February 14, 2006

 

Minutes of the Governing Board Voting Session of Tuesday, February 14, 2006, beginning at 5:30 p.m. held in the District Office Board Room.

 

Governing Board Members Present:

 

President Joan Fleming

Dr. Andy Newton

Mrs. Dee Navarro

Mr. Tom Staley

                                          Mr. Steve Campbell

 

Also Present:

Mr. Kevin Kapp, Superintendent

Dr. Chris Reynolds, Assistant Superintendent

Mrs. Renee Raskin, Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Spencer Johnson, Student Representative

Mrs. Andrea Mayer, Assistant to the Governing Board

 

Others Present:

 

          Dorrean Walker             David Martin                  Mrs. Regnier

          Mr. Regnier                    Anjuli Regnier               Nicole McNally

          Hilary Dartt                    Bill Monroe                                                         

CALL TO ORDER

President Joan Fleming called the meeting to order at 5:32 p.m.

 

OPENING CEREMONY AND WELCOME

Mr. Steve Campbell led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and President Fleming welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

President Fleming asked Mr. Kapp if the agenda was in order.  Mr. Kapp responded that it was and called attention to Item 8A that was added to the agenda.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve the agenda as presented. Mr. Steve Campbell seconded the motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

PRESENTATIONS

Mr. Kevin Kapp noted that the Governing Board wished to recognize the Prescott Jaycees.  President Fleming thanked representatives from the Jaycees for their organization’s support to the community and to the schools.  Mr. Kapp introduced Mrs. Nicole McNally, Coordinator for Kids & Company.  Mrs. McNally reported that she had approached the Jaycees to assist Kids & Co. in their Toy Drive.  She noted that the organization adopted their whole program and delivered 213 toys, along with some clothes for all of the children.  She noted that they also gave support to 5-6 other charities within the tri-city area.  Mrs. McNally thanked them for all of their hard work and presented them with a plaque of recognition from the school district.

 

Mr. Kapp introduced Miss Anjuli Regnier, a very talented young lady from the high school woodworking program who constructed the new lectern in the Board Room.  Mr. Kapp presented her with a certificate of recognition and also recognized Mr. Tom Bockman (who was not in attendance) for continuously getting students involved in projects like this one.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Mr. Kapp welcomed Ms. Lauren Milette from KYCA as our new school reporter.

 

Mr. Kapp reported that he had sent the final proof for the new district brochure to Phoenix for publication and that the new brochures will be available at the School Fair on February 25th.  He noted that through the generosity of 21 business sponsors, the cost of printing the brochure was almost entirely paid for by our business sponsors.

 

Mr. Kapp distributed the 100th day preliminary numbers from January 24th to the Board and reported that the elementary schools were up by about 20 students over last year’s count (about 1%), the middle schools were up by about 13 students over last year’s count (about 1%), and the high school was up by about 46 students for a total district-wide of 103 students (about 2%).  He explained that ADM numbers are always lower than enrollment numbers because of the use of a formula.  He noted that there is some concern about the slower growth at the middle school level and that marketing efforts may be refocused at that level.

 

VOTING SESSION:

         

CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE PRELIMINARY MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS BUDGET LIMIT, THE CAPITAL OUTLAY BUDGET LIMIT, AND THE SOFT CAPITAL BUDGET LIMIT

 

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board approve the   preliminary Maintenance and Operations Budget Limit, the Capital         Outlay Budget Limit, and the Soft Capital Budget Limit.  Mrs. Dee        Navarro seconded the motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER ADOPTING A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE AND SALE OF BONDS OF THE DISTRICT AND THE ANCILLARY DOCUMENTS CONNECTED THEREWITH

 

          Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board adopt a    resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of bonds of the district   and the ancillary documents connected therewith.  Mr. Steve    Campbell seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Steve Campbell asked what the amount would be.  Mrs. Raskin responded approximately $14.7 million.

 

Mr. Tom Staley suggested looking at getting a better interest rate.

 

Mr. Kapp responded that he would check into the legalities of doing so and e-mail the response to Board members.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER 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

 

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board approve 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.  Dr. Andy Newton seconded the    motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro asked if everyone had received an e-mail from Dexter this afternoon regarding a program placement proposal.

 

Mr. Kapp stated that he had a meeting scheduled for tomorrow at Dexter with the key people and that the proposal Mrs. Navarro was alluding was very interesting.

 

Mrs. Navarro stated that she had some concerns regarding the location of Northpoint at Dexter.  She noted that parents who have contacted her are concerned that it’s not really a high school atmosphere and may not allow their children to attend.

 

President Fleming stated that she has also received some concerns from parents about preschool children and high school students being located at the same site.

 

Mrs. Navarro stated that the proposed program placement might sway her vote.

 

President Fleming pointed out that if we don’t move this high school to Dexter, we will lose it and to keep in mind that the location is temporary for two years maximum or less.

 

Mr. Kapp noted that he has had some contact with parents and that there was some misinformation.  He noted that regarding traffic, there is more traffic now with NAU than there would be with 9th grade students.  He noted that the two student populations would not be mixed and that the programs would be independent of one another.  He reported that 80 students have already registered for the 100 available openings.  He stated that he would attend the meeting tomorrow and report the outcome of that meeting to the Board.

 

Mr. Staley noted that he had a lot of concerns also.  He stated that the ELOB theory is wonderful, but that it will cost $50,000 to open the school and $177,000 in M & O.  He stated that with tuition of approximately $4,500 per student, it would take 40 new students to fund the program.  He asked if some of the grant money would pay for those expenses.

 

Mr. Kapp noted that grant money would pay for half of the director and the instructional guide.  He estimated that between 30-40 students were from out-of-district.

 

Mr. Staley asked how much of the $177,000 the grant cover would.  Mr. Kapp responded, approximately 25-30%.  Mr. Staley noted that between $118,000-$120,000 would still have to come from M & O and he felt that this proposal was being rushed, that he didn’t feel the numbers were working out and didn’t feel he could support this proposal.

 

President Fleming stated that by not going forward with Northpoint it could damage our credibility within the community and that we already have 80 students signed up, with room for 20 more.  She stated that she felt the district needed to go through with this proposal.

 

Dr. Andy Newton stated that he did not feel it was that great of a risk and that the facility was a school that used to house 500 students.  He added that he thought it was an exciting program and that the district has a grant that will help to get the program started.

 

Mr. Steve Campbell stated that he felt it would be another choice for students and that by having that other choice, hopefully it will help to draw more students to the district.  He stated that the high school population is more mobile, which allows them to drive from other districts to attend the school of their choice, which is not the case with the K-8 student population.  He added that because of that mobility, he felt the best chance for growth is at the high school level.

 

Mr. Staley asked, if we discontinue the program, what happens to the grant money?  Mr. Kapp responded, we would send back whatever was in the budget for the following years.  He stated that he thought the district should take on this endeavor and felt that we would have enough out-of-district students to support the program.  He added that credibility is a key issue and that it was one of the Board’s goals to offer more choices for students.  He stated that he felt the logistics of locating the program at Dexter were very workable.  He noted that of the 8-9 classrooms being vacated by NAU, only four would be used for this program.

 

Mr. Staley stated that he had no problem with the program, but felt that the implementation has been rushed and that he was concerned about the finances knowing that the district will have to add 40 new students every year.  He stated that the credibility issue is a doubled-edged sword and that the NAU students were there at night.

 

Mrs. Navarro noted that the NAU students were there also during the day.

 

Mr. Kapp noted that the Master’s program was scheduled in the evenings, with the under-grad program scheduled during the day.  He noted that NAU has been at the Dexter site for eight years and we have not had one problem with those two populations being housed at the same site.

 

Mrs. Navarro stated that she would support this proposal with the stipulation that the district really pursues the employee’s proposal

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted nay, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 4-1.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING AUTHORIZATION FOR THE DISTRICT TO INITIATE AN APPRAISAL AND SURVEY FOR DISTRICT-OWNED PROPERTY (THE NATURE CENTER ADJACENT TO GRANITE MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL)

 

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board approve an    authorization for the district to initiate an appraisal and survey for      district-owned property (the Nature Center adjacent to Granite        Mountain Middle School).  Dr. Andy Newton seconded the motion.

Mr. Tom Staley stated that he felt the fee from Huck Appraisal seemed to be a very reasonable rate and the $10,000-$12,000 survey cost was for the entire Granite Mountain Middle School Property.

 

Mr. Kapp reported that he has been receiving calls regarding why the Board is pursuing this and noted that the district needs the value of the property before deciding whether to sell it or not.

 

Mr. Staley stated that he believed it was worth $2.5-4 million, that the Nature Center was great, but has since moved and the property is just sitting there and not generating any revenue – an asset that we could use for other programs.

 

President Fleming noted that November would be the earliest election the district could put this item on the ballot. 

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER 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 AND ADDITIONAL CLASSROOMS AT TAYLOR HICKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AS PART OF THE PHASE I BOND PROJECTS

 

          Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve a          request for competitive sealed bids (#PUSD-05-THAJ-BLDG-P1) for         additional classrooms at Abia Judd Elementary School and the     Multi-Purpose Building and additional classrooms at Taylor Hicks         Elementary School as part of the Phase I bond projects.  Mr. Steve Campbell seconded the motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

         

CONSIDER 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

 

          Dr. Andy Newton moved that the Governing Board approve 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.      Mr. Steve Campbell seconded the motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER REVIEWING AND ADOPTING A CHANGE TO GOVERNING BOARD POLICY IJNDB – USE OF TECHNOLOGY RESOURCES IN INSTRUCTION

 

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board adopt the       proposed changes to Governing Board Policy IJNDB – Use of      Technology Resources in Instruction.  Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the    motion.

 

Mr. Staley noted that the proposal was to no loner require employees or students to have to sign the use agreement and that he had suggested having everyone take care of the agreement on a computer screen.  He stated that he was concerned about not having a paper trail from a legal standpoint, especially for teachers.  He asked if it could be done electronically.

 

Mr. Kapp responded that the IT department believes it could be done electronically and that every year, as soon as a student or employee logs on for the first time, before they can go any further, they must read the agreement and accept or decline the policy.

 

Mr. Staley stated that he would feel much more comfortable with some kind of documentation.

 

Mr. Kapp suggested amending the motion to include “change in policy which would include a procedure in which all employees must log on to their computer and either accept or decline the policy, with electronic documentation.

 

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved to amend his original motion to include

          “with the additional stipulation that every employee must     electronically acknowledge receipt of the policy every year.”  Mrs.        Dee Navarro seconded the amended motion.

 

President Fleming called for the vote on the amended motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

President Fleming called for the vote on the original motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

The approved motion now reads that “the Governing Board adopt a change to Governing Board Policy IJNDB – Use of Technology Resources in Instruction with the additional stipulation that every employee must electronically acknowledge receipt of the policy every year.”

 

CONSIDER REVIEWING AND ADOPTING POLICY SERVICES ADVISORY, VOLUME 18, NUMBER 1, FOR JANUARY 2006, REGARDING POLICY ADVISORY NUMBERS 261-264

 

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board adopt Policy Services Advisory, Volume 18, Number 1, for January 2006, regarding Policy Advisory Numbers 261-264.  Dr. Andy Newton        seconded the motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE RESIGNATION AND RELEASE OF MS. STEPHANI PALADINO, GRANITE MOUNTAIN MIDDLE SCHOOL CAI LANGUAGE AND SCIENCE TEACHER, FROM HER 2005-2006 TEACHING CONTRACT WITH PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT UPON THE HIRING OF A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT

 

          Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve the       resignation and release of Ms. Stephani Paladino, Granite Mountain    Middle School CAI Language and Science teacher, from her 2005-       2006 teaching contract with Prescott Unified School District upon        the hiring of a suitable replacement.  Mr. Steve Campbell seconded         the motion.

 

Dr. Chris Reynolds reported that this was a part-time position at Granite Mountain for computer assisted instruction and that the teacher was seeking full-time employment outside of the district.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

Mr. Staley noted that he asked for a new line item for tax credits for each school and asked if that was being pursued.  Mr. Kapp responded that it was being pursued.

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board approve the   Consent Agenda as presented. Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the          motion.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Dr. Andy Newton voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, and President Fleming voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL ACTIONS AS PRESENTED

 

Certified Staff Employments:  Lee Ficker, Lisa Leo, Joan Pirtle, Barbara Schuderer, and Ken Truelock.

 

Certified Staff Resignations:  None.

 

New Substitute Teachers: (Total of 135)  David Brandstein, Devon Carberry, Troy Carreras, Lisa Davis, Donald Eidson, Chris Ferguson, Cynthia Hancock, Mary Rose Kelly, Debbie Lamb, Terry Morgan, Michael Myers, Rick Rennix, Michelle Roderick, and Erica Ryberg.

 

Classified Staff Employments: Elmer Arno0ld, Roxanna DeLaHuerta, Mary Downey, Barbara Gruhlkey, Duane Halsey, Jeremy Hust, Maurice Kabisch, Darren Price, Lesley Russell, and Don Williams.

 

Classified Staff Resignations: Kristin Brooks, Rosendo DeLaCruz, Deanna Eder, Nicholas Ferrero, Darrell McClintock, Levi Munderloh, Lindley Murray, and Connie Silva.

 

New Volunteers: Robert Adams.

 

Funding and status for the above as designated in the Personnel Report supplied in the Board Briefing.

 

The acceptance of donations as presented:

 

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 WalMart to the Gold Mine program at Miller Valley Elementary School.

 

 

 

 

 

The ratification of vouchers as presented:

 

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

 

Consider approving the Auxiliary Operations and Student Activities Fund Statement of Receipts and Disbursements for the month of December 2005 as presented.

 

Consider the review and approval of previous minutes from the

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

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Hearing no objection, President Joan Fleming adjourned the meeting at 6:48 p.m.

 

 

 

___________________________________

Governing Board Member