Litchfield Elementary School District Reelects Melissa Zaidema as Board President; Approves Organizational Authorizations
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Summary
At its Jan. 14 organizational meeting, the Litchfield Elementary School District governing board unanimously elected Melissa Zaidema to a third term as board president and approved a slate of procedural authorizations, including signature use for contracts and appointments to the district foundation board.
The Litchfield Elementary School District governing board unanimously elected Melissa Zaidema as board president at its Jan. 14 organizational meeting and approved several routine organizational items, including authorizing the president’s electronic signature stamp for employment contracts and building-renewal grants.
Board member Ryan nominated Zaidema for a third term, describing her previous service and work on the district bond and construction projects. After supporters spoke in favor, a motion to elect Zaidema was made and seconded and the board voted unanimously to approve the nomination. Zaidema then took the oath of office, swearing to support the U.S. Constitution and the laws of Arizona and to faithfully discharge the duties of president of the Litchfield Elementary School District governing board.
The board also voted to allow the governing board president to use an electronic signature stamp for employment contracts, and separately authorized use of the president’s signature stamp for signing terms and conditions associated with building-renewal grants; the board noted the terms and conditions for the latter will be brought back for ratification at a future meeting.
Separately, the board approved continuing to use hearing officers to conduct employee hearings and student-discipline hearings, citing state statutory authority read into the record. The board voted unanimously to approve the hearing officers listed in the presentation pursuant to the Arizona Revised Statutes cited during the meeting.
On a related personnel/partnership matter, the board appointed board member Ryan Owens as the district’s ex officio, nonvoting representative to the LESD Educational Foundation Board for 2026. Board members described the foundation’s fundraising work—including grants and scholarships that support teachers and students—and said monthly meetings and event support are among ex officio responsibilities.
The meeting’s organizational package and these procedural authorizations passed without dissent; the board then proceeded to recognition items and the scheduled discussion of a superintendent-evaluation tool.
