Governing Board

The Governing Board has final control over local school matters within the laws of the Arizona Legislature and the rules and regulations of the Arizona State Board of Education. The board sets policy for the management of the district. The superintendent and district staff are responsible for the execution of these policies.

General Responsibilities

• Appoint the superintendent.

• Establish policies for the operation of the district.

• Upon recommendation of the superintendent, approve the hiring of personnel and changes in employment status, and set salaries for district employees.

• Decide how district resources will be used.

• Adopt an annual budget.

• Solicit and interpret the educational desires of the community.

• Communicate the needs and progress of the district to the community and other educational governing boards, municipal bodies and legislators.

As a member of the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board, I:

● Remember that my first and primary concern is the education and welfare of Paradise Valley Unified School District students.

● Conduct myself appropriately and professionally at board meetings by

▪ coming prepared to participate;

▪ listening carefully and courteously to others;

▪ working collaboratively to make student-centered decisions;

▪ conducting Board business transparently;

▪ rendering decisions based on available facts and independent judgment and refusing to surrender that judgment to individuals or special interest groups;

▪ respecting and supporting the majority decisions of the Board;

▪ and adhering to standards of ethical conduct and maintaining confidentiality, particularly in closed sessions, recognizing that a Board Member has no legal authority as an individual and that decisions can be made only by a majority vote at a Board meeting in accordance with Open Meeting law.

● Lead a district of equity* and access that supports community-wide collaboration and student achievement.

● Am respectful of fellow board members and all in PVSchools, both in person and online.

● Understand that my role is to ensure PVSchools is well-managed, not to manage the district.

● Recognize our fiduciary responsibility to assure financial resources are being distributed transparently in the best interests of our community in cultivating student success.

● Inform the superintendent of all scheduled appointments with school personnel and will be vigilant about the amount of time spent with employees, recognizing they have jobs to do.

● Refer to the superintendent complaints, problems, and/or issues from parents, community members, or staff to seek positive solutions before airing matters publicly.

● Expand my knowledge of public education and governance skills through conferences, seminars and workshops; books, publications and other research; and Board retreats.

● Serve as an ambassador of the District but not as an official spokesperson.

● Adhere to Board-developed communication protocols.

*Equity means that each student receives what they need to develop to their full potential.

Board Approved August 10, 2023

In accordance with Arizona Revised Statutes subsection 38-431.02.A.2, public notices and detailed agendas of Governing Board meetings are posted at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting at the District Administrative Center, 15002 North 32nd Street, Phoenix, Arizona. You can also access each public notice and meeting agenda by following this link:

View Public Notices and Meeting Agendas

The Paradise Valley Unified School District follows the Arizona School Boards Association’s policy for agenda preparation and dissemination.

The agenda and supporting materials are distributed to the board members at least 24 hours prior to the meeting.

The superintendent prepares board meeting agendas in consultation with the board president. Any board member may place items on the agenda by notifying the superintendent of the particular item of business at least eight working days before the meeting.

The board uses a consent agenda for many routine matters. These items will be considered as a group and will be approved when the agenda is adopted. When considering topics of significant educational importance, the Governing Board may choose to postpone action

in order to consider arguments and gather additional information.
All reports and presentations shall be scheduled with adequate time available to accommodate this possibility. Unusual situations approved by the superintendent may be excepted from this standard.

Agenda, minutes, and notices for the Paradise Valley Unified School District Governing Board can be found in the document library on the district "BoardDocs."

Some meeting information can also be found on the district website under "Governing Board Meetings."

Yes. Persons with a disability or needing an interpreter may request reasonable accommodations. Requests can be made by contacting the board secretary. Requests should be made as early as possible.

Community members are always welcome to speak at board meetings. Please note, due to the Arizona Open Meeting Law, the Governing Board cannot discuss or take any action on items not listed on the agenda.

To speak about a specific agenda item, please pick up and fill out a blue "Request to Address the Governing Board on a Specific Agenda Item" card before the meeting and hand it to the board secretary, who is seated at the front of the room. You will be invited to speak when the item comes up for discussion on the agenda.

Call to the Public is a time set aside at each meeting for individuals to address the board on any issue or concern not listed on the agenda.

To speak about an item not on the agenda, please pick up and fill out a yellow "Request to Address the Governing Board under Call to the Public" card before the meeting and hand it to the board secretary, who is seated at the front of the room. You will be invited to speak at the appropriate time on the agenda.

Virtual public comments are also accepted. Submitted comments, related to agenda items, will be shared with the Governing Board prior to the meeting; however, these comments will not be read aloud during the meeting. The deadline for submitting comments online is noon on the day of the Governing Board meeting.

Provide a virtual public comment

If you are concerned about your own child or a problem with your child’s school, the place to begin is with your child’s teacher. He or she needs to know about any concerns you have about your child’s education. The school principal is the next person to speak with. If you then feel you need more direction, contact the Leadership Department at 602-449-2095 (elementary) or 602-449-2097 (middle or high school).