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Board elects Wilke president, re‑elects Harrington pro tem; approves MOU with Pinal Hispanic Council and accepts donations
Summary
At its special meeting the Casa Grande Union High School District Governing Board elected Richard Wilke as board president, confirmed a pro tempore and legislative representative, approved a memorandum of understanding with the Pinal Hispanic Council for student services, and accepted several donations; most procedural items passed by roll call.
The Casa Grande Union High School District Governing Board reorganized its leadership and approved routine business at its special meeting on Monday.
Richard Wilke was nominated and elected board president by roll call. The board also nominated and confirmed a pro tempore officer to serve when the president is unavailable and selected a legislative representative to coordinate the board’s legislative priorities with statewide associations. Board members approved a February meeting‑date exception (moving the February meeting to Tuesday, Feb. 11) to avoid a scheduling conflict.
The board approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Pinal Hispanic Council to provide on‑campus student services, including referral, intake and space for counseling sessions: “This allows us to work with Pinal County … the referral is made, the Pinal Hispanic Council contacts the family. They set up the meeting. They contact and do all the paperwork that’s required. What we do is provide a safe place for the counselor and the student to meet on campus and work through that,” Superintendent Jeff Lavender said in presenting the item. The MOU was approved by the board in a roll‑call vote.
The board accepted three donations: $100 to the Vista Grande Junior ROTC (anonymous donor), $25,100 to the Casa Grande Union Renaissance Clubs (from Pinal 40), and a barbecue grill valued at approximately $150 for PACE (anonymous donor). These donations were approved as part of the consent agenda.
Other routine items approved included adoption of the meeting agenda and approval of the Dec. 9, 2024 minutes. The board adjourned the special meeting and scheduled the next regular meeting for Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2025.
Votes at a glance: - Election of board president (Richard Wilke): nominated and approved by roll call (motion seconded; passed). - Election of pro tempore (Harrington): nominated and approved by roll call (motion seconded; passed). - Election of board legislative representative (Hayes): nominated and approved by roll call (motion seconded; passed). - Change to February meeting date (exception for Feb. 11): motion and approval by roll call (passed). - Adoption of meeting agenda: approved by motion and roll call (passed). - Approval of minutes (Dec. 9, 2024): motion and roll call (passed). - MOU with Pinal Hispanic Council (student services): motion to approve and roll‑call vote (passed). - Acceptance of donations (listed above): motion and roll‑call vote (passed). - Consent agenda (multiple routine items): approved by motion and roll‑call vote (passed).
Why this matters: leadership selections determine who runs board meetings and represents the district in external associations; the MOU adds a pathway to provide on‑campus counseling and referrals through a county/provider partner. Donations and consent items were routine and accepted to support extracurricular and program needs.
Attributions: board actions and quotes taken from the board meeting transcript and Superintendent Jeff Lavender’s presentation of the MOU.
