Special Board meeting 3/26/2025

The Humboldt Unified School District #22 held a special board meeting on March 26, 2025, where several procurement and budget-related topics were discussed. Key procurement actions included approval of adding one preschool lead and 1.75 preschool aide positions to support a new preschool program at Liberty Traditional. The board also considered and approved the Arizona State University learner course agreement to provide discounted college-level courses for neglected and delinquent students. A significant discussion focused on the district's health insurance plan, where the board debated switching from Kyros to ASBA to achieve substantial cost savings—estimated at over $600,000 annually—despite concerns about potential increased out-of-pocket expenses for some employees. The board voted on this insurance switch, but the motion failed with two opposed votes. Additionally, the board approved raising the threshold for capital improvement projects requiring board approval from $1 million to $10 million to expedite procurement processes for larger projects. Policy updates related to compliance and curriculum were also reviewed, with some policies pulled for further discussion. Finally, the board approved the hiring of a new principal for Bradshaw Mountain Middle School. Overall, the meeting involved multiple procurement decisions impacting staffing, contracts, and budget allocations, with a strong emphasis on balancing cost savings and employee benefits.