Coconino County Accommodation School District adopts FY25 budget; approves student‑services vendors, $4,000 stipend and food‑service agreement

The Governing Board of the Coconino County Accommodation School District on July 10 adopted the district’s FY25 budget and approved several personnel and contract actions for the coming school year.

Erin Tutay, the district’s director of business services, told the board the FY25 Adopted Budget mirrors the proposed budget and reflects modest carryforward increases: Maintenance & Operations is listed at $3,356,417 (an $18,000 increase), Classroom Site Funds total $447,090 (up $30,534), and the Capital Fund is $159,556 (up $13,900). Federal funds rose by about $724,000, driven largely by an adjustment to Impact Aid (about $795,000) and partially offset by a $71,000 decrease in other federal projects due to expiring ESSER funds.

Board President and Superintendent Cheryl Mango‑Paget moved that the board approve the FY25 Adopted Budget, which the board recorded as approved; the transcript does not specify individual vote tallies.

The board also approved recommended vendors to provide student support services for the 2024‑25 year. John Phelps, director of exceptional student services, recommended continuing contracts with Aimee Walton for speech and language services, Dave Fronske for vision and hearing services, and CCESA for counseling and psychology services. Phelps said he will meet with CCESA to clarify the services the district will need in the coming year.

On personnel and internal controls, the board approved a $4,000 stipend for Erin Tutay to cover the responsibilities of the district executive assistant while Anna Eskridge is on extended leave. Dave Dirksen, the district’s chief education officer, said the board rejected the use of temporary performance staffing because substitutes would require extensive training and could change over time; Tutay had experience in the role and offered to cover additional hours. Tutay will record time in a Time and Effort log, John Phelps will serve as a second auditor for accounts‑payable and payroll batches, and Dave Dirksen will review and sign journal entries as part of checks and balances. Tutay said, “I love Anna's job, and it is like riding a bike.”

The board approved the FY25 food services contract for Tse'Yaato' High School with Page USO, allowing Tse'Yaato' students to participate in the PUSD federal meal program. Principal Traci Parker said that because PUSD is on a four‑day week, Tse'Yaato' will provide Little Caesars pizza on Fridays at a $5 price point, served with milk and fruit to meet federal meal guidelines. Parker also presented the Tse'Yaato' student handbook with only minor edits (school dates and a flipped 4th period and lunch on Fridays), which the board approved without requiring new attorney review.

Dave Dirksen described the district’s process for Indian Policies and Procedures outreach: existing policies will be sent to Chapter House partners and tribal leadership for feedback; responses are due by Aug. 15, 2024, and revisions will return to the board in September. Tutay and other staff also reviewed year‑end payroll work and grant activity, and Emily Morton, district AOI coordinator, reported higher than usual summer engagement for students ("all but 2 students were engaged and participating in the summer session").

The meeting concluded with the board approving multiple FY24 accounts payable and payroll vouchers (numbers and amounts recorded in the minutes) and setting future agenda items, including a September action on Indian Policies and Procedures and a special meeting to consider a Ponderosa High School math teacher hire and related items. The transcript records President Mango‑Paget making each approval; no roll‑call vote counts were provided.

The board adjourned at 10:32 a.m.; the next regular meeting is set for Aug. 7, 2024, with an exact time to be announced.