Blue Ridge Unified board approves IGA for transition-to-work program, Prop 301 pay plan, $15 game-worker rate and staff stipends

Blue Ridge Unified School District No. 32’s Governing Board approved four agenda items affecting special-education transition services, teacher pay incentives, extracurricular workers’ pay and staff stipends at its meeting.

The actions included approving an annual intergovernmental agreement with the Arizona Department of Economic Security to support the district’s Transition from School to Work (TSW) program for students with special needs; adopting the district’s Proposition 301 pay-for-performance plan using classroom site funds; setting a $15 per hour rate for game workers; and approving the district’s list of staff stipends for the 2025–26 year. Board members moved and voted on each item during the meeting.

Why it matters: The IGA funds staff who run the TSW program that prepares special-education students for employment after high school. The Proposition 301 plan sets the timeline and partial-pay structure for teacher performance payouts. Raising game-worker pay affects hourly workers who staff events; staff stipends are an ongoing personnel-cost and equity issue for the district.

The IGA: Missus Hoffmeyer, a district staff member who presented the item, described the agreement as “an annual agreement that we have with the Arizona Department of Economic Security” and said it funds teachers who run the TSW program. The board moved to approve the IGA; Michael made the motion and Margaret seconded. The chair called the vote and the board approved the agreement.

Proposition 301 pay-for-performance plan: The board approved a Prop 301 proposal that uses classroom site funds for teacher pay-for-performance. The plan was developed by a teacher committee and structures payouts in two installments: 40% in November and 60% in May. Missus Hoffmeyer explained that principals will collect teacher proposals and perform a November check-in to verify that teachers are on track toward meeting their plans before the November partial payout. Michael asked how the November checkpoint will work and the staff explained principals will verify progress (for example, that tutoring has started) and sign off if a teacher is on track.

Game-worker pay: The board approved raising the hourly rate for event workers to $15 an hour. Dustin Clough, the district’s athletic director, confirmed that workers would be paid for time spent at events during weather delays or cancellations. “We would definitely pay them for that hour that they're there,” Clough said, describing typical procedures for lightning delays and canceled events.

Staff stipends: The board approved the list of staff stipends for 2025–26. Board member Silviana recused herself from the stipend vote and stated she has two children on the listed payouts. Michael raised a concern about apparent imbalance in stipend amounts across positions and urged administration and principals to review stipend equity before next year’s allocations; the superintendent committed to that review.

Procedure and voting: For each item, a board member moved the recommendation and a colleague seconded. Where the meeting record shows a standard “all in favor” voice vote with no recorded opposition, the board adopted the items as presented; the stipend vote included a noted recusal by Silviana. No roll-call tallies with individual yes/no votes were recorded in the transcript.

Next steps: The IGA takes effect as provided in the contract; principals will implement the Prop 301 check-ins and payroll will update game-worker pay and stipend payments per the board’s approvals.

Ending: The board then received a district report and opened the meeting for public comment before adjourning.