Blue Ridge board approves Prop 301 plan, $15 game-worker rate, transition-to-work IGA and staff stipends

The Blue Ridge Unified School District governing board on its regular meeting approved four personnel and program items affecting staff pay and special‑education transition services.

The board accepted an annual intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with the Arizona Department of Economic Security to fund teachers who run the Transition from School to Work (TSW) program, a district staff member said. "This is an annual agreement ... that helps fund some of our teachers to run the TSW program which is the transition from school to work," Speaker 10 explained during the presentation of item 3.1.

The board also adopted a revised Proposition 301 classroom site pay‑for‑performance plan for 2025–26. Speaker 10 described the payout schedule and administration: the plan is paid in two installments, with 40% of the award in November and the remaining 60% in May, and principals will confirm a November "check‑in" that teachers are on track to meet their plans. Board members asked logistical questions about how teachers would demonstrate progress before the November payout; the superintendent and principals described a principal sign‑off to confirm on‑track progress.

Board members approved setting a $15 per hour rate for all game workers. Dustin Clough, the athletic director, told the board workers would be paid for delayed or cancelled events and that staff would be compensated for time spent on site during weather delays.

The board approved staff stipends for 2025–26. Speaker 10 (identified in the record as Silviana) recused herself because two children of hers appeared on the stipend list; she said, "I think I probably should recuse myself at this" and named the children involved. The board discussed disparities across stipend amounts and committed to a future review of stipend equity.

All items were approved by voice vote during the meeting; the transcript records board members responding "Aye" for approval. The meeting transcript does not include a roll‑call tally or recorded roll‑call votes for these items; approvals are recorded as voice votes in the minutes.

What happens next: the IGA will fund TSW staffing and programming for the coming year; principals will implement the Prop 301 plan and perform the November progress check for payouts; athletics staff will implement the new $15 hourly rate for game workers; and administration said it will review stipend equity before the next stipend cycle.