Board approves FY2025-26 proposed budget, multiple handbooks, grants, agreements and personnel items
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Summary
The Sierra Vista Unified District governing board approved the FY2025-26 proposed budget for submission to the Arizona Department of Education, scheduled a public hearing, and approved multiple handbooks, final grant allocations and personnel items, including two resignations and a split decision on liquidated-damages waiver requests.
The Sierra Vista Unified District governing board took a series of votes at its June 17 meeting, approving the FY2025-26 proposed budget for submission to the Arizona Department of Education and passing multiple routine items and personnel actions.
By roll call, the board approved the FY2025-26 proposed budget and directed administration to submit the budget to ADE before the statutory deadline. "As per ARS 15-905, no later than July 5 of each year, the governing board of each school district shall prepare and furnish a proposed budget to the Department of Education," the agenda language stated; the motion passed 4-0.
The board also authorized a public hearing on the proposed budget to be held 30 minutes before the next board meeting (noted on the record as July 15). That motion likewise passed 4-0.
Among the consent and action items the board approved were the Arizona Mutual Aid Compact agreement; the Exceptional Student Services handbook; the preschool, elementary, middle and high school handbooks; the Buena High School course catalog and the Buena High School student handbook. Those items passed on unanimous 4-0 votes with routine brief commentary from board members.
The board approved final grant allocations for FY2024-25 covering ESEA Title I, Title II, Title III, Title IV, Perkins CTE, IDEA basic and preschool, Targeted Support and Improvement, Structured English Immersion (SEI) funds, the Arizona School Nurse Workforce and Equipment grant, a K-3 dyslexia training grant and the School Safety Program. Administration recommended approval for all grants; motions passed 4-0.
On personnel matters, the consent agenda containing the personnel actions report passed with three votes in favor and one abstention; a board member said budget uncertainty and recent reporting of district shortfalls informed the abstention. The board approved resignations submitted by Amber Fisher (effective 06/11/2025) and Rachel Busick (resignation filed 05/28/2025 effective June 3). Both resignations were approved 4-0.
The board considered requests for waiver of liquidated damages under policy GCQC associated with those resignations. The waiver for Amber Fisher (requesting a $500 waiver) was approved; the waiver for Rachel Busick was denied after a motion to reject the waiver passed.
The board adopted an amended 2026-27 school-year calendar to correct an extra instructional day noted in the previously approved calendar by adding a day off on Feb. 12 to coincide with Presidents' Day; that motion passed 4-0.
All motions were taken in open session; most items were routine and received little discussion beyond clarifying questions and brief comments of appreciation to staff for grant work and handbook drafting.
