Peoria Unified board approves FY25 budget revision, issues notice to dismiss employee and adopts multiple policy and contract actions

Peoria Unified School district officials on Thursday approved the first revision to the district's fiscal year 2024'25 expenditure budget, adopted a statement of charges and issued a notice of intention to dismiss an employee, and approved several contracts and policy updates, the governing board said at its regular meeting.

The revision to the FY25 expenditure budget reduces the maintenance and operations (M&O) budget by $6,492,838 (net), increases the District Additional Assistance budget by $1,600,000 and increases the Classroom Site Fund budget by $3,300,000, officials said. The board approved the revision by voice vote; the motion passed with three ayes.

Ms. Myers, the district budget presenter, told the board that the net $6.49 million change in M&O reflected an $8.3 million final FY24 budget balance carried forward, a $2 million reduction tied to a weighted student enrollment decrease and a $100,000 base support limit adjustment for gifted students. "The annual expenditure budget for maintenance and operations is the fund where most of the day to day expenditures take place for the District," Ms. Myers said during the presentation.

The Classroom Site Fund increase includes FY24 carryforward dollars and a $900,000 higher-than-projected final FY24 Classroom Site Fund payment from the State of Arizona, the presenter said. Administration also told the board that federal and state grant revenues in the revised budget decreased from $39.5 million in the adopted budget to $36.3 million. The presentation noted $3.8 million remaining in ESSER III funds for FY25, which the district used to support math and science textbook adoptions, summer school, instructional aides and part of staff retention stipends.

In a separate personnel action, President Becky Proudfit moved that the governing board adopt a statement of charges and issue a notice of intention to dismiss employee Stephanie Langel pursuant to Arizona law (ARS 15-539), and the board approved the motion. President Proudfit then moved that, if Langel requests a hearing, the board appoint a hearing officer to take evidence and issue a recommendation; the motion included a fallback list of hearing officers provided by the Arizona Department of Education (Ben Huffer, Harold Mercau and Prudence Lee) if the parties cannot agree on an officer. The motions were seconded and both motions passed by the recorded voice votes.

The board approved a package of additional items, including:

- Ratification of the 2024 governing board meeting calendar with one edit: the board's January organizational/special meeting and retreat is scheduled for Jan. 9, 2025; administration said a detailed agenda and start time will be published in advance.

- A data-sharing agreement between the Arizona Board of Regents (for the ASU Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence) and Peoria Unified that includes an opt-in process for families and a data-destruction timeline. Administration said the statement of work requires that the center receive only data for students whose parents have approved participation and that the center will destroy data after a participating student enrolls in a partner university or after about one year for impact evaluation.

- Approval of the district's annual performance-pay plan for the 2024'25 school year (the plan draws funds from the Classroom Site Fund). Administration said the plan mirrors longstanding district practice and reported a 91% approval rate from surveyed teachers and an 82% approval rate among site administrators. The plan ties performance pay to evaluation ratings, district graduation rate targets and locally defined learning goals.

- Ratification of an Adelante Healthcare affiliation amendment to place students in supervised clinical observations for medical assisting courses. Administration said the agreement facilitates 50-hour clinical observations and that alternative placements will be sought when a partner's medical requirements would prevent a student's participation.

- Approval of a staff travel request for Cactus High School to attend the Innovative Schools Summit; a published typo in the agenda overstated the per-person cost as $16,970, which administration corrected to $16.97 per person.

- Second readings and approvals of three policies: IGA (curriculum committee language removal), IMG (service animals alignment with ADA and state rules) and JFABC (credit calculation and transfer credit language for foster students in grades 9'12) to conform with recent statutory changes and federal standards.

Board members and presenters answered public comments that preceded several votes. Public commenters raised concerns about bond outreach and community communication, district transportation shortages and late or canceled buses, and the treatment and safety of LGBTQ students under prospective policy changes. Administration and board members acknowledged the concerns and said follow-up information would be provided at upcoming meetings and through written reports.

President Proudfit subsequently called for the vote on the budget revision and other action items; motions were seconded and approved by voice votes or recorded tallies as shown in the meeting record. The meeting concluded after recognition of departing board member David Sandoval and routine informational reports.

Ending: The board set a January 9, 2025 special meeting for organizational business and additional follow-up; administration said it will publish a detailed agenda and timing in advance.