A MapForce representative told the Humboldt Unified School District governing board that the organization’s Teachers as Mentors program is associated with reductions in disciplinary actions and improved academic indicators in matched mentees, based on a partial Arizona Criminal Justice Commission (ACJC) dataset shared with the board.

"Mentors who reported meeting their monthly goals with their mentees were more likely to have students that reported a decrease in disciplinary actions," Kelly Lee, MapForce program manager, said, adding the partial report showed 78.9 percent of mentors reported meeting goals during the measured period. Lee cautioned that the ACJC data is incomplete and a full report is expected at year end.

Lee described program operations: mentors receive a monthly stipend, meet mentees at least 2.5 hours per week (with daily brief check-ins common), complete monthly check-ins and quarterly surveys, and conduct two site visits per school year. Humboldt Unified participation includes Humboldt Elementary (11 mentors, 10 matched), Bradshaw Mountain Middle (10 mentors, 9 matched) and Coyote Springs (10 mentors, 9 mentees matched); program expansion and selection criteria were also reviewed.

Board members asked for practical steps parents can take. Lee urged family conversations and offered MapForce resources and trainings. She also presented MapForce’s community outreach on illicit drugs: the group has provided fentanyl education countywide and invited trustees to a dedicated kratom and 7‑OH (7‑hydroxymitragynine) briefing on Dec. 17.

Lee warned trustees that new concentrated kratom extracts (marketed varieties or enhanced products) can be widely available in convenience and smoke shops, sometimes without carding, and carry heightened risk. She said 7‑OH is "13 times more potent than morphine" (presenter’s assertion referencing poison-control data discussed on a webinar) and that state regulations in Arizona restrict sales to minors and cap concentrations; enforcement varies locally.

Trustees thanked Lee for the update and expressed support for prevention work and for exploring legislative protections. Lee emphasized prevention and offered training, toolkits and online resources for parents and staff.

The board received the update; no funding decision or new district policy was made at the meeting. Lee noted the ACJC-provided data were partial and the program will supply a fuller report when available.