[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-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",[32,76,88,100],{"_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":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6580420,"mediaKeyId","3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6","parentId",3091709,"title","District reviews ESI retire-and-rehire option; staff say it saves money and retains experienced employees","audioSeconds",394,"startMs",3396000,"endMs",3790000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6&start=3396&end=3790","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6/thumbnail_3396000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6580420/Arizona/District-reviews-ESI-retire-and-rehire-option-staff-say-it-saves-money-and-retains-experienced-employees","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580420-60fab8b33d472cff7c24cb71bcc034ea/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030774&Signature=Bz74SCgXTiwWw0adaGD1gzlV-s19ch95K6fOMWzGIHWKhAkH3fSDnquQLqmiBSO9Cugb1bqI3VYY270lkNg8YqrVIcZpG26wAv7JxZMxR6Z~kAissevFPqif7z~azcRroJs-Z69U3~FwkhpmDsLe6wZTPcrZi6psyPYiq1cDKcrQiejpZGEzd0Q1I0fZd8f4~dEtS98I1bIATH~xhk6zPMJ54C6-6b~Q5TXHhO8OvUtt-pukGd0n5ruZjMXcwhrpmy872pbmVTx9tEA8FpmxYpZAHN0UMyUR5KLziI47ZVIUagsz7zJ3~rNtsx~C5d76h7JUNArhk7fnbOKKWI~eRA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Tolleson Union High School District","date","2025-04-23T03:03:28.72Z","article","Stacy Almeras, the district’s executive director of human resources, and Becky Tomschewski, an ESI program representative, briefed the Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board on the district’s retire-and-rehire arrangement administered through ESI.

Almeras said ESI allows employees who retire from the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS) to return to district work through a third-party employer (ESI) and avoid ASRS post-retirement work limitations. \"Our ESI employees are allowed to basically retire one school year, become an ESI employee, and return right back into their same position,\" Tomschewski said.

Tomschewski described cost and pay mechanics the presenters said apply under the district’s current parameters. She said the district’s approach is to pay returning employees 85% of their pre-retirement salary or their starting placement salary — whichever is higher — plus 100% of any supplemental pay (for coaching, tutoring or additional assignments). The district’s ESI fee was presented as 18.5% of gross wages; the alternate contribution rate (ACR) that replaces the ASRS employer contribution was described as 9.75% for school year 2025–26 versus an ASRS employer rate cited in the presentation of 12%.

Almeras said the program retains benefits common to district employment: time-off accruals are tracked in the ESI portal, supplemental pay and performance pay are paid, and employees may receive the district’s performance-based payment at year-end if they meet the criteria. Tomschewski added that because retirees are no longer contributing to ASRS, their combined pension plus ESI wages can increase their monthly income after retirement.

Almeras said 14–15 employees are currently on the program and that 10 or 11 additional employees had expressed interest for school year 2025–26. Board members asked for clarification on counts and timelines for rehire start dates; Almeras explained some staff will return on staggered dates (for example, a February rehire vs. July start) depending on their retirement date.

Board members thanked HR for the presentation and asked for continued updates. No formal policy changes or contracts were approved during the presentation; staff said the district chooses program parameters (salary percentage, supplemental-pay treatment, and fees) on a district-by-district basis.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","TUHSD Board Meeting 4/22/2025","oneSentenceSummary","District HR and an ESI representative outlined a retire-and-rehire arrangement that lets ASRS retirees work for ESI and contract back to the district, currently involving 14–15 employees with 10–11 more interested for 2025–26.","taxTitle","Tolleson Union High School District (4288), School Districts, Arizona","taxId",64155,"location","Arizona","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580425,"Public commenters press board over DOE 'Dear Colleague' Title VI letter; special meeting called",1029,2261000,3290000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6&start=2261&end=3290","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6/thumbnail_2261000.jpg","/articles/6580425/Arizona/Public-commenters-press-board-over-DOE-Dear-Colleague-Title-VI-letter-special-meeting-called","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580425-f8c644894ecf9f8f7f68756f8a62ae83/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030774&Signature=iow5qHgCArqvcbJNu8V-zwXEJ96gC1erB9cHokxjZUAt7os7UNKc~9z9R19gzelMvlbvNfZ19QWsvb~MQ9iaqyx9mM0PL8KfABa8OF9-ImQOSF3b52a15ZLE7AyE8H70ihbKhWMEJm55r9dCK4wxBpnR2et4jKhpfRKbSMqLCRkwUXVp~9ZwzK4sW2iUhoCRFDrYHBovGdKQo7f6sWRPKFxHg2s0cCvW97~xIV-Rav1FAFHUA2ggjgLazyxT93fh4XGUQsB5JEuW6yQZdkZpHRnY33sboSICjvDDuoorEdhd1qJbCyCXz0QFjW9EMDtBQM16obtQOs0mbIzvFz1LiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Two members of the public used the district’s open-comment period to urge the Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board to resist or scrutinize a U.S. Department of Education \"Dear Colleague\" letter that they said could alter interpretation of Title VI protections and risk federal funding.

Diane Emera, who identified herself as a parent of a Tolleson Junior High student and longtime community member, criticized Superintendent Gaez for consulting with other districts and questioned whether Tolleson should be using district resources to assist other districts. \"At a time like this, we should be doing everything to ensure the survival of our district and for the benefit of our children, not looking to bail out other districts,\" Emera said.

Hilary Mikkliff, who said she has a student at West Point High School, focused on the department’s letter and its potential effect on DEI programs and special-education services. Mikkliff urged the board to \"stand firm and cause good trouble, and please refuse to comply with this policy that is ignorant at best and hateful and harmful to our students at worst.\" She also said students on IEPs and 504 plans rely on school-provided services and resources.

Superintendent Gaez told the board he had placed the letter in board packets and scheduled a special meeting the next evening for the board to discuss whether the district would sign an accompanying or responsive document. Gaez summarized the district’s read of the letter and the legal risk: according to his remarks, the letter restates the non-discrimination principle of Title VI but also contains language that could be read to prohibit programs targeted to specific populations. He said that, as written, the letter could expose districts with targeted programs—examples he cited included Johnson O’Malley and Title VII Indian Education, special education and English learner programs—to contract or funding risk if the language is applied broadly.

Gaez said there are two competing risks: signing a district response could be read as adoption of the letter’s language; not signing could put the district’s federal funding on hold. \"...not signing the letter also opens us up to being put on hold and losing federal funds immediately,\" Gaez said, and described why the governing board was meeting the following evening to deliberate further.

Board President Lisa Sun and other board members acknowledged the concern and supported the special-session discussion. At least one board member described the language in the federal letter as \"very, very dangerous\" and requested a dedicated meeting so the public can hear debate and the board can make an informed decision.

The board packet included the full text of the DOE letter (referred to by speakers and staff as the \"Dear Colleague\" letter) and materials outlining potential compliance risks; the district invited board members and the public to the special meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. the following day.

","Two public speakers urged the Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board to reject or carefully consider a U.S. Department of Education 'Dear Colleague' letter that they say could limit targeted programs and lead to penalties; the board scheduled a special meeting to review the document the following evening.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580430,"Sierra Linda High reports rising college acceptances, expands freshman supports",520,312000,832000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6&start=312&end=832","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6/thumbnail_312000.jpg","/articles/6580430/Arizona/Sierra-Linda-High-reports-rising-college-acceptances-expands-freshman-supports","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580430-6196609c7714f864b2afffbda5d7c6fa/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030774&Signature=j0LAbW7yjUTe0sKKDgTVHONJJmA-51hbhO1rtPwVfzFYgc7Bu2pZZUxIR4mdZDkO6WdVef597~86F6-VdaQQZ42fboEJ89J18SZuLMEfvQguNqbdHoQDXvdYxS0hZZZyzZpQzA7sImqrH-NIZUMFFeh9FRqOV70G2iqkwxyncgkggCGwt-dgwNebF724RC~c1DVFAVSeZ1rHWSYeMocgs7H5AISdzSxzkfERjHVpt~6DzrZnxEmZLg5VQSUOmlEqa5dakf4ZaAqSalse7faNpwoHJ-0bgGvHSpJulple487P-KZHJhk6Hz2LAxkxGvb0mKr4-cSDnA1GRqr0seohUQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Principal Randy Camacho of Sierra Linda High School told the Tolleson Union High School District Governing Board that the school’s college acceptance rate rose from 88% last year to 91% this year and that recent targeted interventions produced measurable ACT gains.

Camacho said the school used a 30-minute daily academic intervention block called FLEX and a focused group of 81 students — described in the presentation as “game changers” — to deliver 26 days of ACT-focused instruction. \"We had .62 percent growth in math and 9.53 percent growth in English,\" Camacho said, attributing the results to staff work and PLT collaboration.

The presentation emphasized student safety and climate changes the campus has adopted. Camacho noted the school recorded four physical altercations across the year and zero during the second semester. He credited a stricter cell-phone policy, expanded passing time between classes and increased adult supports — interventionists, counselors and social workers — with helping reduce incidents.

Camacho outlined a package of new and continuing initiatives. The freshman \"familia\" will group incoming ninth-graders into three houses of about 50 students each, each house staffed by core-content teachers and a dedicated freshman counselor aimed at increasing freshmen on-track rates. Camacho said Sierra Linda will also adopt an academic-success class, weekly PLT data meetings and partner with the Center for High School Success to support the model.

The presentation included personnel recognitions and student awards: Araya Clark and Alex (last name given as Alex Pond in the presentation) were honored as student-of-the-year recipients; Caitlin Savinsky was named teacher of the year; and Aurelia Aguilar was recognized as classified employee of the year.

Camacho also described capital projects underway or approved at the campus: a media center renovation with a near-complete recording studio for media production and guitar classes, courtyard modernization including solar-powered canopies, and new cafeteria furniture. He said these projects are intended to improve campus climate and support extracurricular programming.

Board members responded with congratulations and questions. Vice President Chapman called the freshman-familia “an awesome idea” and asked for more detail in follow-up. Board members asked for data on the cell-phone policy to see whether elements could be adapted districtwide in anticipation of upcoming state rules.

Camacho closed by thanking staff and the district for support and saying he looked forward to reporting back on the programs’ results.

","Principal Randy Camacho told the Tolleson Union High School District board that Sierra Linda High increased college acceptances to 91%, showed recent ACT gains after a 26-day targeted FLEX intervention, and will launch a freshman \"familia\" initiative and several facility upgrades next year.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6580415,"District recommends construction-manager-at-risk for High School No. 8 after multiweek procurement",420,4505000,4925000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6&start=4505&end=4925","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3091709-d5a4e9a07d9860f290fe45cc1e572bd6/thumbnail_4505000.jpg","/articles/6580415/Arizona/District-recommends-construction-manager-at-risk-for-High-School-No-8-after-multiweek-procurement","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6580415-973d06d8124fb66311ce417af216e193/orig.mp4?Expires=1771030774&Signature=RZEPaEIBjVBXo~cJS3BqDl0gVIq4frjT9PwndXZkWanMn-2UVmtq2hdJtlOhddnn9zETHJ1S9hg26~CowvHxOCg6SQPFilAOawJz3NE9kLhX35DimaslSIvtB5lEpgV8UD7EvctxSsct5CALV3bG-4vsZDvzZg8XioF8pZKYoj3jlIRBfUaOR312L0ZLolsJJQ46CRKIOxnTBZsQ0KowuKqmtgpVeXlTpa3y0x2H~FkA6jJpNjT33xEyOvNE1BcsUN9MgsdR9CNX3F4gbpZn~awHnHpOE10ZGNPkJ4DyBRriA1cghGkBN1X5eMr49IUHjShh~AENhrqAdGb-SnlaVg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Chief Financial Officer Ken Hicks presented the Governing Board with the procurement process and the recommendation of the CMAR selection committee for High School No. 8 (procurement code CMAR 25-19-27).

Hicks explained CMAR (construction manager at risk) as an alternative project delivery method that engages a general contractor early in the design process to help contain costs before the board approves a guaranteed maximum price (GMP). He said the district advertised the solicitation on March 13, received proposals by April 4, shortlisted three firms and conducted interviews and deliberations on April 11.

Hicks described the committee’s work as unusually thorough. He said reviewers spent many hours scoring proposals, interviewing finalists and deliberating — a process the CFO characterized as one of the most rigorous he has seen for CMAR selection. Hicks acknowledged committee members who contributed time, noted that members signed confidentiality agreements and confirmed that the panel complied with statutory rules for APDM selection committees (qualified membership, at least one district representative, at least one licensed contractor and a registered architect on the panel, no conflicts of interest).

Hicks said the committee recommended the selected team (referred to in the presentation as \"the Chase building team\" in the deliberation notes) and stood for questions. Board members thanked procurement and committee members for the time invested.

A motion to approve the committee’s recommendation was called and a roll-call vote followed. The roll call recorded two yes votes (Del Palacio and Chapman), two no votes (Doctor Luna Najera and Sun) and one abstention (Ortega Romero). The committee recommendation and board action were discussed during the meeting record; the board proceeded to subsequent agenda items after the roll call.

","Chief Financial Officer Ken Hicks and the selection committee recommended a construction-manager-at-risk (CMAR) team for High School No. 8 following an eight-week procurement with interviews and three short-listed firms; the committee emphasized fairness and extensive deliberation during selection.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

District reviews ESI retire-and-rehire option; staff say it saves money and retains experienced employees

Public commenters press board over DOE 'Dear Colleague' Title VI letter; special meeting called

Sierra Linda High reports rising college acceptances, expands freshman supports

District recommends construction-manager-at-risk for High School No. 8 after multiweek procurement