Marana Unified board approves bond authorization, staffing, hiring schedules, modular building purchase and ASU dual-enrollment agreement

Marana Unified School District Governing Board members approved a series of financial, staffing and partnership items during a regular meeting, including authorization to sell the district's remaining $20 million in bonds, new hiring schedules and contracts for certificated and administrative staff, a $2,030,487 purchase of a modular classroom building for Ironwood Elementary and an agreement with Arizona State University to offer low-cost universal learner dual-enrollment courses to high school students.

The board voted on multiple motions by voice vote; meeting minutes record motions and that each motion "carries" after an affirmative voice vote. The actions respond to district staffing needs for 2025–26, capital needs at Ironwood Elementary, and to expand dual-enrollment opportunities for high school students.

Why it matters: The bond authorization and the modular-building purchase use bond funds designated for district growth and capital needs; the ASU agreement creates a low-cost pathway for students to earn college credit. Hiring schedule and contract approvals set terms for teachers, administrators and nonteaching staff for the coming school year and authorize offering contracts to returning certificated employees.

Key actions and details

Votes at a glance (each motion carried by voice vote as recorded):

- Resolution authorizing issuance of remaining $20,000,000 in bonds: The board adopted a resolution delegating authority to district staff to finalize certain financing documents and approving the form of the preliminary official statement. Thomas Bogart, chief financial officer, led staff work on the financing documents; legal counsel and the district's underwriter were available for questions. (Presentation and motion in the meeting record.)

- Appointment of Tiffany Hodge as director of Exceptional Student Services, effective July 1, 2025: The board appointed Tiffany Hodge, who currently serves as director of student services in the Tinker Verde Unified School District, following a selection process with a screening committee. Motion: "I move that the governing board appoint Tiffany Hodge as the exceptional student services director effective 07/01/2025." The motion carried.

- Determination that sufficient funds are available to pay the second retention incentive stipend for the 2024–25 fiscal year to eligible employees: The board determined funds are available and approved payment of the second retention incentive stipend for eligible employees for the spring semester of 2024–25.

- Approval of 2025–26 hiring schedules, ancillary stipend/extracurricular placement schedules and certificated contract forms: The board approved teacher and speech-language pathologist hiring schedules, ancillary stipend and extracurricular/coaching placement schedules, and contract forms; the board also authorized offering contracts to the certificated employees listed in the meeting exhibits for 2025–26.

- Approval of 2025–26 hiring schedules and contract terms for administrators, professional nonteaching and exempt employees: The board approved the administrator hiring schedule and contract terms and authorized offering contracts to the administrators and exempt employees listed in the exhibits.

- New staffing for Marana Vista Academy for 2025–26: The board approved two new full-time equivalent positions for Marana Vista Academy: one social studies teacher and one special education teacher. The motion noted three full-time positions would be transitioned from Mountain View High School to Marana Vista Academy.

- Interim/additional special education and support staffing effective immediately: The board approved (a) one teacher's assistant at Mountain View High School; (b) an increase of a 15-hour-per-week special education aide to a full-time (35-hour) position at Rattlesnake Ridge Elementary; and (c) converting a special education aide position to an intervention specialist to follow a student to Inspire.

- Purchase of a 9,360-square-foot modular building for Ironwood Elementary School from ESP Design & Build for $2,030,487: The board approved buying a 156-by-60-foot building (9,360 sq. ft.) that can be configured into classrooms, with two full restrooms and two interior hallways. Cost per square foot in the presentation was shown as $216.93. The purchase will be funded by previously authorized bond funds to address growth and to replace five portable buildings in poor condition at Ironwood Elementary.

- Agreement with Arizona State University and the Arizona Board of Regents to enable ASU Universal Learner courses as dual enrollment: The board approved an agreement allowing high school students to take ASU universal learner courses for dual enrollment. The district may offer courses taught by a teacher using ASU curriculum or allow students to take the online courses independently. The courses carry a $25 course fee; families may later choose to pay a $400 transcription fee if they want ASU to transcript the course(s).

Other procedural items approved

- Adoption of the meeting agenda and approval of the consent agenda were both carried early in the meeting by voice vote.

Discussion and context

Board materials and staff presentations show the bond resolution was prepared in coordination with district legal counsel and the underwriter; the resolution delegates limited authorities to finalize financing matters and approves the form of the financing documents. District staff characterized the modular building acquisition as a time-limited discounted purchase of Department of Defense–built modulars being offered through a community partner; staff said comparable retail pricing would be about double the presented cost and that the units are currently stored on site with no additional storage charges.

Hiring and contract approvals followed the district's established processes: screening committees, interview rounds for the Exceptional Student Services director, and attachments in the board packet listing staff to whom contracts will be offered.

What the meeting record does not specify

- The transcript records voice votes and the phrase "motion carries" but does not provide a roll-call tally showing yes/no votes by board member; individual recorded tallies were not provided in the minutes excerpt.

Sources and provenance

The actions described above are recorded in the public meeting transcript and corresponding presentation materials provided to the board. Excerpts in the meeting record show staff presentations, motions moved and seconded, and the board's voice votes registering approval.

Ending note

Board members set the next regular meeting for April 10 at 6 p.m., and the meeting adjourned after the approvals listed above.