PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

146 South Granite Street

Prescott, Arizona 86303

 

 

January 11, 2005

 

Minutes of the Governing Board Voting Session of Tuesday, January 11, 2005, beginning at 6:30 p.m. held in the District Office Board Room.

 

Governing Board Members Present:

 

President Andy Newton

Dr. Joan Fleming

Mrs. Dee Navarro

Mr. Tom Staley

 

          Absent:                    Mr. Steve Campbell

 

Also Present:

Mr. Kevin Kapp, Superintendent

Dr. Chris Reynolds, Assistant Superintendent

Mrs. Renee Raskin, Director of Business Services

Mrs. Andi Mayer, Assistant to the Governing Board

 

Others Present:   

                                                                                      

Don German                  Bruce Taylor                  Bill Monroe

Hilary Eller                    Jo Berger                       Ted Rose                                                             

CALL TO ORDER

President Andy Newton called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m.

 

OPENING CEREMONY AND WELCOME

Mrs. Dee Navarro led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and President Newton welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

President Newton asked Mr. Kapp if the agenda was in order.  Mr. Kapp replied that the agenda was in order, but that due to the rain he doubted that the people for the presentation would show up.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve the agenda as presented.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

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

 

PRESENTATIONS

No presentations took place due to the weather.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Mr. Kevin Kapp reported that the bridge on Carleton at Prescott Mile High Middle School had been closed this afternoon due to the heavy rains and because this particular bridge was built lower than the bridges on Granite and Aubrey.

 

He reported that he had just returned from Lake Havasu City and that he had been invited to speak to their district’s principals and directors regarding the marketing plan used by our district.

 

VOTING SESSION:

 

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

 

Dr. Joan Fleming moved that the Governing Board adopt the resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds of the district and the ancillary documents connected therewith.  Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the motion.

 

Mrs. Renee Raskin reported that the proceeds from the issuance of the bonds would be available on the closing date in early March (which was an answer to a question posed by a board member at the study session).  She also noted that the actual sales period would be 2-4 hours.

 

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

 

CONSIDER APPROVING A LEASE AGREEMENT WITH YAVAPAI COLLEGE FOR THE PEAK PORTABLE BUILDING THROUGH THE END OF 2006 AT NO COST TO YAVAPAI COLLEGE

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve a lease agreement with Yavapai College for the PEAK portable building through the end of 2006 at no cost to Yavapai College.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Kapp invited two representatives from Yavapai College to give a little history on the PEAK building and introduced Ms. Jo Berger and Mr. Ted Rose.

 

Ms. Berger reported that 11 years ago the PEAK building was moved to the Yavapai College campus, that PUSD owns the building, and that Yavapai College at that time had provided a site for the building and maintenance for the building.  She noted that Yavapai College had spent approximately $9,000 for the skirting around the building and for the ADA approved ramp for handicap access and had also paid for the electric and utility costs over the last several years.  After the PEAK program was moved in September, the building has sat on the campus empty.  She stated that the college would like to use it as an opportunity to house some faculty and classrooms for the next two years.

 

Mrs. Navarro asked how much the building was worth.  Mr. Kapp responded approximately $10,000-$15,000.

 

Mr. Kapp asked if the building could be sold from that location once the college was through with it.  Ms. Berger responded that that point was not covered in the lease; however she was sure it could be arranged.  Mr. Rose stated that it would be so much easier for the district to sell the building from the college campus and that it could be added to the lease and he had no problem at all doing that.

 

Mrs. Navarro stated that she was against leasing the building for free and suggested that the district donates the building to the college.

 

Mr. Tom Staley stated that he agreed with Mrs. Navarro, especially since they have put so much money into the building while it was located on their campus.

 

          Mr. Tom Staley moved to amend the original motion to read that the        Governing Board consider donating the old PEAK building to        Yavapai College. Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Kapp stated that the district might need to check the legalities regarding donating the building.

 

President Newton suggested approving the motion for the lease while the district checks on the legal implications of donating the building.

 

President Newton called for the vote on the amended motion.

 

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

 

President Newton called for the vote on the original motion.

 

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

 

Mr. Kapp clarified that the administration has been directed to check on the legalities of the district donating the portable building.  He noted that this would go back on the agenda in February.

 

Mr. Staley suggested that if donation was not possible, that the district sell the building for $1.00.

 

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

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve the Teacher Evaluation System Verification Statement of Assurance for 2005-2006.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

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

 

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

 

Mr. Tom Staley moved that the Governing Board approve the leave of absence for Curt Stuckman for the remainder of the school year.  Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the motion.

 

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

 

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

Dr. Chris Reynolds noted that regarding those positions becoming available due to employees participating in the Buy-Out, the district is planning on posting those positions tomorrow for those not planning on returning to the district.  He noted that if the administrator recommends rehiring, then the district would make that commitment.  He noted that his office is aware of seven employees that would like to return and that a verbal commitment would be made to those employees.

 

Mr. Staley noted that out of those seven positions the district is assuming that they won’t find a more qualified applicant.

 

Dr. Reynolds responded that he was not assuming that, but that the district has a very highly qualified staff and with the administrator’s recommendation, he felt comfortable doing so.

 

Mr. Staley asked if the district was planning on addressing the issue of medical insurance for these folks at some time in the future.

 

Dr. Reynolds noted that during the first year of rehire the district does not pay for their medical insurance and that beyond that, if we employ them and they work fulltime, the district offers medical insurance.

 

Mrs. Navarro noted that when they come back after the first year, they help pay for part of their insurance.  Mrs. Raskin noted they don’t if they are fulltime employees and that they are not treated differently than other teachers.

 

Mr. Staley stated that the district should treat them differently because they are different and that there is a perception that they are “double dipping” and the district should look at whether those rehires would pay for their own insurance, or part of it.

 

Mrs. Navarro stated that it bears looking into and would require a policy change.

 

Mr. Kapp stated that it needed to be addressed at an EBT meeting.

 

Dr. Fleming stated that we know it is legal to rehire, but that she’d like to know what other districts do with respect to health benefits that second year.

 

Dr. Reynolds agreed that EBT should be the first group to look into it and make a recommendation.

 

Mr. Staley asked, what if there is someone out there that is more highly qualified.  He noted that he understood that the principal recommends whether that teacher is outstanding, but don’t you think they do that based on the fact that they know them?

 

Mr. Kapp noted that the principals have the option of looking at other applicants if they want to.

 

Mr. Staley suggested that maybe the district should post all of those positions and make retirees apply for those positions along with everyone else.

 

Mrs. Navarro stated that she thought the principals have good judgment regarding personnel and are working with Dr. Reynolds and Mr. Kapp.

 

Mr. Kapp noted that the rehiring process could get interesting in Arizona with a teacher shortage.  He noted that Lake Havasu City has 22 teaching positions currently filled with long term substitutes and that they are desperate to hire qualified teachers.

 

Dr. Fleming stated that it’s a double-edged sword with risks on both sides.

 

President Newton asked for a motion regarding the Consent Agenda.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve the Consent Agenda as presented.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

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

 

Certified Staff Employments:  None.

 

Certified Staff Resignations:  Kathleen Balistreri, Thomas Bird and Barbara

Frank.

 

Buy-Out Participants: 

Certified - Jim Littleton, Ken Kissel, Renee Vitello, Pat Gulley,

Linda Anderson, Ed Leware, Ron Hansen, Betsy Miner, Cheryl Moran, Helga

Krantz, Kathy Ehrisman, Mary Aker, Kelton Aker and Rebecca Rusling.

 

Classified – Nanci Riggle and Lucy Rodarte.

 

New Substitute Teachers: (Total 128)  Rosemary Bartolomeo, Larmare Mace, Bob Culbertson and Dinah Stecki.

 

Classified Staff Employments:  Judith Coburn, Ann Dalton, Jettye Davis, Rose Phillips, Patti Stack and Kurt Waldo.

 

Classified Staff Resignations:  None.

 

New Volunteers:  None

 

The acceptance of donations as presented:

 

The following have donated to the Prescott High School Community Works Class.

 

                   Lifetime Enterprises, Inc.                               $50.00

                   Guilkey Construction                                     $50.00

                   James and Ginger Rhodes                             $25.00

 

One hundred and fifty dollars from Mr. and Mrs. Robert Hausler, to the B.E.S.T. program at Granite Mountain Middle School.

 

A microwave valued at $80 from Mrs. Mukund Patel, to Granite Mountain Middle School.

 

Custom-built cabinets valued at $160 from Mr. Dan Kreyling for the first grade classroom at Lincoln Elementary School.

 

The ratification of vouchers as presented:

 

Voucher #                                                              Amount

 

Payroll Voucher #12                                            $916,268.66

Expenditure Voucher #5041                                  $55,312.24

Expenditure Voucher #5042                                  $60,876.14

Expenditure Voucher #5043                                  $25,908.04

Expenditure Voucher #5044                                $312,641.93

 

Consider approving the Auxiliary Operations and Student activities Fund Statement of Receipts and Disbursements for the month of  November 2004 as presented.

 

Consider the review and approval of previous minutes from the

Governing Board Study of December 13, 2004, the Special Study and Voting Session of December 20, 2004, and the Voting Session of December 21, 2004 as presented.

 

Mr. Kapp reminded the Board of the Mid-Year Planning Retreat to be held on January 19th at the Mountain Club Clubhouse and to submit agenda items to his office with tomorrow afternoon as the deadline.  He also noted that he had invited the DLT to attend and also the media.

 

He also asked the Board how they would like to re-post the February 8th Study Session since most Board members would be on their way to Phoenix for the Legislative Conference.  There was a general consensus that the February Study Session should be re-posted for Monday, February 7th.

 

He also noted that Joan Fleming, Dee Navarro and himself were planning on attending the NSBA Conference in San Diego and that if other Board members were interested, to please let him know ASAP.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Hearing no objection, President Newton adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m.

 

___________________________________

Governing Board Member