[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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],{"_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",6473783,"mediaKeyId","5743450-520d94713fc0dbe19076d52c0b6b5834","parentId",5743450,"title","Apache Junction Unified board approves budget revision, grant manager position, instrument rental fee and policy updates","audioSeconds",107,"startMs",5039000,"endMs",5146000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5743450-520d94713fc0dbe19076d52c0b6b5834&start=5039&end=5146","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5743450-520d94713fc0dbe19076d52c0b6b5834/thumbnail_5039000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6473783/Arizona/Apache-Junction-Unified-board-approves-budget-revision-grant-manager-position-instrument-rental-fee-and-policy-updates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473783-e889da182af37491ccf5dbed6a425fda/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089826&Signature=jp-7yOjJNSrGGQrgx3IHsVlAfXhveNem7j8qAuimYeavUmJYYCF5qvOLkqFTu~E1HWXP8ithdOaQ-Fvff~8T7XlhKzuesakHBfREAQ5TxviWq9PIdOTfU2U4vKH57Be6LlzS3cCDAjBTfux4grRbsmbTm4bVdPXXM1gJY6ZV8Ef5XsK2-Cbqh~rfUdQcvmLxUhSdoH8fMwloxNvOXPtzOrTywzTNqM6JIzbFMMLQLUO3wGVFVeO2y8BNp9LyZSIAfvCg9wP0zpgv2mloMrGKbzTokGdytsyI~~k2Uo1UbC997xy00Yp4keaKkYFuAH-0zoDx0niiL0g3e2ycwOq7Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Apache Junction Unified District ","date","2025-09-09T23:43:38Z","article","Apache Junction, Ariz. — The Apache Junction Unified District Governing Board on Sept. 9, 2021 approved several administrative and budgetary items, including a revision to the district’s fiscal plan, a three‑year agreement to host Grand Canyon University social‑work interns, a $50 rental fee option for school instruments and the creation of a district grant manager position. All votes recorded in the meeting audio passed unanimously, 5–0.

Board members approved the budget revision after staff said the state legislature finalized funding calculations after the district adopted its proposed budget in June and July. \"The only reason we're here is because when we proposed and adopted in June and July, the legislature had not finalized their budget,\" said Miss Salazar, the staff presenter for the revision. She told the board that carry‑forward amounts and one‑time supplements were larger than previously shown.

The board’s action list and outcomes

- Fiscal year 2026 budget revision No. 1 — approved, 5–0. Motion text: \"approve the fiscal year 2026 budget revision number 1.\" (Mover/second: not specified on the record.) Staff reported the revision reflects updated state calculations after legislative budget actions and updated carry‑forward figures. Miss Salazar said the operating budget increased by about $1.07 million and the capital budget increased from approximately $1.1 million to about $1.3 million; carry‑forward was described as moving from about $141,000 to roughly $1,000,000. These figures were presented by staff during the discussion.

- Grand Canyon University social‑work field education agreement (three‑year internship arrangement) — approved, 5–0. Motion text: \"approve the Grand Canyon University social work field education contractual agreement.\" (Mover/second: not specified.) Staff described the contract as a three‑year arrangement to host social‑work interns who would complete field hours under licensed district social‑worker supervision.

- $50 instrument rental fee option for school year — approved, 5–0. Motion text: \"approve the $50 rental fee for school instruments for the school year.\" (Mover/second: not specified.) Staff said the fee is intended as a low‑cost option for families who cannot pay standard rental or purchase costs; payment plans and sponsor assistance were described as available options.

- Grant manager position (new full‑time position) — approved, 5–0. Motion text: \"approve the grant manager position.\" (Mover/second: not specified.) Board discussion noted the position is intended to pursue private and foundation grants in addition to state grant coordination; members asked whether existing staff could be trained instead and whether the position’s salary would be sustainable. Staff said the position would be funded from district sources initially and the expectation is that the role would help secure external grant revenue to offset its cost.

- Policy and procedure revisions (multiple policy numbers listed on the agenda, including procedures 3‑101b, 3‑301a, 3‑401a, 3‑401g, 3‑402a and policies/procedures in the 4‑ and 5‑series) — approved, 5–0. Motion text: \"approve the policy revision and procedures as listed on the agenda, including adoption of Option 3 for Policy 5‑2‑0‑3 concerning identification of students with a specific learning disability.\" (Mover/second: not specified.) The administrative team recommended Option 3 for the specific learning‑disability identification procedure to combine elements of the other options and give staff more flexibility when identifying eligible students.

Discussion and board questions

Board members asked staff for clarifications on budget worksheets and where the line‑item changes appear in the packet. Miss Salazar walked members through pages noted in the packet and pointed to the operating and capital pages where the changes were made. On the grant manager item, some members asked whether existing grant staff could be reallocated or trained instead of hiring a new full‑time employee; staff replied the new position would supplement current state‑grant work and pursue additional privately funded grants and foundations.

Public comment and follow‑up

A parent commenter during public comment urged improved communication and continued follow‑up on special education services; Superintendent Dr. Papalardo responded that staff would continue to follow up with the commenter.

Why this matters

The budget revision updates the district’s fiscal picture to reflect state action and changes to carry‑forward and one‑time supplement estimates. Approving a dedicated grant manager and the Grand Canyon University internship agreement signals an emphasis on growing staff capacity and external partnerships to support student services. The $50 instrument rental option and the policy revisions affect parental access and day‑to‑day operations for students and staff.

Votes at a glance (for editors)

- Budget revision No. 1 — approved 5–0
- Grand Canyon University social‑work internship agreement (3 years) — approved 5–0
- $50 instrument rental fee option — approved 5–0
- Grant manager position (new full‑time) — approved 5–0
- Multiple policy/procedure updates (listed in agenda) — approved 5–0

(Board roll call and procedural matters such as pledges and recognitions also occurred; ceremonial recognitions of staff and students were presented earlier in the meeting.)","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Governing board meeting - 09/09/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Apache Junction, Ariz. — The Apache Junction Unified District Governing Board on Sept. 9, 2021 approved several administrative and budgetary items, including a revision to the district’s fiscal plan, a three‑year agreement to host Grand Canyon University social‑work interns, a $50 instrument rental fee option for students facing financial hardship, and the creation of a district grant manager position.","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":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},6473773,"Parent urges Apache Junction Unified board to improve special education communication and services",205,3274000,3479000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5743450-520d94713fc0dbe19076d52c0b6b5834&start=3274&end=3479","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5743450-520d94713fc0dbe19076d52c0b6b5834/thumbnail_3274000.jpg","/articles/6473773/Arizona/Parent-urges-Apache-Junction-Unified-board-to-improve-special-education-communication-and-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473773-329ac86c15afbd9ee2e7e74c0cd2d717/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089826&Signature=aV~ADtYXXLQ4V8sgyDg0n7nBNKdJoZDXt8aCMIXt6NwEUWP-5-vZ6btdW4~bYYXhJ3Xs2bKBGGw7j0D2-7cQfcUiO~ZcSyL36KHY3fjH0EuDfDIdxat4THTp6WBw7sVUHs6YZX6phm4Ea0reYffjUI3i9Xx0cfahiPVp9rW1hBvUGzPC1Pvxp~eoYVjb6EHfE~3N76sTMYu4she12qbyrlRK93zg1egBvysAwDQoyIkoJHwxbbRUue2WrtQdqDo-LArUBuSu-xokxMhqlA277Vl~o4SpXOdGgcfQqvTEQzTGAGuSje3BvVbgf~KcujnmxlQwlBnqlj4MjyQZjdh3GQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Apache Junction, Ariz. — During public comment at the Apache Junction Unified District Governing Board meeting on Sept. 9, 2021, a parent asked the board and district staff to improve communication and the efficiency of special education services.

Annabelle Persian identified herself as a parent of two district students who have individualized education programs and said one child has speech needs and another is identified with OHI/ADHD. \"I wanna say thank you to the board president and all the board members. Thank you to doctor Papalardo for all the time that everyone wants and everything,\" Persian said, but continued, \"I would like to ask that when they consider anything about SPED, that they really consider beginning to end what effect it can have on the teachers, the students.\" She asked parents to reach out to case managers and the superintendent if they needed help and urged the board to hold continued meetings to address ongoing special education issues.

Superintendent Dr. Papalardo acknowledged the comment and said staff would continue to follow up with the parent. The parent said the problems have persisted since 2022 (as she described them) and asked for ongoing board engagement and improvements to how the SPED department communicates with families.

Why this matters

Public comment raised operational concerns about special education services that affect families and classroom teachers. The board acknowledged the request and the superintendent offered to continue follow‑up, indicating the issue will receive further staff attention.

Speakers in this item were the commenter Annabelle Persian and Superintendent Dr. Papalardo, who agreed to follow up.","A parent spoke during public comment about challenges navigating special education services and asked the district and board to increase communication, meetings and support for families with children who have IEPs.",{"_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},6473779,"Apache Junction highlights Khan Academy partnership, districtwide student gains and statewide competition adoption",274,376000,650000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5743450-520d94713fc0dbe19076d52c0b6b5834&start=376&end=650","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5743450-520d94713fc0dbe19076d52c0b6b5834/thumbnail_376000.jpg","/articles/6473779/Arizona/Apache-Junction-highlights-Khan-Academy-partnership-districtwide-student-gains-and-statewide-competition-adoption","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6473779-2204a8665967623bef972095afc0e98a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771089826&Signature=CG3OpEsIi6gvqscUwROcxC~TxFSfQsZIXpeSquZS0tm1Xoki~83OyrtVUs4sXjzRyuCKauAFibeOfMDI4cPTR~YilTsRvRd2hfgQlxRmgmFfYk2NQPjQLuaHtLpGCrNdSKdvsMalKPKm5mC0d4L0EPQGierGbEhpp29CvLWIUOoHJ9EhjPSlI6GtKb7GaZp6BBo-6zCRS4V34o1GMdqQGnzfjh81-fb8bXY58ikYfBtwsuPxa3xfh8MrDMIXi5P74c6oiio-oAmp0OAUQ6aY~lYI9kzQRgn3MfYVGF2OP5V2LbT0v2ngsNMkYOHeQXkXtnbhJr4OZRpRJy56~diyHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Apache Junction, Ariz. — At the Sept. 9, 2021 Apache Junction Unified District meeting, district leaders and a Khan Academy representative described an ongoing partnership that provides Khan Academy mastery learning tools and an AI tutor feature called Conmigo to students and staff.

Superintendent Dr. Papalardo introduced the presentation and invited the Khan Academy representative to explain the partnership and tools. \"The Conmigo, which is the AI, is for teachers, admins, and students as well,\" the presenter said, describing Conmigo as a one‑on‑one tutor that \"won't show how to do anything as far as giving them answers, but it will walk them through anything.\" The presenter also described a Khan Academy writing coach for student writing support and teacher tools that provide analytics and progress reporting.

District staff said Khan Academy's mastery learning approach lets students progress at their own pace and earn visible recognition (\"crowns\") for mastery. Staff presented participation and performance data they described as exceeding Khan Academy's internal benchmarks. The presenter said that, according to the research cited on the slides, \"18 hours of practice over the course of the school year will accelerate learning by 32%\" and that course mastery at 80% prepares students for the next grade.

The district also described a district‑wide math competition launched in the spring to boost student engagement; Khan Academy subsequently adopted the competition statewide, and Apache Junction students were noted on state leaderboards in early weeks of the competition.

Why this matters

Khan Academy materials and integrated AI tutoring have the potential to provide individualized practice and just‑in‑time supports for students and classroom tools for teachers. District staff framed the partnership as a cost‑free service to the district and highlighted early participation data and a statewide spotlight tied to their district competition.

Speakers and attribution

All direct quotes in this article are attributed to the Khan Academy presenter and to Superintendent Dr. Papalardo, who introduced the item. The presentation included slide data and staff commentary; the district characterized the program as currently free to the district and cited weekly contact with a Khan Academy data specialist.","Superintendent and a Khan Academy representative described a district partnership that provides Khan Academy content and Conmigo (AI) tutoring to students and teachers; staff said district students showed high early‑year usage and success in a statewide competition derived from a district initiative.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Apache Junction Unified board approves budget revision, grant manager position, instrument rental fee and policy updates

Parent urges Apache Junction Unified board to improve special education communication and services

Apache Junction highlights Khan Academy partnership, districtwide student gains and statewide competition adoption