Bullhead City School Board approves budget revision, adds preschool special‑education staff after Child Find briefing

Bullhead City School Board members on Sept. 16 heard a detailed Child Find briefing from Kate Hall, then approved a revised fiscal‑year 2026 budget and personnel additions to expand preschool special‑education capacity.

Kate Hall, who led the district’s Child Find presentation, told the board that Child Find is a federal requirement under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and “requires that we locate, identify, and evaluate all children with disabilities for age birth to 21.” She said the Bullhead City School District’s preschool program is experiencing rising demand, particularly for speech delays, and that her team performed “almost 200 evaluations last year” with about 150 net active/new evaluations that required follow up.

Hall described the district’s multi‑step screening process: a 45‑day screener for new enrollees, referrals to a teacher assistance team for targeted interventions, monthly preschool screening days, coordination with AzIP (birth‑to‑3 referrals) and consultations with private and parochial schools, pediatricians and community partners. Because Bullhead City is a preK–8 district, Hall said the district’s Child Find responsibility is focused on ages 3 through eighth grade, while birth‑to‑3 cases are referred into early intervention channels.

Superintendent Dr. Carolyn Stewart described operational implications and budget context. Stewart said the FY26 budget revision “incorporates the 2% increase in base rate that was approved by the legislature” and that special education spending in the draft is up about 5%, reflecting student need and additional positions. She also noted some large encumbrances in professional services and explained coding changes that produced sharp percentage swings in particular line items. The board voted to adopt the budget revision.

To address immediate preschool demand, the board approved adding one preschool special‑education teacher and one paraprofessional to staff an additional classroom. Stewart and Hall said the program has licensed capacity for 96 preschool spots, typical classroom rosters of roughly 13 students depending on need, and receives roughly 50% state funding for those preschool sessions. Hall told the board she expects current AzIP referrals and walk‑ins to fill the added seats by December without a change in available rooms or furniture, but that staff resources were the limiting factor.

Other actions taken included approval of several ASBA (Arizona School Boards Association) policy advisories on safety, professional staff discipline (GCQF), student health services (JLC), medicine administration (JLCD) and child‑abuse reporting (JLF); adoption of revisions to the student/parent handbook directory information (expanding from first name + last initial to full name and birth date to preserve partner services such as vision screenings and photography); and approval of a revised transportation intergovernmental agreement that adds a line for uniform services (Cintas) and clarifies cost‑sharing based on mechanic time studies.

Votes at a glance • Motion to adjourn the workshop: approved (yes: Melinda Sabrowski; Charlene Diaz; Fred Rushton; Barb Serzicki). • Consent agenda (with items 3.2, 3.3 and 3.5 pulled): approved (yes: Melinda Sabrowski; Charlene Diaz; Fred Rushton; Barb Serzicki). • Personnel item 3.3 (pulled hire approvals): approved (yes: Melinda Sabrowski; Charlene Diaz; Fred Rushton; Barb Serzici[ky]). • Updated clubs addendum (item 3.5): approved (yes: Melinda Sabrowski; Charlene Diaz; Fred Rushton; Barb Zarzicki). • Handbook directory information revision (4.1): approved (moved/seconded; roll call recorded in meeting). • ASBA policy advisories 4.2–4.6 (second readings): approved (roll call recorded in meeting). • FY26 budget revision #1 (item 5.1): approved (yes: Melinda Sabrowski; Charlene Diaz; Fred Rushton; Barb Serzicki). • Addition of one preschool special‑education teacher and paraprofessional (item 5.2): approved (yes: Melinda Sabrowski; Charlene Diaz; Fred Rushton; Barb Serzicki). • Revised transportation IGA (item 5.3): approved (yes: Melinda Sabrowski; Charlene Diaz; Fred Rushton; Barb Serzicki).

What this means for families and staff District staff framed the personnel additions as a response to documented referral trends and state licensing constraints: preschool classrooms are capped by licensing rules, the district currently has space and furniture to open another section, but needs additional certificated and paraprofessional staff to operate it. The board and administration emphasized outreach to community partners — including school photographers, the Bullhead City Lions Club vision screenings and pediatricians — to ensure eligible children are identified and referred into early intervention and preschool services on a timely basis.

Looking ahead Board members set the next regular meeting for Oct. 13 at 5:30 p.m. and noted upcoming events including a DEN project ribbon cutting on Oct. 9. The administrative team said another budget revision may be expected in December depending on updated average daily membership and legislative developments.