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Superintendent Inbody welcome attendees and shared the efforts the District is making to engage in two-way dialogue. Last year, we started with the community; this year we added school site staff meetings and District Office.

We are finalizing a date for second semester dialogue.

Superintendent Inbody shared the following news in a PowerPoint presentation:

• Successful opening of school –  Redwood Elementary School celebrated its 75th anniversary, Sierra Lakes Elementary opened a new two-story building. Thank you to our Facilities team, Maintenance & Operations, Purchasing, and other departments for getting us across the finish line.
• We also completed a project to irrigate our fields and campus plants and flower beds with reclaimed water. It involved six southern schools (Canyon Crest, Chaparral, Oak Park, Shadow Hills, Southridge, and Kaiser). We have a great clip from the ribbon cutting highlighting our conservation efforts and a budget savings of approximately $190,000 a year. This water project was funded completely through grants.
• On August 20, the district’s Equity Taskforce, led by Director of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Dr. Marcie Poole initiated important work examining equity issues in ³ÉÈËÊÓƵ
• Last year, the district had a very promising and successful pilot of  the i-Ready literacy program at select elementary schools. Because of the significant increase in reading test scores, the pilot has been expanded to all elementary schools as well as our middle schools and high schools.
• For the 2025-26 school year, Eric Birch will be housed at Citrus High School and the programs will collaborate to become our single continuation high school. Principal Mike Bunton has already brought together both certificated and classified staff from both sites to start the planning process for this transition. District leadership has been providing support and I expect many of our district departments will be involved in implementing this transition in preparation for August 2025.
• We’re grateful to the Board for placing a General Obligation Bond, Measure I, on the November 5 election ballot. This bond will provide much needed revenue to address many of our facility needs in the district. The State does not provide the district funds for new construction, modernization, and upgrades, but we can apply for matching funds to leverage our taxpayer dollars.
• Randall Pepper Elementary School will be renamed the O’Day Short Elementary School slated for next school year. This is an exciting development as it addresses an unjust and tragic event that claimed the lives of the O’Day Short family at the site of what is now Randall Pepper. 

1. With regard to the Citrus and Birch merger, is it going to be a new CDS code?
1. We are working on which CDS code we will use (either Citrus’ or Birch’s)
2. With regard to Citrus and Birch merger, what is the concern about meeting the needs of the north side community?
1. We will need to communicate with the families; transportation has made a committed w/ 5 bus stops.
2. Also, any student through age 18 can show their student I.D. with Omni Trans and Omni Trans will take them to school and/or work.
3. Concerned as to whether there is a plan to provide mental health for educators and staff.
1. That has come up in a recent Board meeting in terms of what we can put into place and if there are grants to support this. A “Think Tank” will need to come together to address the needs, etc.
4. Are there any updates on the new school?
1. We broke ground on the middle school, which is slated to open sometime during the 2025-26 school year.
2. Hoping to open it earlier with just one grade level.
3. The location is Casa Grande and Citrus.
4. Elementary breaks ground sometime in the winter of this school year – location is on Duncan/Canyon Road.
5. Can the new school up north be a DLI school?
1. Since we do have waiting lists for this program, it is definitely a possibility.
6. Regarding the expansion in the north, Summit is impacted. Any plans to send portables to Summit?
1. Not at the moment. There are two high schools in the north – A.B. Miller and Summit.  We are trying to highlight the CTE programs at A.B. Miller to see if that will provide interest/enrollment at that school.
7. Why is there no licensing requirement for the Coordinator, Mental Health Services (it’s just preferred)?  Yet, there is a requirement for a PPS credential.
1. Part of the requirement is an administrative credential and we found that it’s challenging to find someone who has both.
8. How soon would schools start to see construction and a plan if the Bond is passed?
1. There is a process and a committee to assess facilities. The Master Plan shows costs to modernize and then we need to prioritize.
2. We will take a holistic approach to review where and what the needs are and then dissect the work that needs to be done and prioritize and assign the funding based on 1. Code requirements; 2. Maintenance needs, 3. Modernization needs
3. We have a Citizen Bond Oversight Committee for this.
9. Does the bond money apply to the District Office?
1. It could. The District Office is in the Master Plan to modernize.
10. Is there ever a plan for a “newcomer” or welcoming center?  A central location to inform new parents about resources that are available.
1. That is a great question and we will need to huddle with our Multilingual department. I know our numbers didn’t warrant it in the past, but it’s worthy of a conversation now.
11. At the September Board meeting, Dr. Barnes announced it would cost $90M for the new elementary school. I hope you consider lowering the price to accommodate other sites and spend wisely across the board because that’s a lot of money.
1. We are keeping that amount intact just in case as it costs more to build a school today than in years past. We are reviewing the plan to make sure nothing is spent on unnecessary items or enhancements.
12. Is there a plan for Innovation Empire?
1. We are hoping for a grant to leverage what we are doing and amplify the work. For now, we are going to pause, but it could become an arts location.
2. Could it be a CTE Pathway?  It has been part of our work to connect it to CTE.
13. As we are opening more schools, we need more DLI TOAs and other support staff for the program.
1. Eddie and Martha can look into that and find out how we can accommodate this need.