Agua Fria board elects officers, approves 2025-26 contract language and large expenditures

The Agua Fria Union High School District Governing Board on Jan. 15, 2025, swore in newly elected and returning governing board members, elected Kristen Acton as board president and Vicky Landis as vice president, and approved 2025–26 employment contract language and a list of expenditures over $150,000 for school equipment.

The organizational business opened with the oath of office for members; Sarah Silk and other members were sworn in before the board moved to officer elections. The board then voted to elect Kristen Acton as board president for the 2025 calendar year and Vicky Landis as vice president. Both officers took the oath of office following their election.

Why it matters: officer appointments determine who sets meeting agendas and represents the district in the coming year; approval of contract language and large equipment purchases affects hiring procedures and near-term capital spending as the district brings Goodyear High School online.

Human-resources staff presented the proposed 2025–26 employment contracts and a timeline for issuing offers. Julie Jones, assistant superintendent of human resources, introduced the item and Noemi Cabrales, director of human resources, told the board that the packet contains the proposed 2025–26 contracts and work agreements and that "changes made to these documents are in red to all the attachments," and that updates reflect current state statutes. Cabrales said certified staff contracts are planned to be issued March 17, with a 15-business-day response window due April 7; administrative and psychologist contracts will be issued March 24 with a 30-calendar-day response window due April 23; and classified work agreements will be issued March 31 with 15 business days to respond, also due April 23. The board approved the 2025–26 employment contract and work-agreement language as presented.

Deputy Superintendent of Operations Tom Huffman presented item 8.2, a list of district expenditures exceeding $150,000. Huffman said many of the purchases are initial large equipment purchases for Goodyear High School and include technology refreshes such as student Chromebooks and staff devices. "The funds used to pay for this are a combination of bond funds and school facilities division funds," Huffman said. The board voted to approve the expenditures over $150,000.

The board approved minutes from the Dec. 11, 2024 regular meeting and approved the consent agenda as presented. Superintendent (name not specified in the meeting transcript) offered brief remarks welcoming new members and said the district will schedule one-on-one briefings for board members to review large projects and timelines; the superintendent also noted registration for incoming freshmen and open enrollment are underway.

Votes at a glance

- Election of Kristen Acton as board president for 2025 — motion: "I move the nomination of Acton to serve as board president for the 2025 calendar year." Roll call recorded: Silk, yes; Taylor, yes; Colton, yes; Landis, yes; Acton, yes. Outcome: approved.

- Election of Vicky Landis as board vice president for 2025 — motion: nomination of Vicky Landis; roll call recorded: Silk, yes; Miller, yes; Colton, yes; Landis, yes; Acton, yes. Outcome: approved.

- Approve minutes of Dec. 11, 2024 regular board meeting — outcome: approved (roll call includes Landis, Acton, among others recorded as yes).

- Approve 2025–26 employment contract and work-agreement language as presented — motion: "Be it resolved that the governing board approve the 2526 employment contract and work agreement language as presented." Second recorded; roll call recorded: Silk, yes; Naylor, yes; Colton, yes; Landis, yes; Acton, yes. Outcome: approved.

- Approve list of expenditures over $150,000 (item 8.2) — motion: "Be it resolved, the governing board approve the list expenditures over a $150,000." Second recorded; roll call recorded: Silk, yes; Miller, yes; Colton, yes; Landis, yes; Acton, yes. Outcome: approved.

- Approve consent agenda — outcome: approved (roll call recorded: Silk, Naylor, Colton, Landis, Acton yes).

- Adjournment — outcome: approved (roll call recorded: Miller, Colton, Landis, Acton yes).

What’s next: Human-resources staff will issue the various contract lists and follow the March–April issuance and response schedule described to the board; operations staff will proceed with the approved high-dollar purchases for Goodyear High School and technology refreshes, funded by a mix of bond proceeds and School Facilities Division funds. Board members scheduled a retreat and individual briefings for more detailed project timelines and updates.