Higley board recommends David Lawsonheiser for superintendent, tentatively adopts FY26 budget assumptions and moves to pursue override

The Higley Unified School District governing board voted 3–2 to recommend David Lawsonheiser as the district's next superintendent and, in the same meeting, gave tentative approval to budget assumptions for fiscal year 2026 and instructed staff to draft a maintenance-and-operations (M&O) override resolution for a possible November ballot.

The superintendent selection is contingent on negotiation and final board approval of an employment contract. The motion to recommend Lawsonheiser was seconded by Board Member Glover and carried on a 3–2 vote. Lawsonheiser addressed the meeting after the vote, saying, “I'm truly honored and humbled to be in front of you today,” and describing schools as a “relationship-based business” in which the student-parent relationship is central.

Why it matters: the superintendent recommendation sets leadership that will steer the district through a projected multi-million-dollar shortfall caused by a sunsetting override and an expected enrollment decline. At the same meeting, Chief Financial Officer Moore presented the third review of the FY26 M&O budget and described a package of assumptions the district used for planning, including a projected enrollment (ADM) decline of about 300 students, a planned transfer of M&O dollars to cover a middle school lease payment, and the current working assumption of a one-year pay freeze for the M&O budget.

CFO Moore summarized the planning assumptions: “No compensation increases in a pay freeze for '26,” and showed a draft FY26 M&O budget of roughly $116.6 million that reflects a proposed $9.2 million decrease and an anticipated reduction in the district's fund balance from about $21.5 million to $17.5 million if the assumptions remain in place.

Votes at a glance - Superintendent recommendation (selection of David Lawsonheiser, contingent on contract): motion seconded by Board Member Glover; outcome: recommended by the board (3–2). The recommendation requires final contract approval before the candidate's start date. - Tentative approval of FY26 M&O budget (to allow issuance of employee contracts, FY26): motion carried 5–0 (tentative approval). - Direction to draft M&O override resolution for November: board authorized administration to proceed; outcome: passed 3–1 with 1 abstention (one board member said they wanted more time and asked to meet with CFO Moore on additional options before moving forward). CFO Moore noted an off-cycle election would cost roughly six figures to administer and produce voter mailings. - Award of RFQ 25-02-30 (CMAR for weatherization projects) to Concord General Contracting: approved 5–0. The district told the board it would only activate construction budgets if and when state funding is awarded for the projects. - Tentative tabling of a proposed GCB policy amendment (waive second read): the board tabled consideration of waiving the second read in order to preserve the board's review (motion to table carried 5–0). - Approval of FY26 salary schedules (including supplemental increases funded from the Classroom Site Fund): approved 5–0. The board accepted staff recommendations to use the Classroom Site Fund to raise supplemental and performance pay; staff said the increase would bring a starting teacher salary (when combined with other pay elements) to just under $60,000 in the plan presented. - Approval of employee contracts with amended nondiscrimination language: the board voted 3–2 to approve employee contracts after adding parenthetical wording naming sexual orientation and gender identity in the contract's protected-class clause.

Curriculum, novels committee and public comment A large portion of the meeting was devoted to community comment and to a staff presentation on the district's preK–12 supplemental materials and the grades 6–12 novel committee. Miss Davis, who led the supplemental/novel committee presentation, described a year-long, multi-meeting committee process that used small-group review and rubrics to evaluate standards alignment, grade appropriateness, literary merit and sensitive content. She said the committees produced recommendations for supplemental programs and for novels; the recommendations now enter a 60-day public review before a final board vote scheduled for May 13.

Davis emphasized procedural safeguards and the opt-out option for families: “Parents can indicate if they would like their student to go to an alternate location,” she said, explaining that teachers provide alternate lessons and sites for students whose parents exercise that right. Several public commenters and board members pressed the committee's process and composition, raising concerns about unanimous approvals, parental notification and the nature of some novels that will require permission slips. Staff responded that many committee members read proposed texts and that small-group review and whole-committee discussion were part of the process.

Classroom Site Fund and teacher pay CFO Moore and staff also briefed the board on the Classroom Site Fund (CSF), a sales-tax-derived state funding stream the district uses for teacher pay supplements and student support. Moore recommended a CSF-funded increase to the district's supplemental and performance pay structure; staff said that, with the recommended CSF allocation, a new combined starting teacher pay figure would be just under $60,000. Moore and presenters cautioned that CSF revenue fluctuates with sales tax receipts and is not guaranteed beyond short-term forecasts.

Independent PE credit and pilot proposal Staff presented a summary of neighboring districts' models for granting physical education credit for outside, organized athletic training (independent PE). The presenter recommended piloting a middle-school independent-PE program similar to Gilbert's model (pass/fail credit tied to logged practice/competition hours) and suggested an April communication to principals and families if the board approved a pilot. Board members asked about implementation timing, online PE alternatives for high school students, and how logged hours would be validated.

Other items and next steps - Staff told the board that a CMAR contractor has been selected for weatherization projects, but work will only begin if/when state funding is approved. - Staff asked for direction on whether to pursue an M&O override in November; the board gave staff permission to draft resolution language while one member abstained and asked for additional options to be considered. - The novel/supplemental recommendations are posted on the district's website and are open for public feedback; staff said paper forms would be available at the district office. The novel committee will return to the board for final action May 13.

Speakers (excerpt of those who spoke on the main items) - President Wade — Governing Board President - Superintendent Richards — Higley Unified School District superintendent (participated in meeting; responded to public comment) - CFO Moore — district chief financial officer (presented FY26 budget and CSF plan) - Miss Davis — staff member who presented the supplemental and novel committee recommendations - David Lawsonheiser — superintendent-select (addressed board after recommendation) - Board Members Glover, Van Hook, Jarman, Schultz — contributed to motions and debate - Multiple community members and staff — included public commenters who addressed librarians, staffing cuts, and the novel committee process

Authorities - ARS 38-431.01 — referenced in the public comment guidance read at the start of the speakers segment (transcript citation: "pursuant to ARS 38 dash 4 3 1.01"). - State statute referenced by staff during supplemental/novel presentation (transcript citation: "state statute 15 7 1 7 21" and later "statute ARS 15 1 20.03"); staff cited multiple Arizona Revised Statutes as governing the committee's work and notification requirements. (Exact statute strings quoted as spoken in the meeting.)

Clarifying details - Board vote totals recorded in transcript: superintendent recommendation 3–2; tentative FY26 M&O budget 5–0; RFQ award 5–0; tabling of waiver of second read 5–0; salary schedules 5–0; employee contracts approval 3–2; override-drafting direction 3–1 with 1 abstention. - CFO Moore told the board he is using a planning assumption of about 300 fewer students (ADM decline) for FY26 and projected a FY26 M&O budget of roughly $116.6 million in the scenario presented. - Staff said the CSF increase recommended would raise a combined teacher pay package so a starting teacher salary would be “just under $60,000” in the scenario presented. - The novel/supplemental recommendations are posted to the district website with a feedback form; staff said final approval is scheduled for May 13 after a 60-day public review period.

Meeting context and engagement The meeting included extended public comment (dozens of speakers), multiple staff presentations and several contested votes. The novel committee update and the FY26 budget review drew the most sustained community interest and debate; public commenters urged restoration of library and other positions and pressed the board on prior pay decisions. The board repeatedly emphasized governance oversight and asked staff for follow-up materials, including the Auditor General classroom spending report at a future meeting.

Ending District staff will post the novel/supplemental recommendation materials and the public feedback forms on the Higley Unified School District website for a 60-day review. The board's final votes on novels and the FY26 budget-related items are scheduled for future meetings; the superintendent recommendation remains contingent on the successful negotiation and approval of an employment contract.