The Humboldt Unified School District governing board voted 3-2 on March 27 to approve an agreement that will let students at the Mingus Mountain Youth Academy access Arizona State University courses funded through Title I neglected and delinquent set-asides.

Why it matters: The agreement uses district Title I pass-through authority to pay tuition for college-level courses for senior students at Mingus Mountain, a residential program. Board supporters said the arrangement expands opportunities for a hard-to-serve population; opponents raised concerns about contract language that references ASU's Title IX guidance by link without attaching the guidance as an addendum.

Assistant superintendent Kate Johansson told the board the arrangement arose after the district and Mingus Mountain explored options and ASU offered lower tuition than an alternate provider. Johansson said the partnership is intended to increase available credits and vocational opportunities for students who rotate through the program.

Board discussion focused on the contract's compliance and transparency provisions. One board member noted that paragraph 22 of the draft agreement required the district to comply with ASU's Title IX guidance and that the link provided in the contract returned a page-not-found error. Multiple board members asked staff to secure the actual Title IX policy text and attach it as an addendum or otherwise make the referenced guidance explicit in the agreement.

The vote: After discussion the board approved the agreement 3-2. Following the vote board members asked the administration to provide a printed copy of the ASU Title IX guidance and to prepare an addendum so the contract does not rely on a transient web link.

Clarifying details: The agreement was framed as Title I neglected and delinquent set-aside spending; district counsel reviewed the contract and legal staff flagged the missing link; board members requested a printed Title IX guidance addendum be filed with the agreement.