Bullhead City school board approves final budget revision, personnel moves, contracts and policies

The Bullhead City School District Governing Board on May 15 approved the district’s final budget revision for fiscal year 2024–25 and a series of contracts, personnel actions and policy adoptions, the board said during its regular meeting.

Board President Melinda Sobrowski called for votes on a sequence of agenda items that the board approved unanimously unless noted.

The board adopted the mandatory final revision of the current-year budget after staff said the State Department of Education released an updated BSA 50-51 Average Daily Membership form earlier than usual, enabling a final adjustment. Superintendent Dr. Stewart told the board the revision reconciles recent enrollment and classification figures and recommended approval.

The board also approved an amended food-service contract with Chartwells for 2025–26 after Chartwells supplied revised student-count assumptions to reflect current enrollment. The board approved a management-and-use agreement with the City of Bullhead City to formalize public access and school priority use of the Bullhead City Middle School athletic field while the city installs parking, irrigation and other improvements.

On personnel and employment matters the board voted to terminate a district employee listed as Vincent Manas, approved an additional night custodian position for Desert Valley Elementary for 2025–26, and accepted a trust proposal acceptance form and the district’s Alliance (workers’ comp) coverage acceptance form for 2025–26.

The board adopted two policy advisories on second reading: IHA (Basic Instructional Program) and JLIF (offender-notification policy, redacted in print). The board also approved revised evaluation instruments for principals and for the district EL director/hearing officer and accepted a list of trust-approved hearing officers.

In school funding matters the board approved the Classroom Site Fund plan for 2025–26 (the plan is funded at $842 per student in district projections) and approved a supplemental plan recognizing student-support-services personnel so that certain certificated support staff may receive supplemental pay tied to evaluations and professional-growth plans. The board approved using Title I designated funds for an additional paraprofessional at Desert Valley and an additional paraprofessional at Sunrise Elementary.

After reconvening from an executive session, the board voted to offer a contract to Superintendent Dr. Stewart.

Votes at a glance (key items, motion texts and outcomes):

- Contract with Chartwells (food service) for school year 2025–26 — motion to approve the revised contract with new student counts; mover: not specified in transcript; second: Charlene Diaz; outcome: approved unanimously (Yes: Melinda Sobrowski; Charlene Diaz; Fred Rushton; Barb Zarczicki; Judy Reid).

- Revised principal evaluation instrument (6.2) — motion to approve; mover: board member; second: Charlene Diaz; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Policy advisory IHA (Basic Instructional Program) — motion to adopt on second reading; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Policy advisory JLIF (offender-notification) — motion to adopt on second reading; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Fiscal Year 2024–25 budget revision No. 2 — motion to approve final revision as presented; mover: board member; second: board member; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Termination of employee Vincent Manas — motion to terminate; mover: board member; second: board member; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Management and use agreement between Bullhead City Middle School athletic field and City of Bullhead City — motion to approve and adopt agreement as presented; mover: board member; second: board member; outcome: approved unanimously.

- ASBA (Arizona School Boards Association) 2025–26 political agenda topics — motion to accept topics for submission; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Revised evaluation instrument for EL director/hearing officer — motion to approve; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Classroom Site Fund plan for 2025–26 — motion to approve plan (funded at projected $842 per student); outcome: approved unanimously.

- Proposed supplemental plan for student-support-services personnel (2024–25 and 2025–26) — motions to approve supplemental pay plans that mirror parts of the Classroom Site Fund framework for certificated support staff; outcome: approved unanimously. The board discussed that the plan would provide up to $2,000 for those rated proficient or distinguished and $1,000 if a staff member met an improvement plan during the year.

- Title I designation: addition of one paraprofessional at Desert Valley and one at Sunrise — motion to approve use of site-designated Title I funds for the paraprofessionals; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Additional night custodian at Desert Valley for 2025–26 — motion to approve; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Trust proposal acceptance form (benefits trust) and Alliance Coverage Acceptance Form (workers’ comp) for 2025–26 — motions to approve; outcomes: approved unanimously.

- Approval of list of trust-trained hearing officers — motion to approve list; outcome: approved unanimously.

- Motion to offer a contract to Superintendent Dr. Stewart — mover: Fred Rushton; second: not specified in the public transcript; outcome: approved unanimously.

Board members who voted by voice for the recorded motions: Melinda Sobrowski (president), Charlene Diaz, Fred Rushton, Barb Zarczicki and Judy Reid.

Why it matters: The budget revision finalizes fiscal year spending and revenue allocations for 2024–25; the personnel and contract votes affect school operations next year, including food service, custodial coverage, Title I staffing and how the district will recognize certificated student-support staff for supplemental pay. The agreement with the city formalizes shared public use of the middle-school athletic facility as it is renovated.

What’s next: Several of the adopted plans take effect in the 2025–26 school year; the board’s actions set staffing and contract expectations for summer and next fall.