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PUSD board approves $7,000 IGA with Arizona Department of Education for Mile High support
Summary
The Prescott Unified School District governing board voted to approve an intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Education to enroll Mile High Middle School in Project Momentum, unlocking $7,000 for professional development tied to the state's school accountability process.
The Prescott Unified School District governing board on Sept. 9 approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Arizona Department of Education that will enroll Mile High Middle School in Project Momentum and make $7,000 available for the school’s professional development.
Project Momentum is Arizona Department of Education technical assistance tied to school accountability for schools that received a D or F letter grade under the state’s accountability framework. Kelsey, a district staff member, told the board the IGA is mandatory because Mile High previously received a D letter grade; the $7,000 is intended to pay for targeted professional development for teachers at Mile High.
District staff and board members framed the agreement as both a compliance step and a funding opportunity. Kelsey said Mile High has already made instructional changes during the past year — including schedule adjustments and formative assessments — and staff expect the school’s letter grade to improve. She and other administrators described the Project Momentum work as capacity-building, noting the district can choose whether to send teachers to outside training or bring trainers into the school.
Board members pressed for detail on the timing and scope. Andy, a district staff member participating in the discussion, described the state timeline as “off” and noted the IGA notification followed a year in which the school had already been working on improvements. Board members asked whether the required assessments would apply to all students; Kelsey said the state had signaled the possibility of one benchmark in ELA and one in math for relevant grade levels, not every student taking both assessments.
Board members praised Mile High’s progress and voted to approve the IGA. The board’s action allows Mile High to accept the $7,000 and pursue the Project Momentum activities this coming year.
The IGA is limited to Project Momentum support for Mile High and does not commit the district to multi-year services; staff said ADE’s accountability process, and the timing of its notifications, shaped that constraint.
What’s next: District staff said they will continue to refine Mile High’s instructional supports and will bring further updates to the board as details from ADE become available.
