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Board weighs updating strategic plan and forming equity council tied to Yazzie‑Martinez requirements
Summary
Trustees discussed updating the district’s strategic plan (current plan noted to expire in 2026), reconstituting an equity/stakeholder council with tribal and parent representation, and a finance committee suggestion to direct roughly $300,000 as a potential funding pool to address equity priorities tied to the Yazzie‑Martinez guidance.
Board members discussed the district’s strategic plan, noting it was written in 2021 and described as expiring in 2026. Staff and trustees said they want to update the plan with stakeholder input and external support; trustees discussed contracting Cooperative Education Services and a consultant (Dr. Kurt Steinhaus) to run stakeholder meetings and help modernize the plan.
Members raised the state‑level Yazzie‑Martinez context and recommended stronger equity representation in district planning. One trustee said the equity council must include tribal representatives, parents and educators rather than only staff or students: "It probably needs to be an equity council of stakeholders," a trustee said, calling for broader tribal and community involvement.
Participants discussed aligning budget priorities with equity goals and reviewed possible funding sources. A board discussion referenced a pool of funds (described in the meeting as "forest preserve money") and a figure of "300,000 a year" as an example of funds that could be allocated to address equity needs; speakers described that figure as a discussion point for the finance committee and the full board, not an enacted appropriation.
Trustees asked for clarity on timetable and responsibilities. Several members underscored the need to act promptly so any updates could inform the coming budget season and to ensure the equity council’s recommendations drive budget and staffing decisions rather than remaining advisory.
The meeting produced no binding decisions; board leadership and staff said they would follow up with committee work and bring proposals back to the full board.
