[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,76,87,99],{"_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",6539899,"mediaKeyId","3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e","parentId",3535192,"title","Board approves series of MOUs, data-sharing agreements, calendars and policy revisions; all votes unanimous","audioSeconds",439,"startMs",2577000,"endMs",3016000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e&start=2577&end=3016","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e/thumbnail_2577000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6539899/Arizona/Board-approves-series-of-MOUs-data-sharing-agreements-calendars-and-policy-revisions-all-votes-unanimous","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539899-b7e8f0b443977c2fa0d56da075a5a4f1/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989660&Signature=EFrxMi~6iXLcHP6b9Y~FrATg2JCa~IZe5EkEA6XOa9pR7p9tPlIcgBu-yGyAeSrrzyjUNTtEpi-H0vVgKAdHVlTz9fc5zvXoRcADQDrZvqxFlPWugfBVUSIBryXSlaMSthcpT6aPDvsuUJW7bJc4f6-CHVMn9GMC5WTjr0yukDLaCFtbJJoEf229gxxidYofkadmIPZ~XZo2XxB1RtnURMteUaeDdUMkwi0BaqZmTTJAwSp00N4hnWSGlud4HRaomKDYfdl7ZrQEe3Qsa8CakxgKQiUjXItcFrzFxjr0ruuFeIevu3Cac6Vzm2rIWoaFlG2iS2VzCNd8D3n9JHGS8Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Apache Junction Unified District ","date","2025-05-28T01:23:10Z","article","The Apache Junction Unified District Governing Board approved a set of consent and action items in a single meeting, voting unanimously (5–0) on each motion. Several items were routine agreements or partnerships intended to support student services, college access and operations.

Votes and outcomes (all motions passed 5–0):

- Consent agenda: Approved as presented (motion mover not specified; second: Mrs. Williamson). Vote: Madam President — yes; Mrs. Ross — yes; Mrs. Williamson — yes; Mrs. Garcia — yes; Mrs. Lane — yes. Outcome: passed 5–0.

- Arizona Lions Vision and Hearing Foundation memorandum of understanding (three-year agreement for screenings and eyeglass provision): Motion to approve by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0. Board discussion noted added legal provisions since the work session (confidentiality, records and audits, entire agreement language).

- Memorandum of agreement with Pinal Hila Community Child Services (2025–2028) for child services (three-year agreement): Motion to approve by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0.

- Data sharing agreement with Arizona State University, Northern Arizona University and University of Arizona (student transcript/data to support admissions/scholarships): Motion to approve by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0.

- Data sharing agreement with ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence (for de-identified and comparative data analysis to benchmark district outcomes): Motion to approve by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0. Discussion clarified the agreement will allow benchmarking against other participating districts and is not intended to provide personal data beyond allowed shares.

- Early Childhood Education Dual Language Affiliation Agreement with Maricopa County Community College (student-teaching pathway): Motion to approve by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0.

- Memorandum of agreement with J.O. Combs Unified School District to expand bandwidth and provide backup Internet coverage (mutual benefit; district gains 10 gigabytes at reduced cost): Motion to approve by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0.

- 2025–26 work calendars for employee groups (13 calendars covering workdays, holidays and nonworkdays): Motion to approve by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0.

- Out-of-state travel authorization for two staff (Pat Smith and Stephanie Leclair) to attend ISTE in San Antonio, Texas, June 29–July 2, 2025 (paid with Title IV funds): Motion to approve by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0.

- Policy revisions (second read) including revisions to parents' rights, technology acceptable use, mandatory reporting procedures, student records and the student code of conduct; the board approved the set with an explicit exception allowing the district to permit wireless device use during passing periods and lunch for grades 9–12 (code of conduct procedure 5-305A). Motion to approve with that 9–12 exception by board member (mover not specified), second by Mrs. Williamson; vote 5–0.

Notes and context: Board members asked about confidentiality and records/audit language added to the Lions MOU; legal counsel confirmed the clauses were standard and required in district contracts. Board discussion on the wireless-device policy clarified that K–8 restrictions will be stricter under the state statute and that the board is approving the 9–12 exception that the district has used at the high school (phones allowed at lunch and passing periods, stored during instructional time unless teacher-authorized).

Ending: All items on the agenda were approved unanimously; staff will implement the agreements and return with updates where required.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Governing Board Meeting 05/27/2025 -2","oneSentenceSummary","The Apache Junction Unified District Governing Board approved a set of memoranda, data-sharing agreements, calendars and policy revisions, with unanimous 5–0 votes on each item.","taxTitle","Apache Junction Unified District (4443), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",60911,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6539904,"District reports 18.2 teacher openings; special-education roles are a substantial share",0,2399000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e&start=2399&end=2399","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e/thumbnail_2399000.jpg","/articles/6539904/Arizona/District-reports-182-teacher-openings-special-education-roles-are-a-substantial-share","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539904-5119e283f3e40748e60b0790ab2c4bfc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989660&Signature=KXR8gwYLwF8G~AxKzW9pSgZfhotTkVITDbq6ec9dH2tJKXMmV6mro1uFXV8SLAQ17hMXGIoJ-b3jg6kgwInFtdcBJBNIyxwtpRb4X4ba1pD-fxDXccODLvUmIWzKNdnbjJh~QzT7RFn4nOXPU13jN3DVhQapJ9dvF8dzk76pvjk0V9SJeiC1j1xCVY6bKRTZajFv44lDD1-b3T4qEOI~hLRbePjBls76mcHcsMTh-7EQ~ADuZH7vvxPCkM9IQo2RJ5u7073ANi1UQSLZwZpqpn4zTMSL-rSzg1zuv8TPIZWLOPoHRY4n66HegAlKx84icBciaYorGOrIB0tJbACRkw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miss Pascale, a district staff member, updated the Apache Junction Unified District Governing Board on current staffing openings across all campuses and grade bands.

Pascale told the board the district currently has 18.2 teaching openings: seven positions in special education and 11.2 in general education. She provided site-level examples: a kindergarten, a third and a fifth at Desert Vista; fourth-grade openings and a library/art position at Peralta Trails; reading specialist and math-resource openings at the junior high; and several technical and elective openings at the high school, including Spanish and welding and a 0.2 sports-medicine class.

Board members asked clarifying questions; Pascale said the district is in a “very, very good place” compared with earlier in the hiring season and that updates will continue as the district approaches summer staffing deadlines.

Ending: The board took no formal action; staff will continue to report on vacancies as hiring proceeds.","Human-resources staff told the board there are 18.2 current teaching vacancies across the district, including 7 special-education openings and 11.2 general-education positions; the district said staffing is in a better position than in previous years.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6539907,"Board hears AVID program update; junior-high enrollment driving expansion",372,1276000,1648000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e&start=1276&end=1648","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e/thumbnail_1276000.jpg","/articles/6539907/Arizona/Board-hears-AVID-program-update-junior-high-enrollment-driving-expansion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539907-2b97923471c8728c2736d3d76e327d26/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989660&Signature=iyYPDLepsEL-mhHFIU8cdwyuV65U~SCUYqXZaH8E9lQZzQaBT8ZwaoJ6Y0iVFrYx-gKdlYoLy88fXs8tG6ED~L8ep6rHE7iUMUTq7uvU6~wIvjjc2jFBaLUaHYcv9AOFJWiixfbJW0Laz8sNRktTcjpUdcMVOiStsU7Iq~C4YwP7XTBOXef~MEoXPPhet1B2g0neU33R~02hxIbLd2tl-DC1VeMd7z5YB6nYhx-Jg~2KJixhh-5Ph79KekdgWWQmvLezuMWwQEbfwO2yCmqnNn06Ct1Qb~RaahAraw9t3TqaILTS~qTR~Hw08Zp5rQ0DPVWSceVy5g3uXXIdvgMfvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","A district staff member updated the Apache Junction Unified District Governing Board on the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program, reporting current enrollment, outreach activities and plans to expand AVID strategies across campuses.

The staff presenter described AVID as a college- and career-preparation elective that can be implemented schoolwide and noted enrollment this year across grades: 23 sixth graders, 29 seventh graders, 27 eighth graders, 16 ninth graders, 18 tenth graders, 9 eleventh graders and 8 twelfth graders. The presenter said middle-school enrollment is stronger than the high school, and part of the drop in eleventh and twelfth grades is scheduling conflicts and students choosing EVIT or other CTE options.

Staff said AVID participants had several college visits in the spring (Arizona State University, Grand Canyon, Park, Saint Benedictine and others) and partnered with ASU for virtual counseling sessions. The district plans summer AVID training for middle- and high-school staff and a push at Cactus junior high to adopt schoolwide AVID practices (binders, planners and consistent strategies across classrooms).

Board members asked how AVID looks in class; staff said AVID is an elective in which students learn organizational and study skills, time management and strategies to prepare for college and careers. Dr. Papalardo and board members praised the program as a way to build foundational skills and noted scholarship opportunities for students who complete sustained AVID coursework.

Ending: The board heard the update with no formal action; staff said the district will continue training and school-level expansion.","District staff summarized AVID enrollment across grade levels, college visits and summer training plans, and noted scheduling limits at the high school that reduce upper-grade AVID enrollment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6539912,"Apache Junction schools outline expanded identification, accelerated-track steps for advanced learners",818,2000,820000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e&start=2&end=820","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3535192-ef37fd29a058ea4a3c1f28fd3952106e/thumbnail_2000.jpg","/articles/6539912/Arizona/Apache-Junction-schools-outline-expanded-identification-accelerated-track-steps-for-advanced-learners","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6539912-d233787d34b50ae56fd0c9041db0c0b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770989660&Signature=EHboW8FHgt27quXNxX7k9nOetWzPf7ia6JXbyGdOcq3~PFmvzLrmoGCpXqO5NGhzzXUH2~CvKlEq0AX2wQOHYAjjWFAWWE1971hPWbiJ6YqAbYrJ31aPkeklzRE~G8PUaNDguz3g0xwF0vNYxxZ6L9iEBowzZAB3XaGq7-xwvUBFqeaDGIJigFf8FI0kT8ttZ62cvank1yo~lFNwm3ii9YyQwNNBQ7DO7JzHQB90IpiqoFaU3Sy3L0BlqdOGY5QHQmIL1anhzGbnBbGe~DkxO3-VP5gObSF6HWz0oRh7io~UdMhVDLeFzXFtxF0RtqPqlLJIql0mim3j7ORR-j~Neg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Miss Thompson, a district staff member, told the Apache Junction Unified District Governing Board the district is broadening how it identifies and serves gifted and advanced learners, adding multiple data sources and formalized pathways for students to enter accelerated courses midstream.

Thompson said the district will stop relying on a single composite test score and instead use “a variety of sources” — including FastBridge screening, quarterly benchmarks, IXL results, last year’s AASA scores and teacher/principal review — to decide placement. “We\u0000re not just using 1 piece of data,” she said.

The district presented a sample pathway for fifth-graders: students may enter regular sixth-grade classes or a 6A advanced track. In math, the accelerated sequence is designed so students in the 6A/7A path can take Algebra I for high school credit in eighth grade. Thompson described 6A as a hybrid of sixth- and seventh-grade standards and 7A as a hybrid of seventh- and eighth-grade standards, meaning “they have 3 years of standards in 2 years.”

To identify candidates more narrowly, staff will supplement broad cognitive testing (CogAT) with subject-specific assessments such as reading- or math-specific Iowa tests. For borderline students, the district said it is offering contingent preparation options (for example, a Khan Academy “getting ready for sixth grade” module) followed by a short in-person assessment so staff can confirm readiness before placement.

The district also said it has created curricula for the junior-high advanced ELA and math courses, laid out essential standards, and will develop pacing calendars and common assessments this summer. Thompson said the team physically mapped standards into units and will revise sequences after further review.

To avoid setting students up to fail, the district will monitor performance with a four-week and a nine-week check; students who are not making progress may be moved back to general education with the opportunity to re-enter later. Thompson said the district intends to provide professional development for the many general-education teachers who work with high-level learners and to publish a gifted scope-and-sequence and parent-facing materials (testing windows, referral process, and qualifications for course acceleration) once approved.

Dr. Papalardo, named in the meeting, praised the work as a “first step” and said the district would return with updates. The board took no formal vote on the update; staff said the materials shown would be presented to stakeholders and refined over time.

Ending: Board members commended the effort. The district said it will bring another update to the board after summer work on pacing calendars and assessments is complete.","District staff described changes to how advanced and gifted learners are identified, new hybrid accelerated courses (6A/7A) designed to reach Algebra I by eighth grade, multiple data points for placement, and safety nets for students who struggle in accelerated classes.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves series of MOUs, data-sharing agreements, calendars and policy revisions; all votes unanimous

District reports 18.2 teacher openings; special-education roles are a substantial share

Board hears AVID program update; junior-high enrollment driving expansion

Apache Junction schools outline expanded identification, accelerated-track steps for advanced learners