation that the facility will meet code and certificate‑of‑occupancy requirements, proof of financial viability and a finalized charter contract. The resolution also says the district will make available, as a backstop, land behind Running Creek Elementary as a temporary site if no other suitable facility is secured.

Board members and district staff framed the extension as a response to an unforeseen building problem at the Frontier Center, where ICA had planned to start. “On March 25, we received an email letting us know that there was a roofing problem and ICA was restricted from using the Frontier Building,” ICA board chair Candy Patch told the board. Patch said ICA’s investors had approved about $150,000 for Frontier renovations before the roof issue surfaced and that the group needs additional time to evaluate repair costs and secure a workable site.

ICA founding board member Ken Madsen said ICA modeled its plans after Liberty Common School in Fort Collins and expects to draw students from inside and outside the district, including homeschool families. “We will be ready for the 2026–27 school year,” Madsen said.

District staff described three facility pathways the board considered: (1) ICA finding a commercial lease or purchase on its own; (2) installing modular classrooms on the district’s five‑acre Independence site; or (3) temporarily using the Running Creek Elementary (RCE) site if other options fail. Superintendent Dan (identified in meeting remarks as the district leader) told the board modulars brought to the Independence site would ultimately support a future early‑childhood center on the same property.

The board added firm deadlines to the extension: a signed charter contract by March 15, 2026; evidence of a temporary facility and square footage, with cost estimates, by February 28, 2026 (or RCE made available if no other suitable facility exists); and documentation of financial viability, including grant awards or other evidence and enrollment benchmarks, by April 30, 2026. The resolution also says the district will support a long‑term ground lease (for example, $1 per year for 30 years) so ICA can establish a permanent facility on the district’s west side.

Public testimony earlier in the meeting included multiple parents and teachers urging the board either to approve the extension or to withhold it. Nancy Wizzwell, a local resident, urged approval, saying ICA needed more time to secure a facility and that “the school needs more time to locate a good facility that will be sufficient for their educational needs.” Several teachers and parents spoke separately in favor of the extension and described outreach and enrollment interest.

Board members emphasized that the extension does not transfer district construction responsibility to ICA and that no district classroom space will be taken from existing schools. The resolution’s financial conditions require ICA to demonstrate it can operate without placing an unplanned fiscal burden on the district.

The motion to approve the resolution passed on a roll call: Director Callahan, Director Rolleman (listed in roll call as the mover or participant), Director Powell, Director Waller and Director Fletcher registered affirmative votes.

The board also pledged to streamline the charter approval pathway if ICA seeks to expand beyond K–8 in the future and designated the superintendent and the ICA school leader to oversee implementation, monitoring and reporting related to the extension and its conditions.

Looking ahead, the board scheduled follow‑up reporting deadlines in the resolution; ICA and district staff said they will return to the board with updates as those deadlines approach.","After public comment and district staff briefings, the Elizabeth School District board voted unanimously to extend a charter startup timeline for Independence Classical Academy for one year and attached conditions on facility, enrollment and financial proof.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: agenda changes, minutes, consent and multiple policy updates approved

Teachers, students and parents urge board to keep or expand classroom cell‑phone restrictions

District treasurer and CFO present third‑quarter finances and draft 2025–26 budget; board seeks more granularity

Elizabeth School Board grants one‑year extension to Independence Classical Academy with conditions