PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

GOVERNING BOARD

 

BOARD BRIEFING

NUMBER 294 
August 11, 2005

 

Item No. 1           

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Granting (or denying) a list of students to be submitted for early entrance into kindergarten.

 

Submitted by:  Ms. Linda Ryan, Curriculum and Testing Coordinator

 

Relevant Information:

An additional kindergarten screening was held on July 29, 2005, and August 1, 2005.  A list of any children that may have been recommended for early entrance into kindergarten will be presented to the Governing Board at their Study Session.

 

Exhibits:

Ms. Linda Ryan will be in attendance at the August 9th Study Session to present a list of any children that may have been recommended for early entrance into kindergarten.

Item No. 2           

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Approving authorization for the district to initiate appraisals for district-owned property (the Nature Center adjacent to Granite Mountain Middle School) and property adjacent to Prescott Mile High Middle School).

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Arn Lavington, Director of Purchasing

 

Relevant Information:

The Governing Board has expressed its desire to have an accurate appraisal conducted of specific properties within Prescott Unified School District.  These properties include the land adjacent to Granite Mountain Middle School (Community Nature Center) and two small pieces of property located behind Prescott Mile High Middle School.  The purpose of the appraisals is not to necessarily consider the sale of these properties, but to give the Governing Board accurate information as to the value of these properties.

 

Exhibits:

Mr. Arn Lavington, Director of Purchasing, will be available at the August 9th Study Session to explain the process he will utilize to obtain a company to conduct these appraisals.

Item No. 3

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Approving the expenditure of the remaining Growth Monies from the 2004-2005 school year that have been carried over to this fiscal year to increase substitute pay and/or other purposes.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

There is approximately $40,000-$45,000 remaining in Growth Monies from this past 2004-2005 school year.  The topic of substitute teacher pay has become an important topic for the school district and increasing our substitute teacher pay is on possible utilization of these remaining funds.

 

Increasing the substitute teacher daily rate $5.00 from its current $65.00 to $70.00 would cost approximately $20,000 and increasing the daily rate by $10.00 to $75.00 would cost approximately $40,000.

 

Other uses of these remaining funds will be discussed at the August 9th Study Session.

 

Exhibits:

Item No. 4

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Approving the Prescott Unified District’s Governing Board’s membership in the Hispanic Native American Indian Caucus.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

Dr. Joan Fleming, member of the PUSD Governing Board and current President of Arizona School Boards Association, has suggested that Prescott Unified School District become a member of the Hispanic Native American Indian Caucus.

 

Exhibits:

Dr. Fleming will share information with the Governing Board at the August 9th Study Session.  Please refer to Enclosure #1.

Item No. 5

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Approving a lease agreement for a building for the PEAK Program for 2005-2006.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

The Governing Board is aware that our Providing Education and Knowledge Alternatives (PEAK) program is not able to continue to be housed at Bradshaw Mountain East High School due to student growth demands within the Humboldt Unified School District.  We are temporarily moving the PEAK program to a portable building within the school district while another location is considered.  It is felt that a location should be found that would accommodate the PEAK program for up to three years.  The location would ideally be situated somewhere between Prescott Unified School District and Humboldt Unified School District so high school students from both districts are able to access the new location.

 

A building has been located near Willow Lake Road and Highway 89.  This building is approximately 3,600 square feet in size and in excellent condition.  The building is currently empty and very conducive to housing both the PEAK program and the Alternative to Suspension program (ALS).

 

Through former Board member Denny Colgan, we are gathering information as to the proposed rent and other details with regard to the building.  Humboldt Unified School District is aware of this potential site for PEAK and ALS and is very interested in sharing the cost of renting the building on a 50-50 basis.

 

Exhibits:

Mr. Craig Niece, Director of the PEAK program, will be available to share additional information and answer questions from the Governing Board at the August 9th Study Session.

Item No. 6

Date:  08/11/05

 

Consideration of:  Approving new procedures for the background checking and possible fingerprint requirements of personnel involved in providing purchased services from Prescott Unified School District.

 

Submitted by:  Dr. Chris Reynolds, Assistant Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

The Governing Board has expressed interest in tightening up our procedures for allowing contracted service providers to work within our school district and has also received legal advice from the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office on this topic.  A wide range of options exists for creating more stringent procedures for vendors providing contracted services for Prescott Unified School District.

 

The administration is requesting guidance and direction from the Governing Board as to the level of changes the school district should implement with regard to contacted service providers assuring the school district that their staff has undergone a background check to the satisfaction of the school district.

 

Exhibits:

A copy of the affidavit currently required is attached for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #2.

Item No. 7

Date:  08/11/05

 

Consideration of:  Approving a change in position title from Business Manager to Chief Financial Officer and placement of the position on the Administrative Salary Schedule on the column for Assistant Superintendent.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information: 

At a Board member’s request and with the approval of the Board President, this item has been placed on the agenda to initiate discussion and possible action with regard to changing the title and salary of the current Business Manager position.  It is proposed that the title of this position be changed to “Chief Financial Officer” and that the position be placed on the Administrative Salary Schedule on the column for Assistant Superintendent.

 

In the mid-1990’s, this position was a Cabinet level position with regard to salary and responsibilities.  During the budget-cutting years this position was restructured as a Business Manager position with limited duties and responsibilities and lower salary.  The position is still a Cabinet level position but without the position’s previous responsibilities and salary.  With the growth of the school district back to the student enrollment and staffing levels experienced in the mid-1990’s, the changing of the title, salary and responsibilities for this position is warranted.

 

Exhibits:

A copy of the Administrative Salary Schedule is attached for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #3.

Item No. 8

Date:  08/11/05

 

Consideration of:  Approving the Governing Board Goals for the 2005-2006 school year.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

In June of 2005, the Governing Board formulated goals for Prescott Unified School District with input from the District Leadership Team. Four new goals were identified with two additional goals identified as on-going goals.  Committees were formed to begin work on this year’s goals and updates on progress will be presented at Governing Board meetings beginning in September.

 

Exhibits:  A copy of the Governing Board Goals for the 2005-2006 school year is attached for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #4.

Item No. 9     

Date:  08/11/05

 

Consideration of:  Reviewing and adopting Policy Services Advisory, Volume 17, Number 2, for June 2005, regarding Policy Advisory Number 247.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. 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 August 11, 2005, 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 17, Number 2, for June 2005, regarding Policy Advisory:

 

No. 247 – DID – Inventories

               DID-R – Inventories

 

Guidance on Policy-Related Issues:

 

Compensatory Education (Title I)

Homeless Students

Local Wellness Policy

New Legislation

 

Exhibits:  Policy Services Advisory No. 247 has been attached for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #5.

Item No. 10

Date:  08/11/05

 

Consideration of:  Reviewing and adopting Policy Services Advisory, Volume 17, Number 3, for July 2005, regarding Policy Advisory Numbers 248 - 259.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. 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 August 11, 2005, 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 17, Number 3, for July 2005, regarding Policy Advisory:

 

No. 248 – CFD – School-Based Management

No. 249 – CM – School District Annual Reports

No. 250 – DN – School Properties Disposition

No. 251 – IHA – Basic Instructional Program

               IHA-E – Basic Instructional Program

No. 252 – IHBB – Gifted and Talented Education

No. 253 – IKA-R – Grading/Assessment Systems

No. 254 – IKF – Graduation Requirements

No. 255 – JEB – Entrance Age Requirements

No. 256 – JFABD-EB – Admission of Homeless Students

No. 257 – JIH – Student Interrogations, Searches, and Arrests

No. 258 – JII – Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances

               JII-R – Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances

               JII-E – Student Concerns, Complaints and Grievances

No. 259 – JLCD – Medicines/Administering Medicines to Students

               JLCD-R – Medicines/Administering Medicines to Students

               JLCD-E – Medicines/Administering Medicines to Students

 

Exhibits:  Policy Services Advisory Numbers 248-259 have been attached for your review.  Please refer to Enclosure #6.

Item No. 11

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Approving a Medical Leave of Absence for Mr. Ken Vick, security guard at Prescott High School.

 

Submitted by:  Dr. Chris Reynolds, Assistant Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

Medical documentation has been received to support this request.

 

Exhibits:

Item No. 12

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Approving a Medical Leave of Absence for Mrs. Cherrie Vinton, part-time kindergarten teacher at Taylor Hicks Elementary School.

 

Submitted by:  Dr. Chris Reynolds, Assistant Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:

Medical documentation has been received to support this request.

 

Exhibits:

Item No. 13

Date:  08/11/05

 

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 #7.

Item No. 14

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Accepting the donations as presented.

 

Submitted by:  Mrs. Renee Raskin, Director of Business Services

 

Relevant Information:  Board Policy requires acceptance by the Governing Board of all donations.

 

Exhibits:

An HP printer valued at $25 from Ms. Dottie Whalen.

Item No. 15

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Ratifying the vouchers as presented.

 

Submitted by:  Mrs. Renee Raskin, Director of Business Services

 

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

 

Exhibits:

 

                   Voucher #                                           Amount

 

Payroll Voucher #1                                     $118,187.27

Payroll Voucher #2                                     $201,146.14

Expenditure Voucher #5098                      $110,570.44

Expenditure Voucher #5199                          $5,656.97

Expenditure Voucher #5100                        $42,117.93        

Expenditure Voucher #5101                        $78,368.20

Expenditure Voucher #5102                        $29,582.62

Expenditure Voucher #5103                      $259,217.47

Expenditure Voucher #5105                        $12,935.71

Expenditure Voucher #5106                      $185,799.28

Expenditure Voucher #6001                        $11,798.69

Expenditure Voucher #6002                      $442,528.63

Expenditure Voucher #6003                      $316,738.85

Expenditure Voucher #6004                      $158,429.83

 

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

Item No. 16

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Approving the Auxiliary Operations and Student Activities Fund Statement of Receipts and Disbursements for the month of June 2005.

 

Submitted by:  Mrs. Renee Raskin, Director of Business Services

 

Relevant Information:

 

Exhibits:  A copy of the statements is attached. Please refer to Enclosure #8.

Item No. 17

Date:  08/11/05

 

In Consideration of:  Approving the previous minutes from the Governing Board Study and Voting Session of July 12, 2005, and the Executive Session of July 19, 2005.

 

Submitted by:  Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

 

Relevant Information:  Board Policy requires approval of minutes.

Exhibits:  Please refer to Enclosure #9.

 

INFORMATION ITEMS:

 

18.  Mrs. Raskin has prepared the School Board Summary Budget Report for your review.  (Please refer to Enclosure #10.)

 

19. Enclosed for your review is a letter from Arlene Nemec, President of the Prescott Art Docents regarding the continuation of the various art-related programs they provide to the district.  (Please refer to Enclosure #11.)

 

20.  Enclosed for your review is a letter from John Miller regarding assistance provided to him by our Transportation Department. (Please refer to Enclosure #12.)