PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

146 South Granite Street

Prescott, Arizona 86303

 

January 4, 2005 – UNOFFICAL COPY

 

Minutes of the Governing Board Study Session of Tuesday, January 4, 2005, beginning at 6:00 p.m. held in the District Office Board Room.

 

Governing Board Members Present:

 

President Dee Navarro

Dr. Joan Fleming

Dr. Andy Newton

Mr. Tom Staley

 

Absent:

Mr. Steve Campbell

Miss Justine Bunger

 

Also Present:

Mr. Kevin J. Kapp, Superintendent

Dr. Chris Reynolds, Assistant Superintendent

Mrs. Renee Raskin, Business Manager

Mrs. Andi Mayer, Assistant to the Governing Board

 

Others Present:

          Don German                  Marianne Brooks           Roger Short

          Mike Harlan                   Joe Howard                   Frank Lawhead

          Bruce Taylor                                    

                                                                                                                  

CALL TO ORDER

President Dee Navarro called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

 

ADMINISTER OATH OF OFFICE TO NEW AND RETURNING BOARD MEMBERS

Dr. Joan Fleming administered the oath of office to newly elected board member Tom Staley and to returning board member Dee Navarro.  (This occurred between the two presentations.)

 

OPENING CEREMONY AND WELCOME

President Navarro welcomed everyone and thanked those present for attending.  Mr. Tom Staley led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

President Navarro asked Mr. Kevin Kapp if the agenda was in order.  Mr. Kapp responded that it was.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming moved that the Governing Board approve the agenda as presented.  Dr. Andy Newton seconded the motion.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, and President Navarro voted aye. The motion carried 4-0.

 

PRESENTATIONS

Mr. Kevin Kapp presented Mrs. Cindy Brown with two certificates and a check for $400 for their entry in the Christmas Parade.

 

Dr. Roger Short presented the Governing Board with a plaque for receiving the Arizona School Boards Association Total Board Boardsmanship Award and individual plaques to those individual Board members who received different levels of boardsmanship through their attendance at different ASBA conferences and workshops.  He noted that this award is only granted to Boards when at least a quorum of members have attained the level of a Certificate of Boardsmanship, with the remainder having earned at least the Certificate of Orientation to Boardsmanship.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Mr. Kapp thanked Dr. Short for making the trip up from Phoenix to present this award to the Board.  He noted that professional development of board members makes for a better board and school district.

 

He distributed the January Calendar of events and discussed district enrollment numbers.  He noted that district-wide the district is up by 119 students, or 2.2%.  He reported that the elementary level is up by 87 students, the high school is up by 34 students, and the middle schools are down slightly.  He noted that January 26 would be the funding date.

 

He noted that the AIMS Prep held over the winter break had a total of 103 middle school students, while the high school had 45 students in attendance. 

 

Mr. Kapp reported that Mr. Don German had calculated how many current juniors had passed the AIMS test and shared those figures with the Board.

 

READING                       WRITING                        MATH

Statewide    60%            Statewide    63%            Statewide    41%

PHS            89%            PHS            83.8            PHS            69.5%

 

Mr. Kapp reported that last spring district students had participated in the Tri-City Student Showcase funded by Ben and Betty Valentine and that through the money raised with that project, each district had received $2,150.

 

He noted that he had already called for at least a 2-hour delay for Wednesday and that weather conditions would be re-evaluated in the morning, with a possible snow day. 

 

STUDY AND VOTING SESSION:

 

CONSIDER NOMINATIONS FOR THE REORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNING BOARD

 

          Dr. Joan Fleming nominated Dr. Andy Newton as President of the Governing Board for the next school year.  Mrs. Dee Navarro     seconded the motion.

 

          Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, and Mrs. Dee       Navarro voted aye.  Dr. Andy Newton abstained, since the vote was    regarding his nomination.  The motion carried 3-0-1.

 

Mr. Kevin Kapp presented Mrs. Dee Navarro with a plaque in recognition of her outstanding term as board president.  Mrs. Navarro stated that she had learned a lot and had really enjoyed this year.

 

Dr. Andy Newton took over the meeting as the newly elected President of the Governing Board.

 

CONSIDER DAY AND TIME FOR GOVERNING BOARD MEETINGS FOR THE YEAR 2005

 

          Dr. Joan Fleming moved that the Governing Board keep the same meeting schedule with the Study Session occurring on the first      Tuesday of each month and the Voting Session occurring on the         second Tuesday of each month with both meetings beginning at 6:00   p.m.  Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the motion.

 

Mrs. Navarro asked if Board members would like to consider starting the meeting earlier than 6:00 p.m.

 

Mr. Kapp noted that the current starting time had been chosen years ago for working families, but that it might be nice to start the meetings earlier and suggested 5:00 p.m.

 

          Dr. Joan Fleming amended her original motion to end with, “. . .    beginning at 5:00 p.m.” Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the amended   motion.

 

Mr. Tom Staley suggested 5:30 p.m. and Dr. Newton noted that he would have a difficult time getting to the meetings before 5:30 p.m.

 

          Dr. Joan Fleming amended her amendment to her original motion to      end with, “. . . beginning at 5:30 p.m.”  Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded    the amendment to the amendment.

 

President Newton called for the vote on the amended motion.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, and President Newton voted aye. The motion carried 4-0.

 

President Newton called for the vote on the original motion that now read:

 

That the Governing Board keep the same meeting schedule with the Study Session occurring on the first Tuesday of each month and the Voting Session occurring on the second Tuesday of each month with both meetings beginning at 5:30 p.m.    

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, and President Newton voted aye. The motion carried 4-0.

 

Mr. Kapp noted that occasionally it is necessary to change meeting times.

 

CONSIDER AND, IF DEEMED APPROPRIATE, ADOPT A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF BONDS OF THE DISTRICT AND THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH

Mrs. Renee Raskin distributed a packet of information regarding Class ‘B’ Bonds prepared by Stone & Youngberg and reviewed this information with the Board.  She also explained that the bond person from Stone & Youngberg was not able to attend the meeting due to the weather.  She reviewed the Summary of Upcoming Class B Bond Issue, the Summary of Bonds Outstanding, the Proposed Phased Bonding Program, the Tax Exempt Interest Rate Trends, and the Tentative Financing Calendar. (A copy of this document is available in the Superintendent’s Office.)  She answered questions from the Board and stated that rather than having the representative drive all the way up from Phoenix next week for a few questions, that if the Board would direct any other questions to her, she would find out the answers from Stone & Youngberg and review them with the Board at the Voting Session.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING AN OUT-OF-STATE TRIP FOR DR. JOAN FLEMING TO ATTEND THE FEDERAL RELATIONS NETWORK ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., JANUARY 31 – FEBRUARY 2, 2005, AS AN ASBA DELEGATE

This item was deleted, since ASBA will be paying the expenses.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE TEACHER EVALUATION SYSTEM VERIFICATION STATEMENT OF ASSURANCE FOR 2005-2006

Dr. Chris Reynolds stated that the administration believes that the district has met and exceeded the requirements expected by the Department of Education.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING A LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR CURT STUCKMAN, INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANT AT GRANITE MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL FOR THE REMAINDER OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR

Dr. Reynolds reported that this request meets the criteria required by the district and that the request is supported by his principal.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro asked if the position would be filled.  Dr. Reynolds responded that a long-term substitute would fill the position for the remainder of this school year.

 

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA:

 

CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL ACTIONS AS REQUESTED

Dr. Chris Reynolds submitted a list of employees participating in the Buy-Out and asked that the list be added as an addendum to the personnel report.  He reported that there were 14 certified staff members representing 264 years of service and 2 classified staff members representing 42 years of service, for a total of 306 years of service.  He also noted that up to seven of the certified staff members have expressed a desire to come back and work for the district next year.

 

Mr. Tom Staley asked, when they retire they have the 80 points, get their pensions and then get rehired at the bottom of the pay scale?  Dr. Reynolds responded that the district may recognize up to five years experience on the pay scale and start them at step 6 and in the appropriate column.

 

Mr. Staley stated that it’s a great program, but the district pays for the medical insurance after the first year, which is one of the most costly benefits.  

 

Mr. Kapp noted that the district saves about 20% when re-hiring retirees.

 

Mr. Staley clarified, except for the cost of medical benefits.

 

CONSIDER ACCEPTING THE DONATIONS AS PRESENTED

 

CONSIDER RATIFYING THE VOUCHERS AS PRESENTED

 

CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF THE AUXILIARY OPERATIONS AND STUDENT ACTIVITIES FUND STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER 2004

 

CONSIDER THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD STUDY SESSION OF DECEMBER 13, 2004, THE SPECIAL STUDY AND VOTING SESSION OF DECEMBER 20, 2004, AND THE VOTING SESSION OF DECEMBER 21, 2004

 

ADJOURNMENT

Hearing no objection, President Newton adjourned the meeting at 6:40 p.m.

 

___________________________________

Governing Board Member