[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},"mediaId",6604318,"mediaKeyId","2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290","parentId",2990098,"title","Board approves GCBC policy change on second reading 3–2 after debate over performance pay language","audioSeconds",503,"startMs",4711000,"endMs",5214000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290&start=4711&end=5214","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290/thumbnail_4711000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6604318/Arizona/Board-approves-GCBC-policy-change-on-second-reading-32-after-debate-over-performance-pay-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604318-d8e88699db863be4fce104b9101a5e73/orig.mp4?Expires=1770959456&Signature=bLt28Q78BtCC-6PM38djKkV9UoDoWKYt6SC0nGdsKZwcKyeNzF-~kAd17uT5fDpB4-n0PwjzfL8BLNhurkh73COvai3-NvsbQu2lhubk4kksEBzK6W5V3BuVFY5tPY3~FlDMAcbjI3-BZcC2ZEi-w~ybaO5rXmOv4LsKHg1t1SjhPO8ON~HB-CMGrWP-ScXKVeBLjBdepZ-ixjgCImjlrs7PzF1~ee5tuYejq8LXvjDiZofCoPS5JfIVsLl-R4goE66-5z2qJbbkQxbGwZbydLHJ~KTFc3PSQcBEX15v6Se0s-hSl04-8xnhAVCp3iYRNjB7OwrAvqHJlVtBmEE9Sw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-04-02T14:53:48Z","article","The Sierra Vista Unified School District governing board approved revisions to policy GCBC (professional staff supplementary paid plans) on second reading after a divided discussion and a 3–2 vote.

Board members discussed whether the proposed language would remove or weaken the district’s policy framework for classroom site funds and performance‑based teacher compensation required under Arizona Revised Statutes. A board member urged caution, saying the proposed revision ‘‘would no longer be in compliance with ARS 15‑977’’ unless the board specifically preserved language recognizing teacher performance as a funded component. The speaker recommended adding language that explicitly protects performance pay and teacher compensation components included in the statute.

Administration responded that district attorneys had reviewed the change and advised that the district would remain in compliance with state law; President Lee and other trustees said the performance component would be handled through a separate plan and public hearing that will be presented to the board under ARS 15‑977 procedures. President Lee said the performance plans and required public process (including a staff vote where applicable) would be handled separately from the policy revision.

After debate, the board voted 3–2 to approve GCBC on second reading. The board scheduled a public hearing on the district’s FY 2025–26 classroom site fund plan and indicated the performance‑pay component would be presented as a separate action, consistent with statutory public‑hearing requirements.

The meeting record shows no immediate change to pay or performance agreements; the action was limited to policy language on second reading and does not by itself enact changes to classroom site fund allocations.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Governing Board Regular Meeting 4/01/25","oneSentenceSummary","The governing board voted 3–2 to approve revisions to policy GCBC (professional staff supplementary paid plans) on second reading after trustees debated whether the changes would affect teacher performance pay required under state law.","taxTitle","Sierra Vista Unified District (4175), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",66979,"location","Arizona","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6604323,"Consultant reports mixed staff survey results, improved parent ratings for Sierra Vista schools",903,721000,1624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290&start=721&end=1624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290/thumbnail_721000.jpg","/articles/6604323/Arizona/Consultant-reports-mixed-staff-survey-results-improved-parent-ratings-for-Sierra-Vista-schools","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604323-e95a45c04e7ba0c300384a6497c8689b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770959456&Signature=Ky2t0MstTpD107w6lD2wylpCcci9hVessZRCkUrHPBu3xmgyZDspNHvImwbpmseGY7rXMMIZafIaOmn4n5XpzHTV0eyG2v~IAy5pMhMY6TDRFA~gOBGzHc0F1rtEaqGifSz2fOYMiNyJofREUOak~NNB7dCgRYewHfigL4Ok0mhP-qpCTL~uBxVJnC0FDRHtDkmp7YGl8mGjK0KIGAg2M-Xt18R0oq3kVtVaOVSQLWxDDdUr62o39wsRmUydVlQapCpsgOFymDaGan~nPEln~195GScWXAI67oVsqnh457kDO~BUZleuB8~AQTenvz4bwkFq1stA~xfd-pHMXRsItQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sierra Vista Unified School District trustees received a follow‑up “year 2” perception report showing mixed results for staff and mostly positive trends among parents.

Aaron Sievers, the consultant who presented the findings, said 355 staff completed the district staff survey (a 62% response rate) and 495 parents responded to the parent survey (about 12%). Sievers said staff responses showed gains in engagement and staff experience, but the support index edged down and responses about pay fairness dropped significantly.

On the staff survey, Sievers said the district saw an 8.5% improvement on a question about discipline practices — a move from 2.94 to 3.19 on a 1–5 scale — and noted roughly 3% growth on the staff experience index overall. He also highlighted declines: the item “the district’s paid practices are fair” fell from 2.66 to 2.26 (a 15% drop). Overall staff likelihood to recommend the district on a 0–10 scale slipped from 5.84 to 5.66.

Sievers told the board the parent survey improved across all five indexes measured (feeling informed, feeling included, educational experience, atmosphere/safety and family experience). He said the district’s 0–10 overall parent rating rose from 6.22 to 6.78 and that 22% of parents gave a perfect 10. The largest parent gains were in satisfaction with the school’s anti‑bullying efforts (3.18 to 3.45) and perceptions of safety (3.60 to 3.84), Sievers said.

Board members asked few substantive questions during the presentation. Superintendent Eric Holmes and administrative staff said they take the findings seriously and are developing actions, including a district newsletter and other communications to address transparency concerns raised in the staff survey. The district noted it will use the survey results to target areas for improvement in coming months.

The board did not take formal action on the survey report at the meeting.","A third‑party consultant told the board staff survey scores showed modest gains in engagement and student experience but declines in perceived pay fairness and support; the parent survey improved across all indexes, with safety and bullying responses rising.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6604328,"Sierra Vista proposes 'Explorer' elementary specials plan, prompting staff and parent concerns",1393,2342000,3735000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290&start=2342&end=3735","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290/thumbnail_2342000.jpg","/articles/6604328/Arizona/Sierra-Vista-proposes-Explorer-elementary-specials-plan-prompting-staff-and-parent-concerns","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604328-66b5917c93f32f2da97f40374a92b9b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770959457&Signature=RhMi6~tf2oBweKEa0hGmtzmuR~lYFw9X6j8sJxQgSml5rIdZrK2shYba-OxG39nL-MZcodVZfsFnvRiVUeqpdJRy22dvftQF1xKY~3zXd-IxdN0YW~3eIeklrzsmCtVga4xIDikG7pRlf3pUTKKHvhE~NII0vubayacIn4IXyveEcYjbLeDQeLOnwmWqWGiUYoskN9NbbWB851KDkXucevxvJtEQtBmmgZHvh36AWuikr8YZD9qB11Zg6jxJmFX~IO9szDrUZDxxbNjE0d~vbDtl2MtlPv1HAakHgV6nn3FBpi5DfjFaH3dqGk96HYRBUgRXSyIDBBG8O~P~TzLkpA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sierra Vista Unified School District officials presented a plan for the 2025–26 school year to reorganize elementary “specials” (art, music, library/STEAM, technology and physical education) into a centralized “Explorer Program” staffed primarily by rotating certified teachers instead of site-based paraprofessionals.

District staff said the change is meant to address state reporting rules that require specials to be set up as graded sections assigned to a teacher and to correct inconsistent schedules across sites. The presentation said the new model will keep PE teachers at their home sites and create a six-person certified rotation (three arts/music and three STEM/technology teachers) who would rotate among six elementary schools. Administration said the plan will produce a roughly $70,000 district savings that could be reinvested elsewhere.

The administration described the change as a response to two problems: (1) the state student-management system requires specials to be enrolled in sections, assigned to a teacher and given a grade/score so classes are credited in statewide reporting, and (2) current schedules created inequities and left some schools short-staffed. District staff said paraprofessionals are not permitted under state rules to record grades and that districts that do not enroll specials as teacher-led sections do not receive state credit for offering them.

Terry Romo, a district staff member who led the presentation, said the district has struggled to staff paraprofessional positions; two elementary schools had no library paraprofessional for most of the year. Romo described the Explorer Program as preserving educational quality while addressing reporting and staffing problems, and said certified teachers in the rotation would be able to supplement district lesson plans and provide professional development. Romo also said the plan enables common planning times across grade levels districtwide via a six-day rotating schedule.

Public commenters and staff reacted strongly. A parent and spouse of an affected employee said the change would increase responsibilities for certified staff and questioned hiring sufficiency and cultural-readiness of prospective teachers. Sharon Burge, a Carmichael Elementary PE teacher, objected to a proposed schedule giving PE teachers seven classes a day with split planning time and said Carmichael’s existing schedule ‘‘maximizes learning time’’ and should not be changed to a cookie‑cutter model. Instructional paraprofessional Rosalie Ortiz, who said she has 10 years with the district, said the proposal was ‘‘blindsiding’’ and would remove long‑term staff who provide stability and continuity for students.

District administration said principals, curriculum staff and PE teachers have been consulted and that additional schedule adjustments have been proposed in response to PE teacher concerns. Romo said the plan aims to create consistent professional learning community (PLC) planning hours across all six elementary sites so teachers working the same grade have planning at the same time.

No formal vote on the Explorer Program took place at the meeting. Staff said the district will continue refining schedules and staffing details before finalizing the plan for the next school year.

The board did not vote on the Explorer proposal at this meeting; several public commenters urged the board to delay any final decisions until staff and site principals could be more involved and until the district had fully addressed scheduling and grading logistics.","District leaders presented a plan to replace most paraprofessionals who run elementary specials with a rotating team of certified teachers, saying it ensures state reporting and saves roughly $70,000; paraprofessionals, PE teachers and parents raised concerns about scheduling, lost roles and student consistency during public comment.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":56,"_74":56},6604313,"Board approves routine consent items and agreements in unanimous votes",227,5359000,5586000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290&start=5359&end=5586","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2990098-fa9fa90f035bf981678800da09f10290/thumbnail_5359000.jpg","/articles/6604313/Arizona/Board-approves-routine-consent-items-and-agreements-in-unanimous-votes","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6604313-beb7d48c01b1f07a9e3fbc5103359c1b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770959457&Signature=KiTWF2LgbgGgD88fIZrJ9-oV8dkOh3l44shbx~ZnkUZ4UZSUVdJJQwuygjy~07fSuKNvaCGfoJ6yXXMp-PkqFTMiQcvjQ~MWZQTjkUIqJXJaYlmbYZ1GKHZcdp06li94WVyubhR2vKdsEAl0sDsjUitnMvhgC5cMQenpKWFs1o6SAwSWlYcTgsVujWHtaoJQrYIIawMMT6Fy7bPyhExxmXlX6OihjepJzUPMR-d1-jXlUYHOfqlS5kg7xvQ2fwIMzWrW6EWra1aZbro4y2OBBuus6tfjOlXAFqNtY4NyOoUIk~BM91Egj4wFoJmMaS2xj7d2Un~Li58fp4iH~ni-Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sierra Vista Unified School District governing board approved a slate of routine consent and contract items by unanimous voice votes.

Key actions taken (all passed 5–0 unless otherwise noted):

- Approved out-of-state travel for five Buena High School students, one district student and one adult chaperone to attend the International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio, May 10–16; travel costs will be paid by SVEC.

- Authorized a data‑sharing agreement with Arizona State University’s Helios Decision Center for Educational Excellence to permit research access to student‑performance data; the agreement was reviewed by district attorneys and administration recommended approval.

- Approved Addendum No. 3 to the Educational Services Incorporated (ESI) client services agreement, which allows the district to contract for substitute and retiree staffing through ESI; administration said retired employees may continue to draw state annuities while working under ESI.

- Approved leave‑of‑absence extensions for two employees: Cynthia Avery (extension through May 23, 2025) and Melissa Arrieta (extension through May 23, 2025), with documentation on file in Human Resources. Administration recommended approval under district policy for leaves exceeding 12 weeks.

- Approved hiring support staff for the 2025–26 school year (one‑year maximum appointments) and several routine personnel and facility items.

- Approved a waiver of facility fees for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for the March for Mental Health kickoff on May 17, 2025; labor fees still apply.

All items were approved as presented with no extended debate during the public meeting. The board also approved scheduling a public hearing for the FY 2025–26 classroom site fund plan.","At its April meeting the Sierra Vista board approved multiple routine items including out-of-state travel for students, a data-sharing agreement with ASU, an ESI staffing addendum, leaves of absence, and facility waiver for NAMI; all were approved by voice votes with no extended debate.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves GCBC policy change on second reading 3–2 after debate over performance pay language

Consultant reports mixed staff survey results, improved parent ratings for Sierra Vista schools

Sierra Vista proposes 'Explorer' elementary specials plan, prompting staff and parent concerns

Board approves routine consent items and agreements in unanimous votes