PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

GOVERNING BOARD

BOARD BRIEFING

NUMBER 300
February 14, 2006

 

Item No. 1

Date:  02/14/06

 

Consideration of:  Approval of the preliminary Maintenance and Operations Budget Limit, the Capital Outlay Budget Limit, and the Soft Capital Budget Limit.

 

Submitted by:  Mrs. Renee Raskin, Chief Financial Officer

 

Relevant Information:  In order to begin the annual budgeting process, it is necessary to establish estimated budget limits for Maintenance and Operations (M & O) and Capital Outlay.  The limits will change as additional information is obtained over the next few months.  The initial limits however, will set some boundaries with which to prioritize expenditures.

 

The two main variables used in calculating the budget limits are the inflation factor and the student count.  Based on our 40th day count showing a 2.5% increase and an additional 2% added to our base level funding.  We have estimated an increase of $839,823 in our Revenue Control Limit.  Our projected Capital Outlay has an estimated increase of $38,671.  Our tuition from other school districts is estimated to decrease by $50,000.  Soft Capital is estimated to increase by $59,596.

 

After establishing preliminary Budget Limits, Mrs. Raskin will review current expenditures and project what expenditures could be for the next budget year.  This projection would include any adjustments to current year expenses and new increases in expenses for next year.  The comparison of estimated budget limits to projected expenses will help determine if we need to make adjustments to our budget for next year.

 

Exhibits:  Mrs. Raskin has prepared a summary, which compares the projected limits to the current year limits.  A budget calendar has also been prepared for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #1.


Item No. 2                              

Date:  02/14/06

 

Consideration of:  Adopting a resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds of the district and the ancillary documents connected therewith.

 

Submitted by:  Mrs. Renee Raskin, Chief Financial Officer

 

Relevant Information:  In accordance with A.R.S. §15-1021, a district is required to order the sale of bonds.  From and after December 31, 1998, a unified school district, as defined under article IX, section 8.1, Constitution of Arizona, may issue class B bonds for the purposes specified in this section and chapter 4, article 5 of this title to an amount in the aggregate, including the existing class B indebtedness, not exceeding ten per cent of the taxable property used for secondary tax purposes, as determined pursuant to title 42, chapter 15, article 1, within a school district as ascertained by the last assessment of state and county taxes previous to issuing the bonds, or one-thousand five-hundred dollars per student count as determined pursuant to §15-9802, whichever amount is greater.  A unified school district shall not issue class B bonds until the proceeds of any class A bonds issued by the unified school district have been obligated in contract.  The district shall not exceed the debt limitations prescribed in article IX, section 8.1, Constitution of Arizona.

 

Exhibits:

Please refer to Enclosure #2.


Item No. 3           

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Approving the utilization of the Dexter Family Resource Center as the location for the new Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 school years.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

The cost of renovating and bringing the building on Ruth Street up to code (the initial location for the new Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy) has been determined to be too costly for the school district to pursue at this time.  An alternative location for the new high school is the Dexter Family Resource Center.  Northern Arizona University has indicated their intention to move from the Dexter Family Resource Center to the campus of Yavapai College for next school year, which will create space at Dexter Family Resource Center.  This space would accommodate Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy and its projected 100 9th grade students for the 2006-07 school year.

 

Locating Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy at Dexter will be much less costly since Dexter’s layout and configuration is extremely conducive to hosting a new school, having been a school for many years.  Utilizing Dexter is both fiscally and space efficient and will greatly expedite the opening of the new high school in August of 2006.

 

Exhibits:

Additional information with regard to Northpoint Expeditionary Learning Academy’s current enrollment and an update on plans for the opening of the new school will be shared with the Governing Board at the February 9 Study Session.


Item No. 4

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Approving authorization for the district to initiate an appraisal and survey for district-owned property (the Nature Center adjacent to Granite Mountain Middle School).

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Arn Lavington – Director of Purchasing and Construction

 

Relevant Information:

The Governing Board has expressed its desire to have an accurate appraisal made of the property adjacent to Granite Mountain Middle School (the Nature Center – approximately 15-20 acres).  The purpose of the appraisal is not to necessarily consider the sale of this property, but to give the Governing Board accurate information as to the value of this property.

 

Exhibits: 

RFP-090105 was utilized September 1, 2005, to receive proposals for appraisal services.  “Appraisal Services of Prescott” was the only company to respond to the RFP – see attached copy.  Note, the Governing Board did not consider action on this proposal.  Since then, Huck Appraisal Office has submitted the attached proposal for the Governing Board’s consideration (cost $3200).

 

Also note, that in order to accurately appraise this property, an accurate survey has to be completed.  Kelley-Wise Engineering has verbally quoted an estimate of $10,000-$12,000 to survey this property (as reported at the September 2006 Governing Board meeting, at which no action was taken by the Governing Board).  Kelley-Wise has been approved previously by RFP for use by Prescott Unified School District regarding civil engineering services.

 

If the Board would like to proceed with this project, it would be necessary to approve the use of both Kelley-Wise Engineering and Huck Appraisal Services for the costs indicated in the proposals.  Please refer to Enclosure #3.


Item No. 5

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Approving a Request for Competitive Sealed Bids (#PUSD-05-THAJ-BLDG-P1) for additional classrooms at Abia Judd Elementary School and the multi-purpose building an additional classrooms at Taylor Hicks Elementary School as part of the Phase I bond projects.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Arn Lavington, Director of Purchasing and Construction

 

Relevant Information:

Mr. Lavington will bring the results of the bid opening to the Governing Board’s Study Session on February 9, 2006.  He and Mr. Michael Taylor will have evaluated the bids and will recommend award to the low bidder that conforms to the bids specifications.  Alternates will be bid to allow for budget concerns.

 

Budget:                $   450,000 Bond – Abia Judd

                             $1,500,000 Bond – Taylor Hicks

 

Contingency:        $249,000 Bond = balance of contingency for all Phase I

                             projects.

 

Base Bid:              Addition of 3 classrooms at Abia Judd Elementary School

                             and a multi-purpose building at Taylor Hicks Elementary

                             School.

 

Alternate #1:        Addition of 1 more classroom – special needs – Abia Judd

                             Elementary School.

 

Alternate #2:        Addition of classroom addition to multi-purpose building

                             at Taylor Hicks Elementary School.

 

Exhibits:

Mr. Arn Lavington and Mr. Mike Taylor (Architect) will be available for discussion of the bid results at the Study Session.  Please refer to Tally Sheet provided by Mr. Lavington at that meeting.  Attached are prints of the classrooms and multi-purpose building.  Please refer to Enclosure #4.


Item No. 6

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Approving a Request for Competitive Sealed Bids (#PUSD-05-THAJ-PAV-PH1) for the Abia Judd Elementary School and Taylor Hicks Elementary School new paving and site improvements as part of Phase I of bond projects.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Arn Lavington, Director of Purchasing and Construction

 

Relevant Information:

Mr. Lavington will bring the results of the January 24, 2006, bid opening to the Governing Board Study Session on February 9, 2006.  Both he and Mr. Mike Taylor will have evaluated the bids and will recommend award to the low bidder that conforms to the bid specifications.  Alternates will be bid to allow for budget concerns.

 

Budget:                $200,000 Bond – Abia Judd Elementary School

                             $  75,000 Bond – Taylor Hicks Elementary School

 

Contingency:        $249,000 Bond = balance of contingency for all

                             Phase I projects.

 

Base Bid:              Bus loading area at Taylor Hicks Elementary School.

 

Alternate #1:        Parking/Field renovation at Abia Judd Elementary School.

 

Alternate #2:        Provision of sport turf at Abia Judd Elementary School.

 

Exhibits:

A bid tally sheet will be provided to the Governing Board on February 9, 2006.  A copy of the prints of the three classrooms/field, parking base bid and one room alternate have been provided for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #5.


Item No. 7

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Reviewing and adopting a change to Governing Board Policy IJNDB – Use of Technology Resources in Instruction.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information: 

Governing Board Policy BGB requires first and second readings of all proposed policy adoptions and approval by the Governing Board.  The Governing Board is asked to individually review these policies through a first and second reading prior to the Voting Session on February 14, 2006, at which time the Governing Board will be asked to adopt the proposed policies.

 

The Technology Steering Committee has proposed a change regarding how the district holds students and employees accountable for our Acceptable Use Policy.  The proposal was also discussed at a District Leadership Team meeting. 

 

The current practice for new employees, upon hiring, the Acceptable Use Policy form is reviewed, signed and returned to Human Resources. 

 

The current practice for students is that the Acceptable Use Policy form is sent home to all students for their parents to sign.  The forms are returned to school, where the secretary places the form in the student’s permanent file, and it is recorded in SASI that the student may use the Internet.  Each teacher and elementary computer technician is then notified of the student’s status.  This is a very time consuming process and very few other policies are handled this way.

 

Our current practice was developed by the Technology Steering Committee because when the Internet was new, it seemed necessary to make a special effort to notify people about its use and their responsibilities in using it for educational, research, and educational goals of the district.  However, the Internet is now commonplace and the acceptable use policy is well known. 

 

It is proposed that the Acceptable Use Policy be included in all school and employee handbooks with other policies and that employees, parents and students would still be responsible for reading the handbook, as well as complying with the policies therein.  New teachers would be in-serviced on the Acceptable Use Policy during their orientation.  Parents always have the opportunity not to have their children participate in Internet use and may complete an “Objection to Materials or Activities” form.

 

We are not changing the policy, just changing where the policy is found and eliminating the unnecessary paperwork, data entry and time spent tracking the forms and notifying teachers and elementary computer technicians about the forms.

 

If a student violates the policy, it would be dealt with by the principal at the school site just as violating any other policy would be handled.  Likewise, if an employee violates the Acceptable Use Policy, it is handled by his/her supervisor.

 

Exhibits:     A copy of the proposed changes to the current policy is attached for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #6.


Item No. 8

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Reviewing and adopting Policy Services Advisory, Volume 18, Number 1, for January 2006, regarding Policy Advisory numbers 261-264.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

Governing Board Policy BGB requires first and second readings of all proposed policy adoptions and approval by the Governing Board.  The Governing Board is asked to individually review these policies through a first and second reading prior to the Voting Session on February 14, 2006, at which time the Governing Board will be asked to adopt the proposed policies.

 

These sample policies reflect changes to be made to existing policies due to legislative action.  The policies to be reviewed are listed below.

 

Policy Services Advisory, Volume 18, Number 1, for January 2006, regarding Policy Advisory:

 

No. 261 – EFDA – Collection of Money/Food Tickets

No. 262 – EFE – Competitive Food Sales/Vending Machines

No. 263 – IKF – Graduation Requirements

                IKF-RB – Graduation Requirements

                IKF-EA – Graduation Requirements

                IKF-EB – Graduation Requirements

No. 264 – JL – Student Wellness

                JL-RA – Student Wellness

                JL-RB – Student Wellness

 

Exhibits:  Policy Services Advisory No. 261-264 have been attached for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #7.


Item No. 9

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Approving the certified and classified personnel actions

as presented.

 

Submitted by:  Dr. Chris Reynolds, Assistant Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:  A copy of the personnel report is attached.

 

Exhibits:  Please refer to Enclosure #8.


Item No. 10

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Accepting the donations as presented.

 

Submitted by:  Mrs. Renee Raskin, Chief Financial Officer

 

Relevant Information:  Board Policy requires acceptance by the Governing

Board of all donations.

 

Exhibits:

Handmade wooden toys from Mr. Harshman to Miller Valley Elementary School.

 

Two hundred dollars from Ms. Sondra Brunso to the Jim Brunso Memorial Fund.

 

IMAC computer and wireless card valued at $350 from the Morgan Family to Lincoln Elementary School.

 

One hundred and twenty three dollars and fifty cents from Danna & Travis Andrist to the band program at Prescott Mile High Middle School.

 

One hundred and two dollars from Marilyn Howden to the band program at Prescott Mile High Middle School.

 

Five hundred dollars from Galpin Ford for the football program at Granite Mountain Middle School.

 

A HP 6540 printer with related accessories and an Adobe Creative Suite Premium valued at $490 from Mr. Robert R. Kyanko.

 

One thousand dollars from Vince and Lisa Fornara for the basketball program at Granite Mountain Middle School.

 

Fifty dollars from Hassayampa Hotel, L.L.C., to Lincoln Elementary School.

 

Three hundred and thirty five dollars from an anonymous donor to adopt a family at Abia Judd Elementary School.

 

A HP computer, monitor and printer valued at $150, from Ms. Carla Groom to Abia Judd Elementary School.

 

The following have received a donation from the Yavapai-Prescott Indian Tribe:

 

                   Prescott Mile High Middle School    $4,000

                   Miller Valley Elementary School      $4,000

                   Abia Judd Elementary School         $1,000

                   Taylor Hicks Elementary School      $2,500

                   Granite Mountain Middle School    $2,500

 

Fifteen hundred dollars from Yavapai County Education Foundation to Alvina Green at Abia Judd Elementary School.

 

Four hundred ninety-seven dollars and seventy-four cents from the Yavapai County Education Foundation to Shawna Hodovance at Miller Valley Elementary School.

 

Three hundred and seventy dollars from Phelps Dodge to Lincoln Elementary School.

 

A Compaq Presario computer and related accessories valued at $195, from Satish and Judith Chandran.

 

Five hundred dollars from Wal-Mart to the Gold Mine program at Miller Valley Elementary School.


Item No. 11

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Ratifying the vouchers as presented.

 

Submitted by:  Mrs. Renee Raskin, Chief Financial Officer

 

Rationale:  Arizona Revised Statute requires approval/ratification of all vouchers.

 

Exhibits:

 

                   Voucher #                                           Amount

 

Payroll Voucher #13                                   $930,249.01

Payroll Voucher #14                                   $876,741.34

Expenditure Voucher #6043                      $155,436.88

Expenditure Voucher #6044                        $98,013.82

Expenditure Voucher #6045                        $43,796.69

Expenditure Voucher #6046                      $354,725.72

Expenditure Voucher #6047                      $164,545.68

Expenditure Voucher #6048                        $13,845.01

                  

 

Documentation for warrants is available for inspection from Business Services, located at 146 South Granite Street, Prescott, AZ  86303.


Item No. 12

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Approving the Auxiliary Operations and Student

Activities Fund Statement of Receipts and Disbursements for the month of

December 2005.

 

Submitted by:  Mrs. Renee Raskin, Chief Financial Officer

 

Relevant Information:

 

Exhibits:  A copy of the statements is attached. Please refer to Enclosure #9.


Item No. 13

Date:  02/14/06

 

In Consideration of:  Approving the previous minutes from the Governing

Board Executive Session and Study Session of January 10, 2006, and the
Executive Session and Voting Session of January 17, 2006.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:  Board Policy requires approval of minutes.

 

Exhibits:  Please refer to Enclosure #10.


INFORMATION ITEMS:

 

14.  Mrs. Raskin has prepared the School Board Summary Budget Report for your review.  (Please refer to Enclosure #11.)

 

15.  The Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) minutes from November 10, 2005, have been attached for your review.  (Please refer to Enclosure #12.)

 

16.  The following are continuation grants that have been awarded to Prescott Unified School District – submitted by Marianne Brooks.

 

Title II – D (Enhancing Education Through Technology)

2004-2005 Allocation:  $19,081.00

2005-2006 Allocation:  $14,864.00

 

This program is to incorporate technology into all programs and services through an evolving and integrated plan.  It also includes enhancing the educational process, and offering opportunities that help the Prescott Unified School District’s faculty and students pursue lifelong learning.

 

Career and Technical Education Basic Grant

2004-2005 Allocation:  $101,679.57

2005-2006 Allocation:  $90,669.77

 

The Career and Technical Education Basic Grant funds vocational education programs at Prescott High School.  The aim of vocational technical education is to retain students in school and to provide them with the vocational and academic skills they need for successful employment and/or future education and training.  Please refer to Enclosure #13.