Board approves athletics posting, course catalogs, fees and multiple policy updates in 5-0 votes

The Apache Junction Unified School District Governing Board approved a package of personnel, program and fee items in a series of unanimous 5–0 votes at its Jan. 28 regular meeting.

The actions combined routine program approvals with several new fee policies the district said are needed to cover operating costs. Board members also approved contract language updates for principals and directors and multiple policy revisions that the administration said clarify procedures and legal references.

The board’s votes included: a) approval to post a job description so the district may hire a girls flag football coach for the 2025–26 season; b) adoption of the 2025–26 course catalogs for Cactus Canyon Junior High and Apache Junction High School (including new and updated CTE and AP offerings); c) adoption of the 2027–28 school calendar; d) approval of an updated district facilities rental fee schedule and clarifying classifications for school-sponsored versus external users; e) establishment of a $15-per-child late pickup fee for the Early Learning Center (effective Feb. 3, 2025); f) a tuition fee for foreign exchange students of $10,000 annually or $5,000 per semester; g) an appliance convenience fee for staff of $25 for the second half of 2024–25 and $50 per year beginning 2025–26; h) approval of principals’ and directors’ 2025–26 contracts with clarified language; i) revisions to employee code of conduct policy (including a requirement to inform others before recording workplace meetings) and a package of student- and discipline-related policy updates; j) amendment to the fiscal year 2025 board meeting dates to accommodate one board member’s schedule; and k) superintendent travel to an ASU/GSV conference in San Diego.

Most motions were made from the floor and were seconded and approved by roll-call tally statements recorded in the minutes. Individual roll-call votes were recorded as “motion passes 5 to 0” for each action item; the transcript does not attach names to individual yes/no votes beyond that tally.

Several items were accompanied by brief staff explanations. For the girls flag football posting district staff said a job description is required before hiring and that the intent is to offer the sport at the high school in 2025–26. On rental fees staff clarified three classifications (school-sponsored, nonprofit and for-profit/external) and said district-sponsored student activities will not be charged. For the appliance fee staff said the charge is intended to offset a portion of increased utility costs and applies only to personal appliances installed by employees (not equipment provided in staff break rooms or school kitchens). The foreign-exchange fee was framed as a way to recover costs because the district will not receive average-daily-membership funding for midyear exchange students.

Several approvals set effective dates or amounts that the board recorded in the meeting: the Early Learning Center late pickup fee is $15 per child effective Feb. 3, 2025; foreign exchange tuition was set at $10,000 annually or $5,000 per semester going forward; and the appliance fee is $25 for the current half-year and $50 per year thereafter. The motion to post the girls flag football job description passed 5–0 so district HR can advertise the position for the 2025–26 athletic season.

Board members and staff emphasized clarity and communication: staff committed to clearer definitions for “club” versus “open” activities when scheduling facilities and to explaining custodial cost implications for weekend or after-hours facility use. Legal and HR staff were cited as having reviewed contract and policy language changes.

Because the votes were recorded as unanimous tallies, the meeting minutes list outcomes without individual vote-by-name records. Staff will implement the approved fees, post the job description, update the course catalogs and begin the contract renewals and policy updates described in the motions.

Ending: The board did not take further action on the information items presented and adjourned following a short public-comment period (no public comments were recorded).