Douglas Unified board approves personnel, contracts and resolutions; superintendent receives 4% performance pay

At a regular meeting, the Douglas Unified School District governing board approved a series of personnel actions, contracts and routine items and completed two personnel actions that followed an executive session.

Actions approved by the board included minutes from the Jan. 14, 2025 meeting and the consent agenda (payroll and expense vouchers); certified and classified hires for fiscal year 2025–26; classified summer school hires funded by Title I; classified resignations and a change in a retirement date; an ESI (retiree rehire) appointment for Belinda Smith at Paul Huber Middle School; multiyear fuel contract renewal; renewal of sole-source providers and several multiyear contracts; a continuing investment resolution authorizing the Cochise County Treasurer’s Office to manage district funds; and a direct-service agreement with Vail Unified School District for ACEDS outreach support.

The board unanimously approved a professional-services agreement for IEP-writing services with Michelle Wilcox to supplement special-education staff. The district packet lists a contract amount of approximately $90,900 to produce up to 50 individualized education program (IEP) documents; Wilcox would provide the service as an external contractor and collaborate with district special-education teachers on each IEP.

The board also approved a salary adjustment to meet the Fair Labor Standards Act threshold for a classified supervisor position; the administration told the board the relevant federal threshold is about $56,000. The governing board approved revised fiscal-year employment contracts to include benefits for administrative staff and approved a revised salary placement following a desk audit for the athletic-director/assistant-principal position.

Following an executive session, the board approved a request from Rebecca Meraz, an ESS teacher at Joe Carlson, to be released from her 2025–26 contract with a liquidated-damages fee of $500 and rehireable status. The board also approved superintendent Sara Samaniego’s performance payment at 4% of the contract, which the district recorded as $6,467.63.

Most motions were made and seconded from the dais; roll-call votes recorded support from the five regular board members present. On items where the transcript does not name the mover, the article reports outcomes without attributing a motion to a particular board member.

Votes at a glance (selected items): - Approve minutes (01/14/2025): moved from the floor; seconded by Mr. Smith; vote: unanimous yes. - Consent agenda (payroll and expense vouchers): motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Certified hires FY 2025–26: motion made; seconded by Mr. Smith; vote: unanimous yes. - Classified hires FY 2025–26: motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Classified summer-school hires (Title I funding): motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - ESI hire (Belinda Smith, Paul Huber Middle School): motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Employment contracts and revised administrative contracts (FY 2025–26): motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Athletic director/assistant-principal revised contract and salary placement after desk audit: motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - FLSA-related salary increase for a classified supervisor (to meet federal threshold): motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Continuing investment resolution with Cochise County Treasurer’s Office: motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - ASBA (Arizona School Boards Association) 2026 political agenda: motion to approve the district’s submission; vote: unanimous yes. - Renewal of sole-source providers: motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Renewal of multiyear fuel contract (Border Mart) — entering third year of five; contract ends June 30, 2028: motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Direct-service agreement with Vail Unified for ACEDS outreach (student data/PowerSchool support): motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Professional services agreement with Michelle Wilcox for IEP writing (up to 50 IEPs; district packet lists about $90,900): motion made and seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Release from contract (Rebecca Meraz): motion by a board member to approve release with $500 liquidated damages and rehireable status; seconded; vote: unanimous yes. - Superintendent performance pay (4%): motion to approve; vote: unanimous yes; recorded amount $6,467.63.

Board members and district staff noted that some items are annual housekeeping (continuing-investment resolution, sole-source renewals, multiyear contract affirmations) and that the district’s budget work will continue pending the state budget and any necessary amendments. The business official reported month-end balances near $365,000 for the reporting period and said a final carryover figure will be available after year-close accounting. The district reported current enrollment at 3,554 and noted about 11 withdrawals and one new registration in May.

Several board members took the opportunity to thank staff and SkillsUSA students for the year’s work. The board scheduled its next regular meeting and a public hearing/adoption for budget items as posted in the meeting packet.