[{"_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",6560684,"mediaKeyId","3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b","parentId",3311246,"title","Votes at a glance: Maricopa Unified approves personnel items, MOU for boundary adjustment and executive-session direction to attorney","audioSeconds",108,"startMs",5816000,"endMs",5924000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b&start=5816&end=5924","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b/thumbnail_5816000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6560684/Arizona/Votes-at-a-glance-Maricopa-Unified-approves-personnel-items-MOU-for-boundary-adjustment-and-executive-session-direction-to-attorney","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560684-03c9d4e49ed7a619074c01b6fd525cb8/orig.mp4?Expires=1770992183&Signature=bV~GiGyX9sWvbqWy8gxmPrsEGH8C3CAt7jYd6-p6SBoGuIGP2P0Xa0zlzvRhQL24pzcgETHtbjs5pQPbPuWx5SzaEB6nNGkLp88vk6DCmuAhF5Jbt-b2enLZhzTvLvlKYd~snySJIL6ElcmeG-xBvQnwyswaX2V7cZpNZt6Sg-17baH1SIcak16f-G4ChAPGdDPpuGgsbt8DKxaWVade2S4u9Yi2lSlZ9Yk1zjTC1GXvdJ2W-aol0MlA6Cwkg8sroOH0NWwuk94d-OL1hxWzR61UDMDh5FBbRyVHRqtz5ndtaZo1dQUezeAMLhSu7R8F64vGHrxploC3wiRGHu0Msg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Maricopa Unified School District (4441)","date","2025-05-15T00:53:53Z","article","At the May 14 meeting the Maricopa Unified School District governing board recorded a series of formal actions, including approval of personnel matters, adoption of a resolution to start a minor boundary-adjustment process and instructions to the board's attorney following an executive session.

Votes at a glance:

- Motion to adjourn the public meeting (Item 2): motion seconded and approved by roll call. Recorded votes in the transcript include Shontay Rothschild (Aye), Carmela/Carolina Lopez (Aye), Patty Couture/Cutre (Aye), and President Robert Downey (Aye).

- Consent agenda (Item 10): approved by voice/roll call as recorded; board clerks recorded the roll-call votes and the chair announced \"So moved.\" (Transcript roll call recorded Ayes from members listed.)

- Personnel schedule / HR agenda (Item 11a): the board approved the personnel schedule after HR presented openings and staffing details. The transcript records a motion to approve the HR agenda, a second, and roll-call votes recorded as Aye from Shontay Rothschild, Carol/Carolina Lopez, Patty Couture and President Robert Downey.

- Resolution approving a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to start a minor boundary adjustment (Item 11b): the board adopted a resolution to approve the MOU that would begin the process to move an approximately 5-square-mile area in the southeast corner of Maricopa into Maricopa Unified (a boundary adjustment proposed in cooperation with Casa Grande Elementary and Casa Grande Union High School districts). The transcript shows a motion, a second and roll-call approval (ayes recorded by the clerk). The superintendent's earlier report had described the same proposed minor boundary adjustment and referenced a recorded public forum available on the MUSD website.

- Motion to adjourn to executive session (Item 11c): the board voted to convene an executive session pursuant to ARS open-meeting provisions to consult with legal counsel regarding renewal of the superintendent's employment agreement and related performance-based pay plan; the transcript shows a motion, a second and recorded approval. Legal counsel was present as noted in the meeting record.

- Post-executive-session action (Item 11d): after the board returned to open session the board voted to approve the direction it had given to the governing board attorney and to authorize the attorney to speak with the superintendent and proceed with contract discussions. The motion to approve that direction was seconded and recorded as approved.

Nut graf: The recorded roll calls and motions show the board completed routine governance business (consent, personnel) and approved starting the boundary-adjustment process with the neighboring districts; sensitive personnel/contract matters were discussed in executive session and the board later authorized its attorney to proceed with contract discussions.

Less-critical detail: Several motions were procedural (motions to second; roll-call Ayes recorded) and the transcript shows members congratulating retirees and recognizing classroom spotlights between formal votes.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","May 14, 2025 Governing Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved the consent and personnel agendas, a resolution to begin a minor boundary adjustment MOU, moved into executive session and later approved direction to the board's attorney regarding the superintendent's contract; roll-call votes are in the record.","taxTitle","Maricopa Unified School District (4441), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",38556,"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},6560688,"Maricopa Unified reports compliance gains, more inclusive preschool and plans to expand special education supports",163,3384000,3547000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b&start=3384&end=3547","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b/thumbnail_3384000.jpg","/articles/6560688/Arizona/Maricopa-Unified-reports-compliance-gains-more-inclusive-preschool-and-plans-to-expand-special-education-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560688-471c903547762480c862aa8622ca87bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770992183&Signature=EvEMmaGOEB7Htm~cWhntLZpQFJR52-vA33Qhh2ZG7Q4TOMS~fLnTaL8btyIGII885qR2~ALNzdC6SwkUrV6KEG5h1QRDbx2gFkzWmVOKHvTs3IGngQan9zyAcQlNbSDzAQY86lpa-bSACE2rDrFR~csYqHTzRcTDsGTpOacytk7Yfp5uipJe3mhMEUsvoBWXNVwjaF1WiTnzFNU6FY0zdUX4xcg5LcTW8ISB3LwbXKE3CepokAHxgJ4vM-59bZho2hAhFrP89DSL2SwPI5Tmnml4g-VHoriTKQ0jhmIkxI54p221SKJptAQWaJV8r1WIYVO1Ar2Uuu2tF8N3DOeXSg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maricopa Unified presented a progress report on superintendent Goal 6 — improving delivery of special education services — at the May 14 governing board meeting, outlining compliance fixes, inclusion gains and next steps in staffing, training and facilities.

Director Kristin Nash reviewed data and actions taken since she assumed leadership of the Exceptional Student Services (ESS) department. Nash told the board the ESS population in the district is about 19% compared with a national average she cited as 14% and that the district's preschool inclusion rate rose from 4.2% to 19% this year, a figure she described as a 352% increase.

Nut graf: Nash and cabinet members described a mix of administrative fixes, targeted hiring, professional learning and parent engagement that the district said returned ESS files to compliance after an initial ADE review found many files noncompliant.

Nash said initial ADE file review showed low compliance (described in the meeting as 8% compliant), and after the district used the allowed correction period the subsequent submissions met ADE standards; Nash credited the newly created lead psychologist role, a compliance position filled in late November, and revised evaluation review procedures. She said ESS will provide in-person psychologists at every elementary school in the 2025-26 school year and that transition plans for seniors now begin in freshman year.

Cabinet members then described complementary actions: facilities conducted an audit and added extra monthly deep-cleaning and carpet extraction for 43 special education classrooms and plans to move to LED lighting upgrades next year; communications redesigned the ESS web page and produced one-pagers (IDEA timeline, child-find flowchart) and will add analytics to measure use; HR and contracted-provider teams are building an approved provider list and screening process to free ESS staff to focus on services. HR reported about a 95% overall fill rate for positions as of July 2024 and set a target of 100% appropriately certified ESS staff by Feb. 19, 2027.

Board members asked about data collection for IEP goals, recording of progress data for parent access, stakeholder listening sessions (approximately five parents typically attended advisory meetings once or twice a quarter), training for teachers (behavior 101 and age-specific coaching planned before next school year) and how discipline and PBIS practices are coordinated with ESS. AP/TOSA and dean group staff said discipline data include incidents and that repeated incidents by the same students are being analyzed to prevent multiple out-of-school-suspension (OSS) occurrences; staff committed to a deeper end-of-year analysis and to share findings with the board.

Ending: Nash and cabinet members said the district has initiated systemic changes across staffing, training, facilities and communications designed to sustain compliance and improve inclusion; the board encouraged continuation of the work and requested follow-up data analyses.

","District officials said special education compliance improved after a period of low compliance, preschool inclusion rose sharply and the district plans in-person psychologists at all elementary sites and other staffing and training steps to support exceptional student services.",{"_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},6560693,"Miracle Elementary reports rapid gains after adopting Building Thinking Classrooms and Kagan structures",522,1744000,2266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b&start=1744&end=2266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b/thumbnail_1744000.jpg","/articles/6560693/Arizona/Miracle-Elementary-reports-rapid-gains-after-adopting-Building-Thinking-Classrooms-and-Kagan-structures","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560693-e7ac98412a16eaadb0deeaa933b146d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770992183&Signature=Fi2h9DmuPpQyDY8Eyr7rCvXU8X9yTs3Dez4A8-GZf1TJbndRnRw0ccfOm7rAHx6FxuAvn-bA05mnI07r2jQVCa4oWlIr~SMt8HjNMtZ8A8Bcsxb5lmPPzvGZ7EJ0YFNL-5atKriYZC03AlsiVfXBl-Cxs6D4GVyzZOrlHJw6HJv1ry7sRDMXPaOoz8GhuK-Z4~NpJwtofJpYoBlpDoAyhyiBACO1YsLGaGcf6ivoWLQLm4PLIPViyWKpVsOdC5moQsKIEhiJTjMZG-efQCxAVISHPoPxhIQWarPAbXnPdQq6iGFrCuAE2qDSCLOTk66LrAZgjt~CXWSrBUOT9JErJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miracle Elementary showcased a classroom spotlight at the May 14 Maricopa Unified School District meeting, where school leaders described instructional changes they said produced rapid gains in fifth-grade math.

Principal Jennifer Robinson told the board the school's focus on differentiated instruction and scholar agency aligned to the district's strategic plan. Robinson introduced fifth-grade teacher Sean Jones, who led thinking tasks and collaborative work that emphasized standards-based application and student-created problems.

Nut graf: By combining Building Thinking Classrooms strategies with Kagan Cooperative Learning structures and targeted professional learning, Robinson said her team saw a quick rise in assessment results and in students' engagement.

Robinson described the school's process: teachers analyzed state-blueprint standards (AASA), identified prerequisite skills and vocabulary, and adjusted classroom routines and learning spaces. She said the school used funding from site-level vision and project-momentum budgets and partnered with instructional coaches and Kagan training. \"Based on their consistent growth from a 7% pre assessment to 80% just within a 3 week period, I've really seen a mastery of the standard,\" Robinson said. Jones led students through two thinking tasks (MathMakers and AASA All-Stars) that asked students to create culturally relevant, standards-aligned application problems and to work at higher Depth of Knowledge levels.

Board members praised the work and asked about scaling and challenges. Robinson said a key early challenge was shifting students' expectations after years of traditional instruction; teachers addressed that by \"defronting the classroom,\" giving students vertical workspaces and more agency, and by running a voluntary book study to share strategies. Trustees asked for plans to expand Building Thinking Classrooms into earlier grades; Robinson said preschool through second grade and special-area teachers will begin a book study in the fall, and Kagan coaching is scheduled for the district in October.

Ending: The board saw the presentation as a demonstration classroom; members recommended sharing the practice districtwide if outcomes remain consistent.

","Teachers at Miracle Elementary used Building Thinking Classrooms strategies and Kagan Cooperative Learning to boost fifth-grade math proficiency from about 7% on a pretest to roughly 80% within three weeks, the principal said.",{"_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},6560698,"Maricopa Unified holds public hearing on FY25 budget revision after student count rises",151,211000,362000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b&start=211&end=362","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3311246-00a75b20f6b8fb3371dbe6ea9259276b/thumbnail_211000.jpg","/articles/6560698/Arizona/Maricopa-Unified-holds-public-hearing-on-FY25-budget-revision-after-student-count-rises","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6560698-2d0a3233c12c0cb31ebc84d609037493/orig.mp4?Expires=1770992183&Signature=DhDDyaFWr4ZMoOW3TKJVQmUb4K5l5M2cWG6HSTP8aMPeHrMA0tSsaMqRTrK2f1yLiHk4Ksvc6VeuQEQ-oMytVdhXDHqdatvtYgCFDj4HXcihHe5mogwKvRdG32U9TCFGfBSx-EXEAWL4k-2MZW3xQTSmaGpW02NmYSgqKU3avrdMXqKe4qzhgqGdxPCyA12WoEb2drkaFJsHYfD3VHzEamYAR5YKIzGieXd9suoxN6I8gKM9pZzwiatqEWRdCBZVspg~Miu79CrlSrJ6AcAi9HvCjiiltBvrgZQJGHYEk60Z3L-ICxeo168ZMm7LAoo-V9zT8zDEy3KI7z0DkRFdjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Maricopa Unified School District held a public hearing on May 14 to present a final revision of the fiscal year 2025 budget after revised student counts increased state funding capacity.

At the hearing, Chief Financial Officer (presenter) Harmon told the governing board the district's average daily membership (ADM) grew by 362 students, about 4.1% year over year, and the district's total weighted student count was roughly 100 above projection. \"Our actual ADM grew by 362, just 7 short of our projections,\" Harmon said during the presentation.

The nut graf: Because state aid follows ADM and specific weights in the state funding formula, the updated counts created one-time and ongoing changes across Maricopa Unified's three main funds (maintenance and operations, capital and classroom site fund) and increased the district's budget capacity in several areas.

Harmon explained how legislative changes and one-time additions affected the district. He said a planned inflation adjustment to certain group-B weights was instead funded by the Legislature as a one-time add-on to the free-and-reduced-price-lunch (FRPL) weight, and that the DAA (district additional assistance) adjustment also became a one-time add-on after the proposed budget. Harmon gave numerical highlights: an estimated understated carry forward of about $2,500,000; interest earnings approximately $88,000 higher than projected; the capital budget limit increasing by about $2,600,000; the maintenance and operations (M&O) general budget limit increasing by about $1,200,000 relative to the adopted limit; a classroom site fund allocation decreasing slightly by about $59,000; and an overall district budget increase of approximately $3,800,000 from adoption, largely driven by the higher weighted student counts.

Board members had no questions during the presentation, and Harmon offered to answer public questions before moving the hearing into the public-comment portion. The record shows the board opened the public comment opportunity; no public speakers asked budget-specific questions during the segment included in the transcript. The hearing record in the transcript does not include a recorded formal vote to adopt the budget revision at this meeting.

The district finance presentation and the public forum recording are available through the district; Harmon invited questions and said staff stood ready to follow up. President Robert Downey and CFO Harmon opened and closed the public hearing segments as shown in the meeting record.

Less-critical detail: the hearing was item 1c on the board agenda and was followed by the board's adjournment of the public meeting and transition to the regular board meeting.

","District finance staff said average daily membership rose by 362 students, increasing state funding capacity and lifting the district's M&O and capital budget limits; no formal adoption vote was recorded at the hearing.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Maricopa Unified approves personnel items, MOU for boundary adjustment and executive-session direction to attorney

Maricopa Unified reports compliance gains, more inclusive preschool and plans to expand special education supports

Miracle Elementary reports rapid gains after adopting Building Thinking Classrooms and Kagan structures

Maricopa Unified holds public hearing on FY25 budget revision after student count rises