Liberty schools present signature-program plans: STEAM, Ag science, dual language, career exploration among campus priorities

At the June 14 meeting the district92s schools presented their signature-program reports, outlining program goals, budgets and sustainability plans for the coming year. The board received short presentations from site leaders and contractors or consultants where applicable. Highlights follow.

Westar Elementary (STEAM): Westar presented a STEAM program focused on project-based learning, community partnerships, coding and makerspace activities. Projected site-level expenditures this year included about $4,620 in stipends and site spending (down from earlier years when grant funding supported about $15,000). Program leaders said TechSmart and other previously grant-funded supports are no longer guaranteed and that community partnerships and grant applications are being pursued to sustain and grow the program.

Rainbow Valley (Leader in Me): Principal Julie Lisaya described Leader in Me, a character-and-leadership program the campus inherited with a three-year contract. The program cost cited for the school year is $12,100 (includes in-person coaching and membership access to materials). Lisaya said the consultant provides two in-person coaching days, periodic calls and school-action-team support; staff asked the district to confirm contract-signature authority and whether materials or other program elements incur additional costs.

Liberty Elementary (Ag Science): The campus reported a school budget line of roughly $5,023 allocated for its ag-science program last year and additional grant funding (Sprouts grant and an Arizona Farm to School collaborative award) that supports greenhouse, hydroponics, soil-testing and garden activities. Presenters said grant funds supplement school funds and that they will pursue additional grants and community partnerships (local farms and ag businesses) to sustain garden infrastructure and programming.

Las Brisas Academy (Dual Language and Performing Arts): Las Brisas highlighted dual-language immersion (targeting 50/50 English-Spanish instruction) and performing-arts programming. The site reported about $9,300 of M&O allocation plus space rental income as part of program funding; staff said they will pursue professional development to increase classroom Spanish instruction fidelity and plan to begin student language proficiency measurement in 2026-27.

Freedom Elementary (Communication/Multimedia): Freedom described a student-led multimedia and daily-announcement program (Talent Talks and student-produced content) with school funding previously of about $8,281 for equipment and materials. The campus keeps equipment in working condition and asked for a stable funding line to expand microphones/cameras and rotate production opportunities to more classrooms.

Blue Horizons (College & Career Exploration): Blue Horizons presented a plan to expand career-connected learning using the Define Learning platform for project-based career exploration for every K-8 student on a weekly rotation. The district had a vendor discount this year that reduced the curriculum cost to about $7,500 (list price cited at $12,000); sustainability depends on ongoing contract and PD costs.

Estrella Mountain (IB PYP/MYP): Estrella Mountain described being an IB (International Baccalaureate) site for primary (PYP) and middle years (MYP) programs. The campus presented a list of "matters to be addressed" from the IB evaluators (unit planning, professional-development currency, scheduling teacher collaborative time, language and access policies); the school reported IB fees and training costs and said staff are developing an action plan to address the evaluator92s findings. The board asked staff to review whether IB remains the appropriate signature program given its cost and administrative overhead.

Why it matters: Signature programs shape school identity, staffing, budgets and community partnerships. Several sites noted grant funding or one-time funds previously supported elements of their programs; principals asked the district to clarify baseline funding for sustainability.

What92s next: Principals said they will refine budgets, pursue grants and community partnerships, and bring follow-up details to the district. The board asked staff for a cross-district review of signature-program funding and sustainability, and for verification of specific contract or executive-order compliance questions raised during the Rainbow (Leader in Me) and Estrella Mountain (IB) discussions.