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Tonto Basin board appoints new principal, approves HVAC contract and personnel actions at special meeting
Summary
At a special meeting April 6, 2026, the Tonto Basin Elementary District (4215) Governing Board unanimously approved hiring Cody Riding as principal effective July 1, 2026, joined the Arizona State Purchasing Cooperative, approved State contract CTR076873 for rooftop HVAC with temporary cooling (estimated $162,712.60, Fund 691), and approved personnel actions including a teacher contract and a resignation.
The Tonto Basin Elementary District (4215) Governing Board met in a special session April 6, 2026, in the district business office and unanimously approved a slate of personnel and facilities actions.
The board voted to approve Cody Riding as principal under a Principal Employment Agreement covering July 1, 2026–June 30, 2029. Sterling Thomas moved to approve the agreement; Laci Sopeland seconded, and the motion carried on a unanimous vote.
Board members also approved joining the Arizona State Purchasing Cooperative, a membership that allows the district to use cooperative contracts rather than run separate bids, at no membership cost. Sterling Thomas moved the measure; Robin Holt seconded, and the motion passed unanimously.
The board approved State contract CTR076873 for rooftop indirect-fired gas heating units and a temporary cooling system, with an estimated total of $162,712.60 charged to Fund 691 (Building Grant Renewal, School Facilities Department), pending School Facilities Department approval and funding. The discussion noted that quotes were approximately $141,000 and that roughly $20,000 of the estimate is for temporary cooling. The board was told a capital funding lawsuit has altered state capital funding methods and is currently under appeal, that the district must document preventative maintenance to qualify for grants, and that Trane’s production queue creates an estimated 16–20 week lead time for units; temporary cooling would be needed beginning in May for about six months if production timing requires it.
In personnel business, the board authorized issuance of a 2026–27 teaching contract to Tamara K. Johnson at $78,417 (MA, Step 13). The board also accepted the resignation of paraprofessional McKayla Taylor, effective June 30, 2026. Each personnel motion was moved, seconded, and approved unanimously.
The board adopted the 2026–27 work calendars and formally adopted the meeting agenda as amended to reflect attorney-proposed contract changes. No members of the public addressed the board during the call-to-the-public period. The meeting adjourned at 8:24 a.m.
Next steps: Cody Riding’s contract takes effect July 1, 2026; the HVAC contract remains subject to School Facilities Department approval and any required change orders if costs exceed current estimates.
