Lincoln Trail Guide

10 Facts About the PUSD Budget Override Bond

1. Over 80% of students in AZ school districts benefit from a local budget override or bond. Prescott has not passed a local school budget override or bond in over a decade.
2. PUSD maintains the lowest % administrative spending and highest % of classroom spending of any comparable district in Arizona. In spite of this, because of PUSD’s very small budget (no override), all of PUSD’s staff are paid below state and national averages. (But please stay with PUSD--We are trying so hard to fix this!!)
3. If Prop 405 (budget override) passes, all PUSD teachers and staff will receive a 5% salary increase starting in FY 2028. The budget override will also provide funding to reduce PUSD’s largest class sizes.
4. PUSD’s schools average 78 years old! If Prop 406 (bond measure) passes, $20 million will be available to maintain buildings, replace aging buses and computers, and improve safety infrastructure for students and staff.
5. If BOTH measures pass, the average Prescott homeowner will pay only $6.58 more monthly in property taxes. PUSD’s tax rates will still be far lower than neighboring school districts.
6. Beginning October 7, ballots will be mailed to most voters for the November 3 election.
7. You must live in PUSD’s boundaries to be eligible to vote on these ballot measures. With some exceptions, this aligns closely with Prescott addresses, not Prescott city limits. You can check here to see if your home is within PUSD’s boundaries.
8. In PUSD’s most recent failed bond/override election, voter records showed that large numbers of eligible PUSD parents and even many eligible PUSD staff did not even cast a vote. Yikes! Polling shows that every vote will matter.
9. PLEASE USE THIS LINK TO REGISTER TO VOTE BEFORE OCTOBER 5.
10. You can find more factual information at THIS LINK on the PUSD website. I will also follow up in coming weeks with additional facts and reminders.

Welcome back, Lincoln Lions! I hope that everyone has had a wonderful start to the school year. I am looking forward to a fantastic school year. My goal is to keep your child healthy, safe, and ready to learn.

Important Reminders

Arizona requires all incoming Kindergarten immunizations on file. Please submit updated vaccination records no later than September 1, 2026, to avoid any interruption in school attendance.

Medications at school

If your child needs to take medication during the school day, please bring the medication in its original labeled container, and a medication administration form will need to be signed by the parent/guardian.

Action plans

If your child has a chronic medical condition such as asthma, diabetes, seizures, severe allergies, medications, or any other health conditions, please provide an updated physician-signed action plan each year so we can provide the appropriate care.

Keep us informed

Please notify the school nurse of any new medical diagnosis, severe allergies, or any other health concerns. Keeping your child’s health information current helps us ensure a safe and successful school year.

Unsure when to keep your student home for an illness? Follow these guidelines:

• Fever of 100.4 or higher: may return to school when your child is fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
• Vomiting: may return to school when your child has not vomited for 24 hours.
• Sore throat pain with difficulty swallowing: Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of pus and tiny red spots on the back of the roof of the mouth.
• Swollen, itchy eyes with thick discharge, crusty or redness to the whites of the eye.
• Rash that’s unrelated to a chronic skin condition: may return to school when symptoms are under control.
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing: may return to school when symptoms are under control.
• Excessive mucus from the nose(runny nose) or sneezing unrelated to environmental allergies: may return to school when symptoms are under control.
• Persistent non-productive/productive cough: may return to school when cough is under control.

Extra Clothes:

Learning, eating, and using the restroom can be messy for our students. Please send a full set of spare clothes in a labeled plastic bag inside your child’s backpack. This helps us quickly clean up spills, art messes, or bathroom accidents so your child can get back to class.

Thank you for partnering with Lincoln Elementary to support the health and well-being of your child. I look forward to working with you and your family this school year!

Esmeralda Etudor, RN

School Nurse-Lincoln Elementary

(928) 717-3249

esmeralda.etudor@prescottschools.com

Check out the flyer below for information about in-school health care at no cost to children who qualify in western Yavapai County.

Do you know anyone who may be interested in becoming a Substitute Bus Driver? PUSD is in need of additional substitute bus drivers for the new school year. PUSD has a training program to help drivers earn their CDL so no prior experience is required. Relief drivers can choose the times that work for them. Many often have other jobs or they are retired but are looking for ways to earn a little extra income.

If you are interested or have any questions, please see the attached flyer and complete THIS GOOGLE FORM and somebody will reach out to you to discuss this in more detail.

QUARTER 1 & QUARTER 2 CLUB SCHEDULE AND DATES

Morning Rise and Shine Club ~ 7:00-7:45 am (Monday through Friday)

Academic Club ~ 2:40-3:35 pm (Monday through Thursday)

Enrichment Club ~ 3:35-4:10 pm (Monday through Thursday)

Bus ~ 4:25 pm (Monday through Thursday)

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Monday, August 24th ~ First Day of Clubs

Friday, September 4th ~ No Clubs (Staff Work Day)

Monday, September 7th ~ No Clubs (Labor Day)

Friday, October 2nd ~ No clubs (Staff Work Day)

October 12th - 15th ~ No Clubs (Fall Break)

Thursday, October 22nd ~ No Afternoon Clubs (Conferences)

Friday, October 23rd ~ No Afternoon Clubs (Conferences)

Wednesday, November 11th ~ No Clubs (Veterans Day)

November 25th -27th ~ No Clubs (Thanksgiving Break)

December 11th ~ Last Day of Clubs

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If you have any club questions, please email Ms. Engisch at amy.engisch@prescottschools.com.

Looking for simple ways to spend time together and build strong family connections? Check out the BadgerU Club Family Engagement Calendar for September! It’s filled with fun, easy activities your family can enjoy together throughout the month.

Click below to download the September Family Engagement Calendar!

*Class Dojo will still be used by staff to post pictures & reward positive student behaviors*

Please create your Synergy ParentVUE Account & Download the App

Your Synergy ParentVUE Account will allow you to:

• Receive Important Updates and Weekly Newsletters from Mrs. Rangel, Lincoln's Principal
• Communicate with your child's teacher & our Lincoln Front Office
• Access student information
• Monitor attendance
• View grades (when applicable)
• Complete other important school-related tasks throughout the year

We need your help! Our school will benefit tremendously by having all families complete the National School Lunch Program application. Many of our federal tax dollars do not come back to PUSD, and to Lincoln Elementary, based on under-reporting of the needs in our community.

PUSD and Lincoln participate in the National School Lunch Program, and offer breakfast and lunch to students every school day. Free or reduced-cost meals are available to qualifying families. The application process is safe, confidential, and simple. We encourage you to apply today because your school benefits!

Federal grant funds can provide additional programs and services in our schools. Eligibility for both federal and many privately-funded grants are determined in large measure by the number of our students who qualify for free or reduced meals. These programs can enhance our academic and after-school offerings. We may be able to offer Title I reading and math interventions, free after-school programs, and much more.

Even if your student does not take advantage of free or reduced-cost lunches at school, funding will still be awarded to Lincoln based on our number of eligible families.

Hello Lincoln Families,

My name is Kayla Rangel, and I am honored and excited to return to Lincoln Elementary as the new principal and to serve this incredible school community in this new role. I look forward to partnering with our dedicated staff, students, and families to continue the proud traditions that make Lincoln such a special place.

Originally from Vail, Arizona, my husband and I moved to Prescott in 2023 to be closer to my sister and her family. When I'm not at school, I enjoy spending time outdoors, hiking, and taking advantage of Prescott's beautiful trails and cooler weather.

Lincoln has a rich history as Arizona's oldest continuously operating school, and I am honored to be part of its legacy. As we begin another exciting school year, our focus remains on meeting the unique needs of every student while providing a safe, caring environment where all children can thrive. Together, we will continue to foster high expectations, celebrate Lincoln's strong sense of family and tradition, and ensure every student has the opportunity to reach their greatest potential. I am excited to welcome you to Lincoln—"Everybody's Hometown School"—and look forward to a wonderful year of learning and growth together.