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Superintendent highlights attendance gains, staff recognition and capital funding court ruling
Summary
Superintendent Dr. Lecky told the board the district has seen its highest attendance in four years and reduced chronic absenteeism, celebrated athletic and arts activity and noted a court ruling that Arizona's school capital funding is unconstitutional and requires legislative action.
Superintendent Dr. Lecky told the Casa Grande Elementary District Governing Board that the 2025–26 school year has begun with improved student attendance and a reduction in chronic absenteeism compared with recent years.
"We've seen some of our highest attendance in the last four years ... and also the reduction of kids being chronically absent," Dr. Lecky said, attributing the progress to staff, school leaders and family engagement.
Dr. Lecky outlined the district's four core priorities: student learning and well-being, workforce development ("building effective team members"), family engagement and district operations. He noted the district was recently ranked 23rd among workplaces in Arizona — a recognition he said includes businesses beyond school districts — and highlighted extracurricular activities including volleyball and soccer.
On operations, Dr. Lecky told the board the state capital funding system is under court review. He said a judge found the current funding method unconstitutional and that the legislature will be asked to reexamine capital funding and facility needs. "We think that that's an important part of the future of Arizona and building a system ... that we can be proud of," he said.
Board members publicly praised district staff and school leaders for the attendance work. Mr. Schute, who attended an ASBA law conference, urged attention to bond measures as a means to raise local capital funds when state funding does not cover all facility needs.
The district also announced curricular and extracurricular updates in principals' reports across schools, including new electives (art and STEM at some sites), playground turf/hardscape improvements at Ironwood and new flooring at Mesquite.
