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Flagstaff Unified District board meeting, Sep 22, 2026

2 h 44 min · 1 public speaker

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 2 h 44 min.

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What happened

What happened at this meeting

Flagstaff Unified board weighs 3-year renewal of superintendent's contract 2:28:24

  • The board heard motions on a student trip, a transportation sign-on bonus and a memorandum of understanding between FUSD and the 95% group. 25:08
  • After meeting with legal counsel in executive session, the board took up renewal of the superintendent's employment for a 3-year contract from 2027 to 2030. 1:50:56
  • One board member said they would not vote for a 3-year renewal and supported a 1-year extension, while one board member said they supported a 3-year contract. 2:29:29
  • The presiding member moved to approve the renewal and related contract and performance-based pay plan for 2027 to 2030; aye and nay responses were recorded, but no result was announced. 2:42:11

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (15)
  1. Opening and agenda adoption 20:43
    • The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance and a new land acknowledgment read by a staff member. 21:03
    • Melissa Kirk read the district's mission and vision statements. 22:54
    • The presiding member said an executive session might shift in the agenda because the district lawyer was not available until 7:00 PM, and moved to adopt the agenda. 23:15
  2. High school marine biology trip 23:56
    • A teacher proposed a 4-day field trip to San Diego, California, for a new marine biology class, set for May 11th to 16th, 2027. 23:56
    • Asked about funding for families who cannot afford the trip, the speaker cited a tax credit option, fundraising with the student council and outside donations. 24:32
    • Erik Sather moved to approve the trip. 25:08
  3. Public comment on school safety 26:11
    • The speaker asked the board to place a comprehensive school safety review on a public agenda or work session, including threat assessment, an after-hours response plan, training and parent communications. 28:03
    • A speaker at public comment said the district's anonymous alert system is not monitored after school hours and asked who families should contact after hours. 28:40
  4. Consent agenda 31:09
    • A question about a house leadership duty assignment drew a staff answer that it is a department chair role. 31:37
    • Erik Sather moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. 31:58
  5. Transportation sign-on bonus 32:05
    • A staff member recommended a $1,000 sign-on bonus for drivers who already hold a CDL and pupil transportation certification, versus the $500 in place for those who must go through training. 32:16
    • The staff member said the district already pays for training and certification for drivers who lack a CDL. 33:20
    • The presiding member moved to approve the updated bonus structure. 33:59
  6. Phonics screening software agreement 34:36
    • A staff member described a no-cost beta program with 95% Group in which an AI tool flags portions of student reading audio for teachers, who remain in full control of final scores. 34:47
    • The staff member said the district's attorney suggested changes the company agreed to, and that the future cost of the product is not yet known. 34:47
    • A motion was made to approve the memorandum of understanding. 37:17
  7. Finance policy first readings 37:30
    • A staff member said changes to Policy 3⁠-⁠102, Revenue, would have the board pre-approve student activity fundraising events using an attached list. 37:45
    • The staff member said fundraisers outside the list would need to come to the board. 39:29
    • Motions were made on first readings of Policy 3⁠-⁠103, Expenses and Payroll, and Policy 3⁠-⁠108, Audits, which requires board approval of the independent auditing firm. 41:03
  8. Enrollment and child safety policies 42:33
    • A staff member said Policy 5⁠-⁠102, Enrollment Requirements, adds students in unorganized territories and students placed by state placing agencies. 42:45
    • A staff member said the open enrollment policy adds students who reside in unauthorized territories, defines resident student and adds clarification. 43:27
    • A staff member said a suggested revision to the Department of Child Safety Interview and Custody policy addresses permitting Department of Child Safety workers to access educational records, and said it updates the policy to law. 44:06
  9. Interscholastic athletics policy 45:04
    • A staff member said the revision, effective August 1st, 2027, requires at least one employee at each campus trained in CPR and first aid and at least 1 employee trained on AEDs. 45:12
    • Staff said the district has an AED at every site and portable AEDs for practices and competitions. 46:58
    • A motion was made to approve the first reading of Policy 5⁠-⁠410. 48:22
  10. Agenda timing and superintendent's report 48:43
    • The presiding member said the lawyer would not be available for about an hour and 4 minutes, and the superintendent said the board could continue the agenda and recess if needed. 48:43
    • In the superintendent's report, the superintendent said the September focus for the State 48 Graduate Profile was foundational knowledge and literacies. 49:58
    • The superintendent said the September focus of the State 48 Graduate Profile is foundational knowledge and literacies, with digital fluency next in October. 52:40
  11. Student services report 1:00:52
    • A staff member said the participation rate in a parent involvement survey rose to 17% from 5% a few years ago. 1:01:04
    • The staff member said 35+ students exited special education last year and that the health services department added 3 new nurses and 2 health aid technicians. 1:01:04
  12. Talent management and educator pay reports 1:04:29
    • A staff member said the mentoring program has been expanded to cover teachers' first 3 years. 1:05:47
    • The staff member said the Educator Pay Task Force is looking at closing a teacher pay gap of $51,049, a figure from before the salary increases. 1:08:13
    • The staff member said the intent is to bring these updates on a quarterly basis. 1:11:40
  13. Board member reports 1:11:59
    • Melissa Kirk said they served as the board's delegate at a law conference and found a session on Supreme Court decisions affecting education useful. 1:12:08
    • Erik Sather asked when the solar work seen in the parking lot would be done, and a staff member said it was about halfway. 1:13:36
  14. Information items and future agenda requests 1:17:26
    • The superintendent said Procedure 3⁠-⁠404A was updated to match insurance coverage, changing a general liability aggregate from $2 million to $1.5 million. 1:17:26
    • A speaker asked for future data on whether the transportation sign-on bonus helped with retention and for information on how many students attend schools they are not in boundary for. 1:25:17
    • On school safety, a staff member suggested waiting until January and said some topics could be discussed in public; the board then moved to recess. 1:27:52
  15. Superintendent contract renewal 1:50:56
    • One board member said the board reviewed the draft line by line in executive session and that they supported a 3-year contract. 2:31:46

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

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Video: posted by the district as “FUSD Governing Board Meeting - 9/22/2026”