Bullhead City School Board approves appointment, audit, contracts and 2025–26 calendar; OKs junior-high trip to Washington and New York

The Bullhead City School Board on Feb. 20 recommended Judy Reed to fill a current board vacancy and approved a slate of routine but consequential items including the district's fiscal-year 2024 audit report, multiple intergovernmental agreements, nonrenewal recommendations for two employee contracts, a contract for a principal substitute, and its proposed 2025'26 school-year calendar.

The board voted unanimously on the formal motions introduced during the meeting. The board also approved a student travel trip for Fox Creek Junior High to Washington, D.C., and New York City during spring break 2026 and authorized sponsors and fundraising plans for the trip.

Votes at a glance

- Recommendation of Judy Reed to the Mohave County Superintendent of Schools to fill the board vacancy. Motion: recommend Judy Reed; mover: board member (motion recorded). Outcome: approved unanimously (4-0). Judy Reed addressed the board before the vote, saying, "My background is in education. I was a principal in this district for 5 years... I really love the community." (Judy Reed, applicant).

- Fiscal year 2024 single audit reporting package. Motion: approve the fiscal-year 2024 audit. Outcome: approved unanimously (4-0). The superintendent told the board the audit contained 10 recommendations and that all had been corrected; she described cloud storage and isolation protocols in place to address technology findings.

- Personnel: nonrenewal recommendations for two employees (Jody Crowley and Maritza/Maritza Aldona). Motions: approve nonrenewal and authorize superintendent to notify the employees. Outcome: approved unanimously (4-0). The superintendent said both had been on improvement plans and had not met targets.

- 2025'26 school-year calendar (sample 1, similar to current year). Motion: adopt calendar as proposed (first day July 28; last day May 21; Kinder Camp July 7). Outcome: approved unanimously (4-0). The superintendent said meet-and-confer committees and an employee survey informed the recommendation (62.7% favored the sample closest to this year).

- Fox Creek Junior High trip to Washington, D.C., and New York City (spring break 2026). Motion: approve the proposed trip for current seventh graders and incoming seventh graders; authorize travel plans, sponsors and fundraising. Outcome: approved unanimously (4-0). Sponsors and staff described an estimated per-student cost (approximately $1,821 per student), a planned 6:1 student-to-staff ratio, fundraising plans and a proposed itinerary that includes the Statue of Liberty, Broadway and national memorials in Washington.

- Intergovernmental agreements (IGAs) with Colorado River Union High School District for purchasing, warehouse/administration support and transportation. Motion: approve each IGA. Outcome: approved unanimously (4-0). The superintendent said the agreements provide economies of scale for items such as bus tires, warehouse distribution and shared transportation maintenance.

- Contract with Educational Services, Inc. (ESI) for a principal substitute role (hourly at $25/hour). Motion: approve contract. Outcome: approved unanimously (4-0). The superintendent said an experienced local administrator was available and had submitted required paperwork to ESI.

- Recommendation to award an additional Category 2 E-rate RFP to GovConnection for 2025'26 (use of remaining funds to purchase approved technology items). Motion: award additional category. Outcome: approved unanimously (4-0).

What the board said and next steps

Superintendent Doctor Stewart summarized several approvals and noted that the audit recommendations had been addressed. Board members asked about next steps for the recommended appointee'the board secretary was directed to submit Judy Reed's name to the Mohave County superintendent. The superintendent said she would coordinate employee notifications for the nonrenewals and would proceed with contract execution and vendor communications for approved agreements and purchases.

The board scheduled a special workshop for March 13 to address budget items and to review the superintendent's contract prior to the March 20 regular meeting.