Casa Grande Elementary District board approves first 2025–26 budget revision, renews reading volunteer memorandum and OKs minor boundary adjustment

The Casa Grande Elementary District Governing Board on Oct. 7 received a first revision of the district's 2025–26 budget, voted to publish the revised expenditure budget, renewed a yearlong memorandum of understanding with the AARP/Pinal County Experience Corps to place literacy volunteers in district schools, and adopted a resolution formalizing a minor boundary adjustment with Maricopa Unified and Casa Grande Union High School districts.

The budget presentation preceded the board's action. Mr. McCain, the district's chief financial officer, told the board the revision is the first of the year and updates placeholders used when the district adopted a preliminary budget in July. He said the district is projecting enrollment-weighted revenue increases in regular and special education students that together add roughly $2.1 million over last year's final budget, an M&O override increase of about $231,693, and a planned transfer of $105,845 to cover an energy lease.

"This first revision ... will be more accurate to what the budget will be for the year," Mr. McCain said during his presentation, which also outlined statutory changes to the base level (a 2% increase) and one-time state supplements in place of expired Proposition 123 monies.

Board members asked no further questions after the presentation. The board voted to approve the revised 2025–26 expenditure budget and authorized its publication. The roll-call vote was recorded as: President Varela, Aye; Mrs. Martinez, Aye; Mrs. Sisson, Aye; Mr. Stably, Aye; Mr. Schute, Aye.

Separately, the board authorized renewal of the district's memorandum of understanding with AARP and the Pinal County Experience Corps, a volunteer tutoring program that places older volunteers in schools to support literacy instruction. Dr. Lecky said the partnership is year‑to‑year and estimated volunteers tutored several dozen to nearly 80 students last year. The board voted to authorize the MOU with the county corps; Mr. Stably recused himself from that item because of his involvement with the program. The recorded votes were: President Varela, Aye; Mrs. Martinez, Aye; Mrs. Sisson, Aye; Mr. Schute, Aye. (Mr. Stably recused.)

The board also adopted a resolution acknowledging receipt of a petition and ordering a minor boundary adjustment that moves portions of overlapping areas to Maricopa Unified School District for the 2026–27 school year. Dr. Lecky summarized the multi‑district process and said staff worked with both affected districts to reach the memorandum of understanding and collect signatures from a majority of qualified electors in the area. The resolution passed by roll call: President Varela, Aye; Mrs. Martinez, Aye; Mrs. Sisson, Aye; Mr. Stably, Aye; Mr. Schute, Aye.

Other routine business included adoption of the agenda and approval of the consent agenda; both motions passed on roll call. The board moved into and later adjourned an executive session pursuant to A.R.S. a7 38-431.03; no additional action was reported from that session.

Votes at a glance - Adopt agenda: Motion passed (roll call: Varela Aye; Martinez Aye; Sisson Aye; Stably Aye; Schute Aye). - Approve consent agenda: Motion passed (roll call: Varela Aye; Martinez Aye; Sisson Aye; Stably Aye; Schute Aye). - Authorize MOU with AARP / Pinal County Experience Corps (reading volunteers): Approved (roll call: Varela Aye; Martinez Aye; Sisson Aye; Schute Aye; Stably recused). Note: item is a year‑to‑year partnership to place volunteers in district schools. - Approve revised 2025–26 expenditure budget and authorize publication: Approved (roll call: Varela Aye; Martinez Aye; Sisson Aye; Stably Aye; Schute Aye). - Adopt resolution ordering minor boundary adjustment with Maricopa Unified/Casa Grande Union High School District: Approved (roll call: Varela Aye; Martinez Aye; Sisson Aye; Stably Aye; Schute Aye).

What the board said - Mr. McCain (chief financial officer) characterized the revision as an update to a placeholder budget and highlighted revenue changes tied to student counts, override receipts, and one-time state supplements. - Dr. Lecky (superintendent) described the AARP/Experience Corps partnership as an existing program that tutored dozens of students last year and noted staff worked with the other districts to reach the boundary‑adjustment agreement.

Context and next steps The revised budget will be published as authorized by the board; the next formal budget revision is scheduled for Dec. 15 to capture average daily membership changes and year‑end adjustments. The boundary adjustment resolution will be filed with the county after each affected board adopts the same resolution, and the change would take effect for the 2026–27 school year if filings proceed as described by staff.