[{"_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",6564336,"mediaKeyId","3291092-4447ebd68b55392663c44393b35a1a54","parentId",3291092,"title","Litchfield Elementary revises FY25 budget, recognizes $1.1M added for special education; trustees approve several items","audioSeconds",2923,"startMs",842000,"endMs",3765000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3291092-4447ebd68b55392663c44393b35a1a54&start=842&end=3765","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3291092-4447ebd68b55392663c44393b35a1a54/thumbnail_842000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6564336/Arizona/Litchfield-Elementary-revises-FY25-budget-recognizes-11M-added-for-special-education-trustees-approve-several-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6564336-c70bcec8e8de21b0fbfc3c6057a391a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158594&Signature=I9Gx~oGNrqoT7Meny1WfctQtIG22JGcu7HMLx1U72J0v5uCmQDVMVXVGtvc3nJyaFl5ng1OpIl~g4xnbW-7ULgb2~eN8AIKujP0bJxtScT1Ecf5gNrLSc26wTzOK972CSSRLDE6EmH~CpHFZ9Ei0YaLJi41bU2zKJvy74erOQhHdJjfSLdVRFx8R7Cn3ekDJDxkPKRHzU2FNIH2jljU~s2uUhvT1d-tHF6oJZH07-kW7kpX8OMP6dr2Jo1NQSo407OGeiqqf~IQm-Xd~56-BFiX9LxWVhpxp3FIXp4NQll1jWqSqsIhzekSMgoAs7pGJV-bh~qOY8QJdegZAhNsTQg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Litchfield Elementary District (4281)","date","2025-05-14T00:55:35Z","article","Litchfield Elementary School District trustees on Tuesday approved a second revision to the district’s FY2025 expenditure budget that raises M&O funding by about $1,100,000, driven largely by higher weighted student counts for students with special education needs.

The revision, presented by CFO Vaughn, also recognizes a onetime state aid supplement of about $545,000 that the district plans to apply to capital projects, including reducing the bond-funded portion of a modular classroom project at Palm Valley Elementary.

Why it matters: The added recurring M&O dollars reflect state funding that follows changes in student classifications; a single student reclassified into higher-weighted special education categories can change the district’s funding materially. The one-time state capital funds are constrained to capital uses, the district said, and were earmarked to limit the use of bond proceeds on an already-planned modular classroom project.

Details of the revision

CFO Vaughn told the board the increase in the M&O budget results from changes in the district’s average daily membership and weighted student count tied to student characteristics and special education classifications. He summarized the overall effect: \"These changes in average daily membership and weighted student count are increasing the M and o budget by a little over 1,100,000.0.\" Vaughn said the state recalculates annual funding monthly based on the student counts districts report.

Vaughn said the revision shifted budget capacity away from purchased professional services or contracted staffing into salaries, benefits and supplies because earlier projections overestimated the need for contracted services. He added that an increase in custodial supplies drove some of the supplies growth. On capital, Vaughn said the district recognized an additional $545,000 in onetime state aid that had not been communicated in time for an earlier revision and that the district intends to use that money to help pay for modular classrooms at Palm Valley and to avoid shifting more bond funds to that project.

The presentation listed ongoing or recently completed capital projects that the district expects will largely consume capital outlays this year: Chromebook replenishment (about $600,000), rollout of Promethean interactive boards, completion of modular classrooms previously started, installation of walk-in freezers at two sites, playground installation at L. Thomas Heck, district-wide time clock replacements, Apple-device refreshes, and curriculum and assessment investments. Vaughn said the district had begun procurement work for a district-wide IT network replacement and expected capital spending this fiscal year to finish just under $5.5 million if current projects close before June 30.

Board questions and clarifications

Board member Moran asked whether the higher special education weights were caused by students newly enrolling in the district or by reclassification of current students after testing. Vaughn replied: \"All of the above. So as new students come to us and they get categorized...\" and explained that both new enrollments and updated classifications can change funding because the state recalculates funding monthly.

Trustees moved quickly through the discussion and had no additional changes to the presentation.

Votes at a glance

- Revision of FY2025 expenditure budget (Revision No. 2): Motion to approve the revision as presented; mover: Mr. Owens; second: Mr. Mikes. Vote: Miss Wallace — yes; Mr. Mikes — yes; Mr. Owens — yes; Miss Moran — yes; motion passes.

- Appointment of Special Education Director (Item 8.1): Motion to approve appointment of Tom Coyne as district Special Education Director; mover: Miss Moran; second: Mr. Mikes. Vote: unanimous; motion passes.

- Approval of revised job description for Food Service Technician Supervisor (Item 8.2/7.5): Motion to approve revised job description as submitted; mover: Miss Moran; second: Miss Wallace. Vote: unanimous; motion passes.

- Addendum to solar design/installation agreement (Troy Gilbert ES): Motion to adopt resolution authorizing an addendum to the district’s solar agreement and authorize execution of related documents; mover: Mr. Mikes; second: Mr. Owens. Vote: unanimous; motion passes.

- ASBA delegate appointment: Motion to appoint Miss Wallace as the district’s Arizona School Boards Association delegate and Mr. Mikes as alternate. Vote: unanimous; motion passes.

Context and next steps

CFO Vaughn noted the district’s capital and recurring revenues are roughly aligned for FY25 if current projects wrap up before the fiscal year end. The onetime state aid is designated for capital and cannot be moved into M&O, the board was told. The board’s approval allows staff to finalize budget changes and proceed with the planned capital and operational adjustments for the current fiscal year.

(Reporting note: budget figures and project lists are drawn from the district’s presentation to the governing board; specific line-item allocations and final year-end spending will be reflected in the district’s audited financial statements and future board updates.)","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Litchfield Elementary School District Board Meeting 5-13-25","oneSentenceSummary","Litchfield Elementary School District trustees on Tuesday approved a second revision to the district’s FY2025 expenditure budget that raises M&O funding by about $1,100,000, driven largely by higher weighted student counts for students with special education needs.","taxTitle","Litchfield Elementary District (4281), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",13599,"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},6564331,"Parents say special-education transportation changes were rolled out without adequate notice; board urged to allow exceptions",394,2873000,3267000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3291092-4447ebd68b55392663c44393b35a1a54&start=2873&end=3267","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3291092-4447ebd68b55392663c44393b35a1a54/thumbnail_2873000.jpg","/articles/6564331/Arizona/Parents-say-special-education-transportation-changes-were-rolled-out-without-adequate-notice-board-urged-to-allow-exceptions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6564331-a73d37dd5138907e7ddb2f21ab0f0bd3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771158594&Signature=MB-nVe~6XA1yf2AU2IN-iytg55ebHlMx6z7mp1As6RFGRSgVD8cJltjmDDNmLG3lFHyjqCM2k4wKhl2WCVAeK1-2PaO-LU1gUm2hnLoIerTr8Zoqwzu7m01KY5KAp2NLbeYztaZUgLgiNMjV2twaNDAwolBLDR7qxRiuLqJuXNF16vgx5Zk-4sF2~ntSVTWsCw87zFA0s~qs8qc7XEVyqNZv0j~r4Tv7eP-T8yqtgx2sNd0184E9y-Fm-hgNQvUp1o-Y4nS38ElHEmqp8NNbAfV4sHvN9cpIPf2FiXoFl-UZZIFAxj3Ufp3l4Ru4X5QHQ0cK02dhy3iVKtTVcRHulw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several parents urged the Litchfield Elementary School District governing board on Tuesday to grant transportation exceptions and grandfathering for students in specialized special-education programs after the district sent a notice in late April that it would implement program boundaries for those programs to achieve transportation efficiencies.

During the public comment period, parent Andy Wilhelm said he and many other families were \"completely blindsided\" by an April 28 notice and that his son, who recently stabilized and is \"thriving in his current location,\" faces a reassignment away from that placement if the district does not provide continued transportation. Wilhelm told trustees the IEP team had previously arranged transportation for his child and that forcing a move because of route changes would be harmful.

Joe Wilhelm, Andy Wilhelm’s husband, told the board he reviewed a previous board meeting where directors discussed options including phased approaches and grandfathering. He said the district had told trustees roughly 75 families would be affected but that, in his view, only about 10 families were randomly contacted for feedback and his family was not surveyed or called. He asked the board to require the district to provide exceptions and to allow families to maintain current school placements and transportation if they desire.

What the commenters asked the board to do

- Require the district to grant individualized exceptions to transportation changes when a move would disrupt an IEP placement and harm student progress.
- Grandfather students who are succeeding in their current placements and provide transportation to maintain continuity.
- Provide clearer, more inclusive outreach and better documentation of parent feedback before implementation.

District response and context

During the public comment introduction, board staff read a standard disclaimer referencing Arizona law and noting the board cannot take action on items not listed on the agenda during public comment; staff may ask for the matter to be studied or placed on a future agenda. Parents said they expected more direct outreach; the board did not adopt a motion during the meeting to change the transportation policy but did hear the comments and the item was discussed earlier in prior meetings, the parents said.

Other public speakers and notes

Other speakers at public comment raised different topics during the allotted time, including concerns about board governance and training, and a former LESD student offering thanks to the district. The special-education transportation concerns received extended, multiple-family comment and follow-up questions from trustees.

(Reporting note: parental statements about the district's outreach process and the number of families contacted reflect the speakers' accounts during public comment. The district did not record a formal vote or directive on transportation during the meeting; the board indicated such topics can be studied and brought back for action.)","Several parents told the Litchfield Elementary School District governing board that a recent district decision to implement program boundaries for specialized special-education programs and to limit transportation will force some students to move from placements where they are succeeding unless exceptions or grandfathering are allowed.","actionData","errors"]

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Litchfield Elementary revises FY25 budget, recognizes $1.1M added for special education; trustees approve several items

Parents say special-education transportation changes were rolled out without adequate notice; board urged to allow exceptions