Meeting Minutes – Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Yavapai Education Service Agency - in person or TEAMS
2970 Centerpointe East Drive, Prescott, Arizona 86301

Regular Meeting

Tuesday, March 25, 2025 10:00 am 

Also present were: Jenn Nelson - YCESA, Frank Vander Horst - YCESA

Yavapai County Forest Fee Management Association
Board of Directors
 Meeting Minutes

Welcome and Call to Order

The meeting was called to order at 10:00 am 

Establishment of Quorum and Pledge of Allegiance (President Burns)

A quorum was established

Limited Call to the Public (President Burns)

• The public is invited to speak about any agenda item.
• There is a limit of three (3) minutes per speaker and 20 minutes total.
• Request to speak must be in writing and provided to the Clerk at the beginning of the meeting or prior to any agenda item.
• The President has absolute discretion over procedural matters
• The Board may waive their “Public Participation Policy” as it applies to all speakers.
• Members of the public may indicate their support or opposition to a topic, in writing, that will be noted and entered into the record.
• The Board may not respond to comments from the public, but may ask the facilitator to respond or place the item on a future agenda.

No call to the public.

Discussion and Action Items of the Consent Agenda: Consent Agenda: All items on the consent agenda may be adopted as a whole with one motion, unless a member of the Board wishes to consider it separately

1. Approval of the Regular Meeting Agenda for March 25, 2025
2. Approval of the Meeting Minutes for December 17, 2024

Cindy Daniels made a motion to approve the agenda and minutes as presented; Lynn Leonard seconded the motion; it was approved unanimously by Cindy Daniels, Lynn Leonard, Matt Schumacher, Stephanie Miller and Kellie Burns. 

Information, Discussion and Action Item: Fiscal Agent Report, Political/Legislative Update, Secure Rural Schools Update

Steve King advised the board that there is no forward motion for a bill to pass forest fees or SRSA. Lobbyists are stating that the SRSA is “in danger”. Steve discussed that he sent out information to districts for them to reach out to their members of Congress. The board discussed other ways that the bill could be funneled through.

Information, Discussion and Action Item: Review and Potentially Modify Encumbrance Items and Amounts.

1. Technology Related Funding – Steve discussed the technology funds that are still available for a few schools to be reimbursed until June 2025, Jenn will send out a reminder email to those schools who still have balances. 
2. Consolidated Substitute Teacher Potential Training Update – Jenn advised the board that she was able to get 3 trainers for this summers sub training, 2 are Prescott teachers and the other is retired Superintendent Danny Brown. The training will be held June 24 and June 25 and ESI takes care of advertising and reaching out to registered subs. 
3. E-Rate Update – Frank advised the board that a group called Consumer Research filed lawsuits against E-Rate alleging that the funding mechanism for E-Rate is not constitutional. Currently there is a split decision between courts, it will go to the Supreme Court. Frank does not feel that E-Rate funding is in jeopardy, but there may be a lapse in funding. Another issue is that FCC commissioners may be getting rid of school bus funding for hotspots
4. Lobbying/Advocacy Update – No Discussion due to no additional funding needed
5. Yavapai College Matinee Series –Jenn advised the board that they will receive an invoice for the 2024-2025 school year in May or June and Yavapai College reps will be in attendance at the June meeting. The board requested to see data showing what the Matinee series costs have been the last 5 years and how much the costs would have been without FFMA funding
6. Administrative Fund – Steve advised the board no additional funding is being requested
7. Elections Update – Jenn shared with the board that there are 4 special elections being held this year, but nothing is confirmed until the resolution of the board is received. Jenn also advised the board that the special elections for 2025 will not be covered by FFMA funding and districts are aware of this. 
8. School Safety Funding Tiers – the board reviewed the tiers that Jenn had emailed out and agreed that funding straight off of ADM is not equitable for all districts. Lynn advised the board that she worked with Matt on a new spreadsheet of 6 tiers instead of 4 tiers, spreading funding to be more equitable across the board. The board discussed reviewing this option and sending out a survey asking districts what their top 3 safety needs, Jenn will create a survey and send it out to districts and FFMA board members. Lynn will share her spreadsheet with the board and the 6 tiers and survey will be reviewed in June.
9. Other Budget, Encumbrance, or Financial Items Raised from the Member Districts or Board Members –  No discussion
   
   

Information, Discussion and Action Item: Yavapai County Educational Technology Consortium (YCETC) Report.

Steve advised the board that the Yavapai College courses will be beginning soon and the $25,000 funding from FFMA will cover district employees to attend the course for free. The board discussed the issues some are facing while trying to register for the class, the board discussed hosting the course as a training instead of a College course, and other options such as a short summer course for teachers to be able to attend. Currently there are 14 registered for the courses. Steve will discuss the issues with YCETC and Yavapai College

Discussion: Topics from the Board for Future Agenda Items

Review 6 tiers of safety funding, review safety survey, review matinees series costs vs costs with FFMA funding

Information, Discussion and Action Item: The Board has Established the Following Meeting Dates

The board discussed the need to change the June meeting and agreed on June 23, 2025.
Cindy Daniels made a motion to approve the change of the June meeting to June 23, 2025 at 11am; Matthew Schumacher seconded the motion; it was approved unanimously by Cindy Daniels, Lynn Leonard, Matt Schumacher, Stephanie Miller and Kellie Burns

1. June 17, June 23, 2025 11 am 
2. September 16, 2025 10am
3. December 16, 2025 10am 

Open Call to the Public for Future Agenda Items

No open call to the public.

Action Item: Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 11:00 am 

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