[{"_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",6512665,"mediaKeyId","5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a","parentId",5088946,"title","Board honors retiring WESD Superintendent Paul Stanton; Congressman Greg Stanton sends letter","audioSeconds",387,"startMs",565000,"endMs",952000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a&start=565&end=952","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a/thumbnail_565000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6512665/Arizona/Board-honors-retiring-WESD-Superintendent-Paul-Stanton-Congressman-Greg-Stanton-sends-letter","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512665-20b96dfa0764ebf67afa6b5e2ad3b031/orig.mp4?Expires=1771045801&Signature=bYHL193xqIUfY1vg5d50L3Lsyukl98xEIXqJernaD0CB-4YzDqUowa19BoL406bXgKkHFMv8ganksDfNVaE5Ub4-yoibgEzIoKvHu04KDXYBMogUGu1bT08~vICsaQsu5qWMJnyTV9FqsgEJErUb3Jug9HJZciNONmqWqIRN21aVBTekURoG7dBjATmEJz~m1tRaQXu9QEUTDzUdgme-dXIuVjjp0pVSA1kR2akn6p9Pd57S6WRliXasFEeye4E84oCEPMNYDc~pyfeEtM6w3VPqWEoxEugW77hdkrc0plwRh47qWJBZhL0bi2xC7Gh8n~8QHrlRs43AYec4cSW1LA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Washington Elementary School District","date","2025-06-27T14:29:55Z","article","The Washington Elementary School District Governing Board formally recognized Superintendent Paul Stanton's retirement and thanked him for his 10 years leading the district. The board president delivered remarks of appreciation and presented a certificate.

During public participation, Sarah White, director of public engagement for Congressman Greg Stanton, read a letter from the congressman addressed to Dr. Stanton. The letter congratulated Stanton on \"your impressive 29 years of service as a public educator, including 10 years as superintendent of the Washington Elementary School District,\" praised his leadership and community connections and said his presence \"will be sorely missed.\" The letter closed, \"I wish you the best in this next phase of life. Sincerely, Greg Stanton.\" The letter was read on the record.

Dr. Stanton also spoke briefly and identified himself as the district's superintendent earlier in the meeting. Board members publicly thanked him for his service. No formal board action (for example, a resolution) was recorded in the transcript beyond the public recognition and certificate presentation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Regular Governing Board Meeting and Executive Session - Thursday, June 26, 2025 at 6:15 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","The Washington Elementary School District governing board recognized Superintendent Paul Stanton on his retirement; Sarah White read a congratulatory letter from Congressman Greg Stanton praising Stanton's 29 years in education and decade as WESD superintendent.","taxTitle","Washington Elementary School District (4260), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",12983,"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},6512669,"WESD board renews intergovernmental agreement with City of Phoenix for nine school resource officers",608,1036000,1644000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a&start=1036&end=1644","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a/thumbnail_1036000.jpg","/articles/6512669/Arizona/WESD-board-renews-intergovernmental-agreement-with-City-of-Phoenix-for-nine-school-resource-officers","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512669-3898e74be2fad42a0d75c320492dc7f8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771045801&Signature=QDUwMNNY7wM1dcCmdrPBL-qigyZFZ7hZGt4-bZ7nAs5SxSVZJCXZvNpNTnl43gAJV0WfMK~-eZOmhQyPqnCk1Mec0y95V3QIEGyoYLmNpEoITfI~xOPnQDdV3rGnYxAdcBNElZJ1YdFc76puRVCqMP8eAbOB8wN2JQJdj3VT6kz1jA0SlufxUm3WdZ0JAl0y-eFSonxr8cWAOVQvm9-rqoaLdW8~C0ZJskcLbHgjrh~SiU2xIIOekDmfrzz-vaV~epujnzA3MUTDnYeky4NyoKzJahe33RNURrW5iNLMg~Ur-AxZf3BIv1qldWCUGqN1pMRWR7iYtTNfgkznw92Rdw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington Elementary School District Governing Board voted to accept the intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the City of Phoenix to provide school resource officers (SROs) for the 2025–26 school year. District staff told the board the agreement covers the third year of the district's SRO arrangement; staff reported the district currently has nine school resource officers.

A motion to accept the IGA was moved and seconded and carried on a voice vote. A single \"nay\" was recorded on the audio during the roll call sequence; the transcript does not include a roll-call tally of named votes. After the IGA vote, a board member asked for an update and presentation on the Washington Elementary School District SRO research study from February 2023; that request was seconded and recorded as a future agenda item.

Board members did not elaborate on changes to the IGA during the public discussion recorded in the transcript. District staff said the agreement must be renewed each year. The transcript shows the board handled the IGA as a discrete action item and added the SRO-study update to a future agenda for more substantive review.

No statistics about program costs, contract duration, or operational details beyond the count of nine SROs were provided in the meeting transcript.","The Washington Elementary School District approved a one-year intergovernmental agreement with the City of Phoenix to provide nine school resource officers for the 2025–26 school year; the board also requested an update on the district's February 2023 SRO research study.",{"_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},6512672,"WESD board approves proposed FY2025-26 expenditure budget and authorizes Truth in Taxation notice",493,1099000,1592000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a&start=1099&end=1592","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a/thumbnail_1099000.jpg","/articles/6512672/Arizona/WESD-board-approves-proposed-FY2025-26-expenditure-budget-and-authorizes-Truth-in-Taxation-notice","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512672-c96e65790d21e04e31749adf22ce163a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771045801&Signature=mg9vu4hTFLhYv80-71f8lV4eJj9di-gSmhoTsCa~-~1uZFL9Bs92toNa~qyHNBrWfIEuewyW81QtW124rxYbETWRGWLblo0Fy92U3WI84IReirxnvrvrbAmLnVeA~Z4v0sCN-8NKak6e4cM~usGvRH8yd9POmRgTfx3M6rtcFMszkJ5O~huhvvcfSTSNZZjtjN8O9zlftEupbQOnPA1Stplfu5F7CskdLLu5Muo3TI2URnqrOvuUBm8M6JXRlSqtn92m1OgsgPmzVlhmW7pdf4eXy8K8B3pbD-NlpneV52XYxe84DrvmbsWt~azwL~9AXlSRFJLEdaq1nMb2168aYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington Elementary School District Governing Board voted to approve the district’s proposed expenditure budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and authorized publication of the budget summary, notice of public hearing and Truth in Taxation notice.

District staff told the board the state had not yet approved a 2025–26 state budget, so the proposed district budget is prepared using current assumptions about state funding. A staff presenter said state statute requires the board to file a proposed budget by July 5 and that the board cannot adopt an adopted budget higher than the proposed budget. The presenter further explained the board must advertise the proposed budget and allow 14 days between proposed and adopted budgets to permit public review.

Staff highlighted several items in the proposal: maintenance and operations revenue is projected to fall slightly because the district expects continued enrollment declines and lower carryforward balances after one-time stipends and employee raises; the capital budget was listed at about $33,000,000, reflecting carryover and recent state funding changes; and federal ESSER grant funds previously reflected in the budget (described on the record as about $50.6 million) have been exhausted and removed from the proposal.

Board members asked whether the proposed budget could be amended later to align resources with district goals. A staff presenter said the board may amend the budget after adoption so long as the adopted budget is not higher than the proposed budget, and that revised budgets are required by statute on December 15 and May 15; staff also said monthly revisions are possible if needed.

A motion to approve the proposed budget and related publication authorizations was moved and seconded; the board voted in favor and the motion passed. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally of named votes for the final motion.","The Washington Elementary School District governing board approved a proposed expenditure budget for fiscal year 2025–26 and authorized publication of the budget summary, notice of public hearing and Truth in Taxation notice; the proposed budget is based on state funding assumptions because the state budget was not final.",{"_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},6512678,"Washington Elementary School District names Lupita Hightower interim superintendent, effective July 1",309,3513000,3822000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a&start=3513&end=3822","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5088946-f54ed284952d5db3987e15625b76945a/thumbnail_3513000.jpg","/articles/6512678/Arizona/Washington-Elementary-School-District-names-Lupita-Hightower-interim-superintendent-effective-July-1","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6512678-656e75b66aa24f19c8f9bb50f57cfa6f/orig.mp4?Expires=1771045801&Signature=Fw~yOXtBf-YWi1K0~xMEYYuPhFQRPCY-c8-Zp8rT~CTfzk5Or65FO~4hGDA29AYsPt5mWa9yzL1c0AE5zecXNrzrX33Q5aTv49gNjRPH4HLSujb8cLrgMTnAiyPs1WPZ4NPNqFksiUXvYX9l-W~G7QrJrB3sHFUdVm~w~vRBi3KKRpnMxI1WPBG7NhQN-lRlouwjBg7gBwRzPrSQa3GCJH8HeXBV-5ZWKdsEoEs766qTnvUPOAFb-qZWc~nWzAYLphb4JrAN-g2u8i05q22XrK3PxL4K-ZZlEbrtOv~jkHIFnu6DN1OO5zIt7mntzWBRmieujvkVwEDVeSVHU18dPw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Washington Elementary School District Governing Board voted to approve an employment contract and independent contractor agreement appointing Dr. Lupita Hightower as interim superintendent, with the board amending the contract to make the appointment effective July 1, 2025.

The action occurred after the board reconvened from executive session. A board member moved to approve the contract and independent contractor agreement; an amendment to set the effective date to July 1, 2025, was offered and seconded. The board then voted and the motion passed. The board president welcomed Hightower following the vote and presented a certificate.

Dr. Lupita Hightower said she was “honored and humbled to be serving as your interim superintendent,” and described her 28 years in education and 14 years as school superintendent for Tolleson Elementary School District. She said she intended to “listen, to learn, to assess” and to lead with “compassion, transparency, and a deep sense of responsibility.”

The appointment follows the board’s earlier recognition of outgoing Superintendent Paul Stanton and several routine approvals that closed the evening’s business. The interim contract was described on the record as both an employment contract and an independent contractor agreement; the board approved an amendment specifying the July 1 effective date before the final vote.

No roll-call vote tally with named board members was recorded in the transcript for the final motion; the meeting record shows the motion passed following the vote call.

Board members and district staff said they expect the interim term to cover the leadership transition into the next school year, and board members publicly welcomed Hightower to the role.","The WESD governing board approved an employment contract and independent contractor agreement to appoint Dr. Lupita Hightower as interim superintendent, with the board amending the start date to July 1, 2025.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board honors retiring WESD Superintendent Paul Stanton; Congressman Greg Stanton sends letter

WESD board renews intergovernmental agreement with City of Phoenix for nine school resource officers

WESD board approves proposed FY2025-26 expenditure budget and authorizes Truth in Taxation notice

Washington Elementary School District names Lupita Hightower interim superintendent, effective July 1