In a recent government meeting, Dr. Denise Bartlett highlighted several outstanding achievements by students and staff at Kaleena Foothills High School and Espero Middle School. The boys' golf team made a notable mark by securing second place at the Brophy Rodeo National Golf Invitation, finishing just one stroke behind the leaders in a highly competitive event.

Additionally, 25 students from Kaleena Foothills High School received national recognition from the College Board, setting a new record for the institution. These students were honored for their exceptional performance on the PSAT and AP exams, alongside maintaining a GPA of 3.5 or higher. The awards included the National African American Recognition Award, National Hispanic Recognition Award, National First Generation Recognition Award, and the National Indigenous Recognition Award. All recognized students will be featured in the upcoming school board meeting.

In cross country, junior Catherine McNulty emerged as the girls' champion at the Rio Rico Rattler Cross Country Invitational, contributing to her team's overall third-place finish in the tournament.

Moreover, Isabelle Bapst, a seventh grader at Espero Middle School, was recognized as one of the top 300 junior innovators in the 2024 Thermo Fisher Scientific Junior Innovators Challenge. Her innovative project, which examined the impact of shading solar panels on alfalfa growth, distinguished her among 1,862 entrants nationwide.

The meeting transitioned to a public comment section, where community members were invited to share their thoughts, starting with Robbie Sweat, a parent of an eighth grader at Orange Grove. The meeting underscored the commitment to celebrating student achievements and fostering community engagement in educational discussions.