Blue Ridge Unified board recognizes students, approves AFR, FY2026 capital plan, senior trip and teacher-housing easement

The Blue Ridge Unified School District No. 32 Board of Education opened with recognitions and ended the session by approving several routine and project items at its regular meeting (date not specified).

Administrators recognized students who earned perfect scores on state tests and presented district apparel to honorees, including Sanaya Bhakta, Mikaela Kutzwativa, Zarin Sanders, Kaylee Skousen, Kendalyn Cox, Persephone Ngan, Isabelle Reek and Jackson Reed. Staff also named students and employees of the month and recognized volunteer contributions to athletics.

Courtney, a district staff presenter, led the board through the annual financial report required by Arizona statute, describing components included in the AFR (maintenance and operations, capital, grants, food services and classroom site fund). Courtney told the board that salaries and benefits account for roughly 77 percent of maintenance-and-operations fund expenditures and noted the district had remaining, but not large, ESSER dollars that have been spent down. Board members asked clarifying questions about ESSER balances and about the classification of employee withholdings and other special revenue funds; Courtney said she would provide exact figures on remaining ESSER dollars on request. After discussion, the board moved and voted unanimously to approve the annual financial report as presented.

Courtney then presented the district's FY2026 school facilities capital plan and described School Facilities Division/School Facilities Oversight Board (SFD/SFOB) projects. She said the district currently has about $3.5 million in active SFOB project dollars across roughly 29 open projects when phasing is counted. Completed items cited included junior high bleachers (made ADA-compliant) and auditorium stage lighting; ongoing or future needs include a high-school main gym roof replacement, elementary-flooring repairs, fire alarm repairs and pump-house work. Board members pressed staff on contractor performance for prior roofing work, the timeline for locker-room re-opening after abatement (staff said locker rooms are back in use), and whether bus-loop work would provide additional event parking; staff said the bus loop is primarily for bus operations but that some additional parking might be possible. The board unanimously approved the capital plan for FY2026.

Student council advisors Rachel Thompson and Sydney Langto presented plans for an out-of-state senior trip in 2026 to Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm. Advisors described student voting on trip options, a senior-trip contract that ties participation to grades and behavior, nonrefundable deposits to secure spots, and fundraising options to assist students who cannot afford the trip. The board approved the trip by unanimous voice vote.

On a separate item the board voted to approve a right-of-way easement to bring electrical service to a teacher housing project located near the old Love Kitchen. Staff described temporary Connex units already placed at the site, a planned December ribbon cutting, and city involvement in the project; the easement is intended to provide electricity to eight housing units and to support teacher recruitment. The board approved the easement by voice vote.

The meeting concluded with routine announcements about upcoming school events — including rivalry-week games, a trunk-or-treat and Veterans Day observances — a brief call to the public during which no one spoke, and adjournment. The board noted its next regular meeting on November 18 (as announced during the meeting).

Votes at a glance: consent agenda — approved by voice; annual financial report — approved unanimously; FY2026 capital plan — approved unanimously; 2026 senior trip — approved unanimously; right-of-way easement for teacher housing — approved unanimously.

Sources: meeting transcript; presentations and Q&A recorded during the board meeting.