[{"_1":2,"_124":-5,"_125":-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",[32,76,88,100,112],{"_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",6475280,"mediaKeyId","5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46","parentId",5735078,"title","Parent criticizes board process for school signature programs during public comment","audioSeconds",92,"startMs",2866000,"endMs",2958000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46&start=2866&end=2958","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46/thumbnail_2866000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6475280/Arizona/Parent-criticizes-board-process-for-school-signature-programs-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475280-1c0d0dd2d170d9ee9b5ddbbc6271d9eb/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742578&Signature=aYksZqQGVM3yZQE~rL3-j1YIB~TmdcUhM4NBfp2YEjwF7kASTfjXvwNtPGeoiMEFtF9N1YnfCA2hgT8MlwQ2hua-Q9Y~~LCMcQaE1sbF4VbMOupieqGxRU~jg7gp6WOHKLhlm5wVl4-N8S24Q1QmOnMaGPkKrqH7sNyyo0iUhvZtsmCDbiA-VCZ7MOsuZTDPivkByA151iPbFgHZpg~1PAbZXdvZG3QgoK4bc178MfBmSOY-qrs2457gAon8rUusov8XrwQSPDp6x44rzakiFVpmU2Uoj2zk3YaypLZpKJ8dkgERRh2AOey~SdiTP1O54LOjFPDF3pCWjSiMZVy9bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Liberty Elementary District","date","2025-09-08T22:34:14Z","article","During the board’s public-comment period, resident Megan Canan addressed trustees about the process used to adopt signature programs at district schools.

Canan said she was \"appalled\" at how a prior meeting handled EMES’s (a school) selection for its new signature program, arguing the site committee should gather input, evaluate options and recommend one program to the board rather than present multiple options for the board to narrow. She asked why the district treated Loretta Zumbro’s signature-program planning differently, saying the timelines and standards appeared inconsistent across schools.

\"Why is it that he gets to do a parent forum and get to select the program and bring his selection to the board? Why was his timeline appropriate, but Ms. Boris's was questioned? All schools should be held to the same standard,\" Canan said in her comments.

Canan identified herself as a resident with one current student and two former students in the district and called on the board to apply consistent standards to school-level program selection and committee procedures. The board did not act on the comment; public-comment rules were reviewed earlier in the meeting and the president noted the board may ask the superintendent to review issues raised during public comment or place them on a future agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","09.08.2025 Governing Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A parent raised concerns during public comment about perceived inconsistent treatment of school signature-program selection processes and alleged board overreach into school operations.","taxTitle","Liberty Elementary District (4266), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",64408,"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},6475285,"At-a-glance: Liberty board votes on consent agenda, personnel items, capital plan, vouchers and field trips",489,2970000,3459000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46&start=2970&end=3459","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46/thumbnail_2970000.jpg","/articles/6475285/Arizona/At-a-glance-Liberty-board-votes-on-consent-agenda-personnel-items-capital-plan-vouchers-and-field-trips","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475285-a5fe25e50cf9c51a0603e0b1e8310926/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742578&Signature=hhEqDFYbOnJh1PFLZ~aL-SYypPhyr2R4c6WrcWtNvs8JfBYMXUQBQplG4FhGRBa-ekHXcFqPrGzBEdMQFszjfIuWZHnrciQ5wrUsMd3HMXhYsGCFsHUfQdDGEUrGDFCsdDLGIhBMIQlkcua1seq0CU-pE2Il9e7lI8sSda3V-m4Up6roukkYMzyZNvRiHabX0XiESiMoHhJTtsZs52no067mO2ajvQXQ4LmpTa7Cs7oUqFsHa475KCfcprifEVJxKdFTi1B-naJ-Ts5LU9TLF4O87x7ALFIaUQdenrMQPQ9Jj46ibDp~ilFYYuHVM018uFREXCviq9Mvt4KvZ4SwqQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At Monday’s meeting the Liberty Elementary School District governing board recorded the following formal actions and votes.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (with items 5.3, 5.4, 5.5 and 5.8 pulled initially): Motion to approve consent agenda with specified exceptions — Passed, 5–0.

- Item 5.3 — Approval of personal action items (personnel): Motion to approve item 5.3 — Passed, 5–0. Board discussion during the pulled-consent review included questions about resignation documentation for three teachers, criteria for waiving liquidated damages and clarification of teacher-referral stipend amounts (some referral payouts were divided when multiple referrers were listed).

- Item 5.4 — Arizona School Facilities Division fiscal year 2026 capital plan: Motion to approve item 5.4 — Passed, 5–0. Board members asked about developer-donated land for a future school and whether some district land is partially used by transportation facilities.

- Item 5.5 — TransTax Advisors contract (tax credits/refundable credits for electric buses and chargers): Motion to table to the next meeting for additional procurement documentation and term clarification — Passed, 5–0.

- Item 5.8 and grouped expense vouchers: Motion to approve and ratify multiple expense vouchers (listed in the packet) totaling $3,920,511.22 and $2,722,706.98 — Passed, 5–0. During discussion board members questioned a $4,500 early-termination fee to Arizona School Boards Association tied to a prior five-year subscriptions agreement and a $7,600 finance charge tied to a late payment on a KS State Bank loan for electric buses; staff said invoices had been misrouted and agreed to pursue bank discussions and process improvements.

- Item 6.1 — Overnight and out-of-state field trips for 2025–26 school year: Motion to approve field trips — Passed, 5–0. The board noted one listing (\"Desert Survival\") was an extended-day trip rather than overnight and staff agreed to correct dates on the form.

- Item 6.2 — Cooperative contracts for contracted personnel and special education services (FY26): Motion to approve — Passed, 5–0 (separate article covers this in depth).

- Item 6.3 — Motion to designate the second monthly meeting as a regular meeting rather than a special meeting: Motion failed on roll call (4–1 against); Board member Zimmerman voted yes, four members voted no.

Minutes and roll-call tallies in the record show unanimous approval on the items listed as passed; items that required follow-up were tabled or taken for administrative follow-up.

The board’s next special meeting dates were noted as tentatively scheduled on the district calendar for Sept. 22 and Oct. 6 and Oct. 27; the TransTax Advisors item was scheduled to return pending staff follow-up.","The board approved the consent agenda and multiple items including personnel approvals, the Arizona School Facilities Division capital plan and expense vouchers; it also approved overnight and out-of-state field trips and tabled a contract for tax-credit recovery.",{"_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},6475290,"Board reviews early-year budget report; trustees press for apples-to-apples comparison with adopted budget",657,1262000,1919000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46&start=1262&end=1919","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46/thumbnail_1262000.jpg","/articles/6475290/Arizona/Board-reviews-early-year-budget-report-trustees-press-for-apples-to-apples-comparison-with-adopted-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475290-9bd4b6f3816272b203ada4b15a1f51ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742578&Signature=Jby-u1mxoPwbbOFXfPgeGdJRqaxmSEL3VHJx20022Oy~qOGUQrNBaa47h2H7kMPPdIZ4YyqgaUcDJQcswnJKBSGihniUlUsgbRdYUyTl-ZrlvoGSW-weMGdH-uFM~kjIqOiqVceoAW5Ysrr~DdY-cn7-Q0c9llmzuMUtMI-0bjeQK4sxYL~hRdiYAQ67OCsHw4nn2J6O0DAoEiCydUQ9qCd-NT4EJLwyEH3asjYzmkm5myFtQzhlEdIko6i5aX2tBpsFAld1gGHrBtVg7jMVNwoh3PW4X2ge~WzpPsfjRYETxg7wcbIzZ30fPvRCf7e~vlWdde71xB4N5NnfVTUHWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Board members examined the district's monthly budget report for the period ending Aug. 31 and sought clearer alignment between the report presentation and the district's adopted budget.

District finance staff explained that fiscal-year revenue streams are slow to appear at the start of the year, that cash funds are shown separately (below a green header) and that carryover amounts from the prior fiscal year are estimated until rollover work completes in October. Staff said encumbrances appear in two places on the report: payroll-related encumbrances (salaries/benefits) and purchase-order encumbrances for goods and services that are open but not yet spent.

Board members pressed for a report view that more closely matches the adopted budget so trustees can compare \"apples to apples\" and spot potential midyear issues. One board member noted the district budget totals (shown as about $48.5 million in budgeted funds) and asked how the balance column reflected roughly $17 million; staff said early-year timing, vacancies and unentered purchase orders explain much of the difference.

The board also questioned specific items: a large negative carryover tied to the Loretta Zumbro school facilities project (explained as reimbursement-based funding), an $8 million purchase order encumbrance related to the project, and a late payment and finance charge tied to a KS State Bank loan for electric buses (discussed later under vouchers). Finance staff said the district expected reimbursements and that the project encumbrances will normalize when invoices are reimbursed.

Members asked finance staff to monitor food-service cash-controlled funds (which showed negative balances early in the year), to provide a future version of the monthly report that matches the adopted budget presentation, and to continue tracking encumbrances and grant timing.

Board members also discussed enrollment totals and year-to-date averages; staff clarified preschool counts and noted the district's current average attendance rates were higher than recent years.","The board examined the district's monthly budget report, sought clearer alignment with the adopted budget and questioned cash-fund carryovers, encumbrances and a large purchase-order encumbrance for a school facilities project.",{"_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},6475295,"Board delays decision on tax-credit contractor for electric-bus rebates, seeks more procurement information",1486,3626000,5112000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46&start=3626&end=5112","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46/thumbnail_3626000.jpg","/articles/6475295/Arizona/Board-delays-decision-on-tax-credit-contractor-for-electric-bus-rebates-seeks-more-procurement-information","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475295-3a73b144d73791376ffb30d724e77ec4/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742578&Signature=ZBGVBhz2nP4NVe1ksiWGbt1baPbmtXIPiQ3uU46a5mWBHDbr7WXe7CtTjhCyMPH2l2y1X7aB~J8~mtoWrScdlhh28WYpQ5Y8OLGrqTUYBEQolz0mkRNHEzuJb1Vqn~JQCgJgf9MZP~zGMisuNvl3m0eu1au6zcQidSvq2Qy93JSqDMgK8lk9TlqXKR~lSIY5XvqdLXjDNyNsypKl4Po2UBPY~xI~cz62MqQeASE3FXqFnj-Coe3G~Qxz8LwvKsuW209dCemq19Dw86Ja17d~vM0WnU1zwe7pYDsHANhxbbUN8RMH-Z9SmsH0HnMVaFy3vIYiRIsirgyP26QXsyts-Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty Elementary School District governing board on Monday voted unanimously to table a proposed contract with TransTax Advisors, a firm that would file for federal tax credits and refundable credits related to district purchases including electric buses and chargers.

Administration and outside presenters explained that TransTax Advisors would pursue Inflation Reduction Act tax credits and IRS filings on the district's behalf. The discussion centered on a 25% contingency fee the firm would take from recovered credits, the firm’s three-year contract term and whether the district could justify a sole-source procurement rather than seeking competing bids.

District staff said Verigee, a separate vendor already engaged for energy projects (notably bus electrification and charger installation), was not pursuing the same IRS tax-credit filings and that TransTax Advisors’ work would be distinct. Board members remained concerned that overlapping rebate or credit claims could result in disputes about which vendor’s strategy produced savings and thus which firm earned a fee.

Trustees asked whether the three-year contract was required and whether the district could limit the contract to the current bus/charger transaction. A representative of the contractor (on the phone) said the firm could shorten terms and that other Arizona school districts have used similar services. Board members asked staff to document other Arizona entities working with the firm and to provide stronger sole-source justification if the district proceeds.

The motion to table was made and passed by roll call; the item will return to the board at a future meeting after staff follow-up.","Trustees tabled — to the next meeting — a proposed contract with TransTax Advisors to pursue federal tax credits and refunds related to recent electric-bus and charger purchases, citing sole-source and term concerns and overlap with an existing vendor, Verigee.",{"_33":113,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":114,"_41":115,"_43":116,"_45":117,"_47":118,"_49":119,"_51":120,"_53":121,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":122,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":123,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6475299,"Liberty board approves contracted special-education staff as district reports multiple vacancies",772,6069000,6841000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46&start=6069&end=6841","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5735078-0de5efa0b608570a9b67f09ff0aa4c46/thumbnail_6069000.jpg","/articles/6475299/Arizona/Liberty-board-approves-contracted-special-education-staff-as-district-reports-multiple-vacancies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6475299-360b521f5ac5909674db468cd0a693aa/orig.mp4?Expires=1773742578&Signature=gf~tXnEm7OntPmT3GXIqkwV~oTOjaZmtJd6dutf4ESnZl63IS1zQm~rWH5SYa0mlS94v2LoCILVqPArXFpey6XdnoTfDRmTaLCABazDo9GJh2Q5iPfucE5wDhPefBT7DHbnQWLPkhw-5wbTVRgig5uKRxYw1B6sQ46~Cvb5m9vircz3aknDkZ437GU~rSdRRQa3jBSaYY0mvFpqjPqX2WnlJeyz5n1vilG~QMI779oF0ZfxyrnyMrnrc1MQtwWIO7dkmjwSSx6U4CL3Gjo6Y6zDdaGxfp12uiww8zW~O2SCsON99qQkxUsnoR5doT78DOr4v5YehbkEgF3Z9vGeNUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Liberty Elementary School District governing board on Monday approved the use of cooperative contracts to secure contracted special-education personnel, after district staff described multiple vacancies among school psychologists, speech-language pathologists and special-education teachers.

District staff said shortages are national and local and that contracting is a temporary measure to keep services in place and maintain compliance with state and federal special-education requirements. \"Not hiring school psychologists will expose the district to serious legal and financial risks,\" a presenter identified in the record as Dr. Avila said during the discussion.

The administration told the board that the district currently employs one returning school psychologist and has several full-time positions vacant; contracted positions listed in the staff packet include partial- and full-time assignments intended to cover evaluations, interventions and behavior supports. The packet and comments to the board noted that contracted staff do not receive district benefits, paid holidays, or paid breaks the way district employees do.

The board asked about student minutes and compensatory-service liability when certificated positions are unfilled. The administration said substitutes and existing staff had been covering many duties, but that the coverage model is \"not sustainable\" and that leaving positions unfilled could trigger compensatory-service obligations.

Board members pressed for clarity on headcount and fiscal comparisons. The administration provided an estimated cost for an in-house psychologist (including benefits) of roughly $112,000 and explained that contracted rates appear higher on paper but omit benefits and other employer costs. Board members said those comparisons helped them weigh short-term contracting against longer-term hiring.

After discussion, the board approved the cooperative-contract approach to staff special-education positions for the coming fiscal year; the record shows the motion passed unanimously.

Board members and staff said recruiting and retention would continue, and that contracting is intended to preserve timely evaluations, IEP delivery and legal compliance while the district seeks permanent hires.","The Liberty Elementary School District governing board approved cooperative contracts to hire contracted special-education personnel after district leaders said national and local shortages left several positions unfilled and risked legal noncompliance for student services.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parent criticizes board process for school signature programs during public comment

At-a-glance: Liberty board votes on consent agenda, personnel items, capital plan, vouchers and field trips

Board reviews early-year budget report; trustees press for apples-to-apples comparison with adopted budget

Board delays decision on tax-credit contractor for electric-bus rebates, seeks more procurement information

Liberty board approves contracted special-education staff as district reports multiple vacancies