[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6689309,"mediaKeyId","2699252-68e6bd4fb8b78eae640b40c7cfb93ec1","parentId",2699252,"title","Votes at a glance: personnel, contracts, policies and purchases approved by Show Low board","audioSeconds",927,"startMs",4353000,"endMs",5280000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699252-68e6bd4fb8b78eae640b40c7cfb93ec1&start=4353&end=5280","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699252-68e6bd4fb8b78eae640b40c7cfb93ec1/thumbnail_4353000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6689309/Show-Low/Navajo-County/Arizona/Votes-at-a-glance-personnel-contracts-policies-and-purchases-approved-by-Show-Low-board","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689309-08b963d9bfcfeb40c54ed086121df928/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832690&Signature=JkSGcRHm8JYWQjWOcs7KAKNhuZJRtumYyOqNm5u3aAiEcoBiisIZJKkoIiDESRLYqxG~3Cm-4Rsl4GWo9dj7Drmr3nG-n4qSIJAQXM2H5S~daIrL7OzCNZUr48HMDHxYJ76f9qU2RFzfGX2mQQbfY12B-tk3wUPpQiPLlspAmnKj1V-y0pX~zL1wWKIi3XjYzInQGlTcOOKWVLWTzPgYRp193kLaSZhC5JsXg4hvONTYQa107ANx-10is-hKPKC6VvFzoIQnjOqAzhxLhsjsKBElkvpuLI9OpCQTAPGFxSoouw~gQEzw4UvxWww1nXbBWUxyJeNW0xwpbW4QU~P6Ew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Show Low","date","2025-01-19T00:02:20.173Z","article","The Show Low Unified School District governing board took a series of formal actions at the meeting, approving personnel appointments, transfers and resignations; accepting the audit (covered separately); and approving several contracts, purchases and policy adjustments.

Key approvals recorded by the board included:

- Personnel actions (classified and certified hires, transfers and resignations): The board approved the personnel employment recommendations and accepted several resignations and transfers. One transfer item was removed from the recommendation list after administration reported it had been resolved; the board clarified it would not require an employee to repay prior overpayments in the situation described.

- Acceptance of the FY24 audit (roll-call vote; acceptance recorded unanimous). (See separate article.)

- Job-title and description update: Approved changing the district's business-manager title to Director of Business Operations and adopting an updated job description to reflect supervisory responsibilities.

- New graduation requirement: The board approved a new graduation expectation intended to give students a more focused postsecondary direction (administration said no additional credits were required and counselors would help students secure pathways such as certifications or college credits).

- Purchase of GoGuardian classroom-management software for Show Low High School on a half-year pilot (semester) with funding identified from Title funds; estimated full-year cost discussed at about $5,600, with the semester pro-rated amount of roughly $2,000.

- Legacy Learning contract: Approved a contract to allow use of Legacy Learning, an ADE-approved private-day program, for students with specialized needs when district placement is not appropriate. The contract was described as a pass-through arrangement using state funding rather than an extra district-funded tuition payment.

- School Facilities Division (SFD) update: Approved a recommendation to reduce the recorded square footage of two portable classrooms at Nicholas Homestead after SFD inspection found them no longer viable; administration will return to the board later with disposal costs and vendor details.

- Facilities rental agreement and fee schedule: The board approved cleaned-up rental fees and clarified liability-insurance requirements for outside users; district staff will review applications and sign-off procedures prior to final approval of individual rentals.

- Sole-source vendor: Approved a sole-source contract for a consultant (Elaine Rankin) tied to an ADE Project Momentum assignment that the administration said required the specified consultant.

- Approval of a legacy contract for specialized private-day placement and a cap/flow-through process consistent with ADE rules for such placements.

- School property disposal: Approved the disposal/auction of district items no longer usable.

- Student activities and travel: Approved two student fundraisers (FBLA candy-grams, a high-school Morp/dance) and overnight travel for the junior-high robotics team to a competition at Brophy College Prep.

- Gifts and donations: Accepted multiple community donations, including support from local organizations and a White Mountain Women's Club contribution to clear student lunch debt.

- Executive session: Board entered executive session to review a midyear superintendent goal update; no action was taken on that item when the board returned to open session.

Most motions were moved and seconded on the record and carried by voice vote with no recorded oppositions at the time the board announced results. The district clerk conducted a roll call specifically for the audit acceptance as required by state statute.

Ending: Administration will return to the board on items requiring follow-up (disposal logistics for portables, full-year GoGuardian approval if the pilot is continued, and any policy items the board requests be scheduled).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Show Low School Board Meeting for 1-16-25","oneSentenceSummary","At its meeting the Show Low Unified School District governing board approved multiple personnel actions, a job-title change, a new graduation requirement, software purchase for the high school, facility-rental rates, a legacy contract for specialized placements, property disposal and other routine items.","taxTitle","Show Low, Navajo County, Arizona","taxId",58397,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6689316,"Public speakers challenge board over religious invocations and removal of signs at Show Low meetings",0,3896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699252-68e6bd4fb8b78eae640b40c7cfb93ec1&start=3896&end=3896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699252-68e6bd4fb8b78eae640b40c7cfb93ec1/thumbnail_3896000.jpg","/articles/6689316/Show-Low/Navajo-County/Arizona/Public-speakers-challenge-board-over-religious-invocations-and-removal-of-signs-at-Show-Low-meetings","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689316-420bbd4e1b4f53edd40999510a792e19/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832690&Signature=Go3v4tF456tc1oRDrqTJjA0-D39uijfhP3DkRMMT~dkyMJkmX96dFN9QBNjuBxDql8fjwvoswgLe0XquH9cf03XbCbnHxBGbMewVPenmYtRLa5NOb9jxUgo3sAXrMCy1yayHdis2Q6sPdNK68ISsLkysi-qSiRKqGLeJxgLf23tK7AtRHxhTm2UKM-Gj-2GJKVwebWnPiPrnLGdLlRbyfG6LDMHIDLrLYVGBxCogiOigdo6UKN9y2ZGfT2lZFqwebQVPuQ2Y2RDtL8Fez2PxMXJSjeVOpwUHO7la0Sg3GiMvQNKU665zhJJVsi5fMYwYo1-GQE8yzBSLQdEZa~HRaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Multiple residents used the meeting's public-comment period to criticize the board's invocation practice and to object to enforcement actions taken during the meeting.

Several speakers urged the board to stop offering exclusively Christian prayers at the start of meetings and to adopt a more inclusive approach. Max Wirtcher (referred to in the record as Max Wood at one point), who identified himself as the person who contacted the Freedom From Religion Foundation about the board's invocation practice, urged the board to permit secular invocations and said he had previously offered to provide a secular invocation and was turned down. He told the board the exclusive practice \"denies representation to a significant portion of this community,\" and described prior communications with the Freedom From Religion Foundation about constitutional concerns.

Other callers raised concerns about board enforcement of meeting rules during public comment. A speaker, Ashley McLean (surname in transcript), and another parent objected when their child and friends were told not to hold signs during the meeting. The parent told the board those signs were quietly held and did not disrupt the meeting, and said the bylaws do not prohibit signs. The parent urged the board to stop what she called unequal enforcement.

Separately, an attendee identified on the record as Max Wood wore a shirt the board said contained inappropriate language and was told to cover it or leave; after refusing to cover the word the attendee used profanity and was removed from the meeting and later asked to be trespassed from future meetings. The board president apologized to attendees for the language and removal.

Other speakers defended the board's practices. Jim Powell and others expressed support for the invocation and the pledge of allegiance and said they viewed the invocation as permissible.

Ending: The board noted public comments and did not take immediate agenda action on invocation procedures during the meeting. Several speakers asked the board to revise invocation practices and to consider alternatives that would include secular or multi-faith options.","Several members of the public criticized the board's practice of offering Christian invocations and the removal of a sign by a speaker; an attendee wearing a shirt with profanity was removed after refusing to cover it.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6689321,"Show Low board accepts 2024 audit; auditors report unmodified opinion",1093,1718000,2811000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2699252-68e6bd4fb8b78eae640b40c7cfb93ec1&start=1718&end=2811","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2699252-68e6bd4fb8b78eae640b40c7cfb93ec1/thumbnail_1718000.jpg","/articles/6689321/Show-Low/Navajo-County/Arizona/Show-Low-board-accepts-2024-audit-auditors-report-unmodified-opinion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6689321-144dd95e2a5ce4b145d226c1d913e70f/orig.mp4?Expires=1770832690&Signature=JKN9rkGA2XTzs8ec~H0sodZXp~KA9xNkNkJG6u8wrLpM2ZuiRuLQVM2Vj6zlOi5VZAh9Sld6QGYzM7xV0fhixGnLxECcWxKVbMe4GJ0fD5hoZaDXUel5TjOY66hV0XwkCdzFl0EnTctTXLXO2dqg54EUWWYoa635wtizGVwhv2jCM6ep6csCTKlaUDS3~l-1Id3dfUIVkGLyOo-M6eNuS53DDcW6xwH32QPD5xuZQbQzO4-ho5epfxZJVplIODGGksxP4DcyLAxZqQNW5wTA4Udw1ggoslKDb~KVSDOTHUet5tgaCGv6ZCrLog7FOeVE7U9l~OHwZjLXxIG6G94JSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Show Low Unified School District governing board unanimously accepted the district's 2024 audit after a presentation from the district's external auditor, Karen Smith, who said the report included an \"unmodified opinion.\" The board accepted the audit by roll call at the meeting.

Smith, who presented the audit remotely, told the board the district's 2024 financial statement audit produced an unmodified opinion, and that the single-audit (federal programs) returned no findings. She said the district's Uniform System of Financial Records (USFR) compliance questionnaire contained a small number of deficiencies but far fewer than in prior years, reflecting corrective actions taken by district staff.

The audit presentation outlined three documents attached to the agenda: the annual financial report (including financial statements and notes), the single-audit (federal programs) report and the USFR compliance questionnaire. Smith said field work began in October and the 2024 audit was issued in December, several months earlier than the prior year. She explained that an unmodified opinion means auditors were able to opine on the financial statements without requiring a modified or disclaimed opinion.

Smith identified common compliance areas tested by the USFR questionnaire, including procurement, payroll, capital assets, attendance and conflict-of-interest procedures. She said prior-year issues, including a credit-card misuse matter that was prosecuted by the Navajo County Attorney's Office, were corrected by the time of audit issuance. Remaining findings included a small number of documentation or process issues (examples cited: one purchase where a required quote was not obtained, minor payroll and fingerprint-clearance items, and IT security awareness training).

Superintendent Dr. Michael Farnsworth credited district staff for corrective action and stronger internal controls. Smith reminded the board that state statute requires the governing board to accept the audit and that the acceptance must be recorded by roll call.

The board then conducted a roll-call acceptance. Board member Paul Wyatt and Board President John Larson were recorded as voting in the affirmative; the clerk announced the acceptance as unanimous.

The auditor said the district's major federal programs for the 2024 audit included ESSER and Title I; she noted that ESSER was winding down and that major programs tested may shift in future audits. Smith said the single-audit requirement applies when federal expenditures meet the OMB threshold and that the threshold will change for the next fiscal year.

Next steps described by the auditor included the district's ongoing work to maintain procedures, prepare for the FY25 audit cycle (fieldwork likely in October) and continued attention to the few remaining compliance items.

Ending: The board recorded acceptance of the 2024 audit and moved on to the rest of its agenda. The district will continue corrective steps and expects to bring the FY25 audit to the board in the coming year.","The Show Low Unified School District governing board accepted the district's 2024 financial audit after a presentation from the external auditor, who reported an unmodified opinion and noted fewer compliance deficiencies than in prior years.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: personnel, contracts, policies and purchases approved by Show Low board

Public speakers challenge board over religious invocations and removal of signs at Show Low meetings

Show Low board accepts 2024 audit; auditors report unmodified opinion