AJUSD board approves FY25 budget revision, Copper Mining funding agreement, student trips and performance pay plan; superintendent evaluation approved

The Apache Junction Unified School District Governing Board on a 5–0 vote approved a set of motions including a fiscal-year 2025 budget revision, a funding agreement with Copper Mining LLC for the Early Learning Center, two out‑of‑state student trips to Disneyland, a principals and assistant principals performance‑pay plan for 2024–25, several graduation policy updates and the superintendent’s evaluation following an executive session.

Board members approved the budget revision after a staff presentation showing a decrease in total district appropriations from about $23,000,000 to about $22,000,000. “We are asking you to approve our revised budget,” said Mrs. Salazar, who presented the item. “So we are going from 23,000,000 to 22,000,000. So we're decreasing $581,000 and that's based on a difference of 265 ADM. And it's about a 10% decrease in ADM from last year.”

Why it matters: the vote formalizes a lower revenue/expenditure plan tied to a measured drop in average daily membership (ADM) and preserves district contingencies and capital carryforwards. Board members asked whether classroom site fund dollars would still cover performance pay and were told the district retains more than $2,000,000 in contingency in that fund. Mrs. Salazar also said capital spending increased by roughly $284,000 because projects underspent in the prior year, creating a carryforward.

Votes at a glance - Fiscal year 2025 budget revision (agenda item 6.1): Motion to approve the revision as presented — Approved 5–0. Vote recorded: Mr. Bowers: yes; Mrs. Ross: yes; Mrs. Garcia: yes; Mr. Conchio: yes; (board president recorded motion/roll call). Motion text in record: "I move that…