PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1
146 South Granite Street
Prescott, Arizona 86303
April 5, 2005
Minutes of the Governing
Board Study/Voting Session of Tuesday, April 5, 2005, beginning at 5:30
p.m. held in the District Office Board Room.
Governing Board Members
Present:
President Andy Newton
Mrs. Dee Navarro
Mr. Steve Campbell
Dr. Joan Fleming
Mr. Tom Staley
Also Present:
Mr. Kevin J. Kapp,
Superintendent
Dr. Chris Reynolds,
Assistant Superintendent
Mrs. Renee Raskin,
Business Manager
Miss Justin Bunger,
Student Representative
Mrs. Andi Mayer, Assistant
to the Governing Board
Others Present:
Jim
Williams Jay Collier Connie Ricks
David
Martin Libby Sluder Debbie Grahlmann
Mary Ellen Sandeen Judy Paris Rennie Anderson
Nancy
Martinez Cathee Kelly Laura Fields
Tim
Erickson Cheri Arnold Jan Richards
Les
Richards Michele Cimorelli Cambria Gloyd
Mardi
Read Pamela Kramer Leisa Geiler
Roberta
Schamber Denise Smith Shawna Hodovance
Kathy
Whitted Robert Culbertson Terri Dundas
Kathleen
Newman Sue Dykeman Sue Geske
Hilary
Eller Diane Ryan Arn Lavington
Jay
Collier Bill Munson Mary
Anne Kapp
Totsy
McCraley Ann Sult Marilyn Sieckmann
Frank
Lawhead Jane Robertson Dorrean Walker
Debbie
Kuhnke Kevin Keighron Jalyn Bacon-Dorow
Marianne Brooks Dave McGee
CALL TO ORDER
President Andy Newton
called the meeting to order at 5:49 p.m.
OPENING CEREMONY AND
WELCOME
President Newton welcomed
everyone and thanked those present for attending. Miss Justine Bunger led
the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
President Newton asked Mr.
Kevin Kapp if the agenda was in order. Mr. Kapp responded that under
presentations, Item No. 1 would have to be rescheduled for next week, and
that under Item G, both number 1 and 2 needed to be deleted.
Dr. Chris Reynolds
informed the Governing Board that Mr. Cole Young had withdrawn his
interest in the principalship for Taylor Hicks Elementary School.
Dr. Joan Fleming moved
that the Governing Board approve the agenda as amended. Mr. Steve
Campbell seconded the motion.
Mr. Steve Campbell voted
aye, Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dee Navarro voted aye, Mr. Tom
Staley voted aye, and President Newton voted aye. The motion carried 5-0.
PRESENTATIONS
The planned presentation
was rescheduled for next week.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Mr. Kevin Kapp distributed
the Calendar of Events for April and noted that the calendar was filled
with activities all month.
He noted that there was
new art displayed in the Board Room. He announced that Joe Howard would
find out in a week from Thursday the status of the A+ visit and that
Prescott Mile High Middle School had a wonderful visit with the A+ team.
Mr. Kapp commented, whatever happens, congratulations to the Prescott Mile
High staff for all their hard work.
Mr. Kapp reported that
last Friday and Saturday, several people from the district were in
attendance at a Professional Development Leadership Academy meeting in
Phoenix. He noted that all members worked very hard and would be making a
presentation to the Board regarding a professional development plan.
He noted that the Adjusted
Dismissal Committee had also met yesterday and will be making a proposal
to the Board in May.
Mrs. Dee Navarro stated
that after having spent one full day working with the PDLA team, she
wanted the Board to know what a hard job they had and what a good job they
are doing.
Mr. Kapp noted that he had
met with the principals this morning regarding tracking registration
numbers for next year. Last year the principals met on April 19th
to compare numbers and this year the principals met on April 5th
and elementary enrollment numbers are already up by over 100 students over
last year. He noted that this growth will present some challenges and if
the numbers hold would mean about a 5% growth at that level. He stated
that numbers from the middle schools were not available yet and that
numbers at the high school were about the same as last year. He reported
that 55 students did register last night at the high school’s open
enrollment registration.
Mr. Kapp distributed a
handout to the Governing Board regarding Expeditionary Learning. He noted
that he has been discussing a possible partnership with Skyview School,
Prescott College and our district regarding expeditionary learning. He
noted that this is an approach to learning that uses many things,
including real-world projects called learning expeditions, as well as
outdoor education. He noted that he and Mrs. Totsy McCraley had recently
attended a conference on this topic in Denver. He noted that he would be
giving the Board more details on this subject in May or at the summer
retreat.
Mr. Kapp stated that he
wanted to give the Governing Board updates on the bond projects and on the
APS projects each month and noted that both Arn Lavington and Jay Collier
would be making a presentation regarding these updates.
Mr. Arn Lavington showed
the Governing Board some aerial photographs of both Prescott High School
and Taylor Hicks Elementary School and noted that they would be used by
Mike Taylor for both projects. He stated that there were many things
going on at this time and complimented Mr. Jay Collier for all his hard
work on these projects.
Mr. Lavington reviewed an
overhead presentation with the Governing Board. He reported on Phase I
and Phase II roofing projects, lock projects, APS projects and related
bond/building renewal projects, as well as change orders. He noted those
projects that had come in under budget, as well as those that needed
additional funding, and discussed what accounts the funding would come
from. Please refer to Attachment #1.
Mr. Jay Collier gave an
update on the lock projects, security concerns, and developing a coherent
key system with BEST locks for the district. He noted that Prescott High
School, Lincoln, Granite Mountain and Prescott Mile High Middle School
projects would be done during Phase I and hopefully completed by May. All
other elementary school and sites will be done during Phase II of bond
projects.
Dr. Fleming noted that
lots of monies were identified as coming out of building renewal and asked
if the Board would be getting a report regarding this account. Mrs. Renee
Raskin responded that she would give an update to the Board at the Voting
Session.
Mr. Kapp thanked both Arn
Lavington and Jay Collier for their hard work. He also noted that the
Board would receive a summary on contingency funds in the future. He
reported that all this type of information would be posted on the
district’s website to keep the public updated on the progress of these
projects.
STUDY/VOTING SESSION:
CONIDER HOLDING A
FORMAL STUDENT EXPULSION HEARING IN OPEN SESSION, IF SO REQUESTED BY THE
STUDENT’S PARENTS/GUARDIANS, OR THE STUDENT, IF EMANCIPATED
This item was deleted,
since the parent opted to have the hearing in closed executive session.
CONSIDER APPROVING THE
SELECTION OF MR. COLE YOUNG AS PRINCIPAL OF TAYLOR HICKS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
FOR THE 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR
This item was deleted,
since Mr. Cole Young withdrew his interest in the principalship.
CONSIDER APPROVING THE
EXPANSION OF THE PARTNERS FOR HEALTH STUDENTS PROGRAM TO PRESCOTT HIGH
SCHOOL
Mr. Kapp noted that the
district has enjoyed a wonderful relationship with Yavapai Regional
Medical Center for the past four years with this program. He reported
that the program was first implemented in the elementary schools, then the
middle schools, and most recently the preschool. He stated that the
district was now looking at implementing the program at the high school
level. He noted that any students under 18 would still require the
presence of their parents/guardians in order to receive services. He
introduced Mary Ellen Sandeen and Kevin Keighron from Yavapai Regional
Medical Center to talk about the program.
Mrs. Sandeen noted that
the program has been in existence in this district since 2001. She
reported that it has been very successful in caring for the children of
the district. She noted that there were three licensed sites – one at
Washington Traditional School, one at the Territorial Elementary in Chino
Valley, and one at Lake Valley Elementary in Prescott Valley. She noted
that these sites are open three days a week on Tuesday, Wednesday and
Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. She reported that since the programs
inception there have been approximately 600 visits by PUSD students with
no complaints. She stated that students from the high school would have
to visit one of the three sites mentioned earlier for services. She
stated that the program offers same day appointments and that she could
see no problems with adding on high school students. She reported that
this program does not provide any reproductive services or orthopedic care
for injuries. She noted that the program has offered some sports
physicals for some of the students.
Dr. Fleming asked if Chino
Valley and Humboldt were also adding this program for their high school
students. Mrs. Sandeen responded that those districts have offered
services for their high schools since 2001.
Mr. Kapp noted that the
district is looking at the possibility of moving the program out of
Washington Traditional School to the Dexter Family Resource Center, due to
the small size of the current site. He added that this would help the
preschool students and be in a more centralized location. He also
reported that PUSD only pays for the space and the electricity.
Mrs. Sandeen reported that
most of the students they see come from Miller Valley Elementary School
and that Dexter would be closer for them than Washington.
CONSIDER APPROVING THE
FOLLOWING EXPENDITURES $(___________)
UTILIZING 2004-2005
SUDDEN GROWTH MONIES
Mr. Kapp reported that one
advantage of growing is the availability of sudden growth money. He noted
that the district has been very frugal with this money and there was
approximately $480,000 still remaining. He noted that this is one time
money so should be spent on things that are one time only. He noted that
possible items this money could be spent on were listed in the Board
Briefing, such as: to cover the cost of the buy-out, instead of raising
rates for insurance to cover the costs, maintenance supplies, etc. He
stated that the district is currently seeing quite a lot of growth and is
already planning on adding another section of 2nd grade at Abia
Judd. He added that there are already enough students to warrant another
teacher.
Mrs. Raskin noted that
this represents growth of 10 students at the preschool level, 87 students
at the K-8 level, and 43 students at the high school level.
Mr. Steve Campbell
suggested that the district wait on signage until after all the bond
projects are completed and that he would support the buy-out and EBT.
Mr. Kapp noted that the
district could try to spend the bare minimum and carry over the rest of
the funds.
Mrs. Dee Navarro stated
that teachers spend so much on classroom supplies and that she sees that
on tax returns all the time.
Dr. Fleming noted that the
district was paying teachers out of the sudden growth money. Mr. Kapp
responded that if the numbers are there it would then roll into the
budget.
Dr. Fleming asked, what
about the P.E. teachers? Mr. Kapp responded that would be for all of the
elementary P.E. teachers and would then relieve the tax credit budget.
Dr. Fleming stated that
she thought Title I had picked up the teachers. Mr. Kapp noted that Title
I was paying 20% of teacher salaries with reduced class size. He noted
that the administration had come to the Board regarding 4th
grade at Miller Valley, that the Title I funding had been pulled and had
to be replaced with sudden growth money.
Dr. Fleming asked, and
this is what’s left? Mrs. Renee Raskin responded, yes.
President Newton stated
that he would also support EBT and the buy-out.
Dr. Fleming noted that by
using this money it would free up tax credit monies for some of the
schools.
CONSIDER APPROVING A
METHOD OF DISTRIBUTION FOR THE INSTRUCTIONAL IMPROVEMENT FUND MONEY
(PROPOSITION 202) FOR TEACHER COMPENSATION
Mrs. Raskin noted that
this was the second year the district has received Proposition 202 money
and that up to 50% of it can be used for teacher compensation and class
size reduction. She added that the other 50% must be used for drop-out
prevention and instructional improvements.
She stated that the Board
needed to decide how to distribute those funds to teachers; whether to use
a tiered procedure or evenly distribute the money. She reported that the
district has received $103,000 and it was projected to be $120,000.
Mrs. Navarro asked if the
.5 FTE and 1 FTE teacher salaries would be rolled over to M & O. Mrs.
Raskin responded that they would stay on Proposition 202 funding.
Mr. Steve Campbell
clarified, you would like us to give you a set way of distributing this
money? Mrs. Raskin responded yes, that way the district would not have to
come back to the Board every year to determine how to distribute that 50%
of the money.
Mr. Tom Staley asked, can
we increase that amount? Mr. Campbell responded up to, but not more than
50%.
Dr. Fleming stated that
she felt these monies were going to increase and suggested paying the flat
rate.
Mr. Campbell, President
Newton and Mrs. Navarro all agreed.
Mr. Staley asked, would
the instructional program include supplies? Mrs. Raskin responded, no –
it must be a program.
CONSIDER APPROVING A
NEW TEACHER SALARY SCHEDULE FOR POSSIBLE IMPLEMENTATION PENDING FUNDING
FOR THE 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR
Dr. Chris Reynolds noted
that Mrs. Dorrean Walker and Mr. Dave Martin were representing the PEA.
He asked the Board to please look at Item A of the Board Briefing and that
it should read: “All new hires for 2005-2006 would be placed on the
2004-2005 salary schedule using current hiring practices, granting no more
than five years experience. They would then slide onto the new salary
schedule (2006-2007 school year) with all current staff.”
Mrs. Dorrean Walker
thanked the Board for the opportunity to come back with a revised proposal
and that they had tried to take into consideration the Board’s concerns
voiced at the last meeting.
Mr. Jim Williams noted
that the Board had been concerned about a 3% index and with a $30,000 base
salary. He reported that they had not done a salary schedule with those
figures because they had used the new salary schedules that were approved
for all other schedules for psychologists, administrators, etc. He noted
that all were improved dramatically on the career end of the schedule. He
admitted that the original schedule had been based on the wrong figures.
He stated that all administrators end up in the $70,000-$80,000 range for
career salaries and that the current teacher career salary was $45,600.
He stated that that was
one of the driving forces for developing the proposed schedule, because
the career salary of $59,600 was in that range and comparable to the other
schedules. He went on to say that all the other schedules only need 12
years to reach the maximum salary, while teachers need 15 years. He noted
that it takes 85 hours for a teacher to do that and 15 hours for an
administrator and that’s why he didn’t give the Board a schedule based on
a 3% index, but used a 3.5% index instead.
He noted that this
proposal has a beginning salary of $30,000 and a career salary of
$59,694. He stated that the district would be looking at $5 million to
implement the proposed schedule if everyone just moved over. He stated
that the teachers were willing to take a hit and make a sacrifice in order
to make the implementation of the proposed schedule less expensive. He
pointed out that no one would be on more than step 6 and were willing to
make that sacrifice in order to make it work for the potential of a
$59,694 career salary rather than a $45,600.
He stated that by
implementing the proposed schedule a certain way it would reduce the
amount needed for implementation from $5 million to $500,000. He stated
that the bottom line for implementation would be $434,560.97.
Mr. Campbell asked, what
is the cost to be in years to come?
Mr. Williams responded,
every new salary schedule you’ve approved has cost extra to implement and
fund every year. He noted that a new step would cost $381,000 to fund a
new step next year. He stated that the district was already spending
$315,000, according to Renee. He added that the cost is mostly new
teachers going from $24,500 to $30,000.
Mr. Staley asked, have you
taken that figure out over two, three, or four years? Mr. Williams
responded, no. It would be slightly higher.
President Newton stated
that his recollection was that a step for teachers cost about $200,000.
Mrs. Raskin responded, $315,000 is what it would cost for everyone.
President Newton stated,
you said 2.2 – 3.8 was the current lateral move. What is the approximate
spread on this one? Mr. Williams responded, close to 3.5.
President Newton noted
that the top wage earner has room to grow by almost 30%, while the bottom
earner has the most potential at the start. The person staying the
longest benefits the most.
Mr. Williams reviewed the
parameters for implementation with the Board.
Mr. Staley stated that he
liked the idea of the salary on the front end because it’s hard to attract
good talent. He stated that the didn’t understand if we want to compete
and want to be at the top, why not start first year people at $24,000,
rather than $33,000. Mr. Williams responded, we talked about a phase in.
President Newton noted
that a comparison had been made to the psychologist and administrator
salary schedules – do they get any of the 301 money? Mr. Williams
responded, that’s incentive pay based on additional duties. We have
people who are receiving well over the average of $1200-$1500. Anyone
receiving over $2,500 would be deferred over a two year period. He stated
that $80,000 could be deferred for a year, which would bring the cost to
$350,000. He then went on to say that the following year that deferred
money would come right off the top.
Mr. Staley stated that if
he were coming into the district eh would be very confused.
Mr. Kapp noted that
classified people would still be frozen.
President Newton
recognized Mrs. Cathee Kelly to speak to the Governing Board.
Mrs. Cathee Kelly
addressed the Governing Board and stated that she was a first year teacher
at Abia Judd. She noted that when she worked part-time in interior design
she had made more money in that job. She stated that if we want to better
our schools and get higher quality teachers, we have to at least raise
that starting salary to $30,000. She stated she thought that would be a
good start. She added that the district really needed to raise that
beginning salary and show the community of Prescott that our future is
what we’re looking at.
Mrs. Navarro stated that
she still wanted to see a salary schedule with a 3% index and a starting
salary of $30,000. Mr. Williams distributed this schedule in anticipation
of the Board’s request.
CONSIDER RATIFYING A
MINI-GRANT OF $5,000 FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE SUNUP ROTARY
Mrs. Mary Anne Kapp noted
that the district has the ability to obtain grants from a variety of
sources and that this grant was through the Sun-Up Rotary Club. She
introduced Mrs. Ann Sult to answer any questions the Board might have
regarding the grant.
Mr. Kapp suggested
recognizing the Sun-Up Rotary for this grant at a future meeting.
CONSIDER RATIFYING TWO
MINI-GRANTS FROM THE EDUCATION FOUNDATION OF YAVAPAI COUNTY
Mrs. Judy Paris reported
that her program would be receiving $1,000 for promoting literacy. She
noted that they had submitted two grants to the Education Foundation for
$250 each and that the foundation was donating the other $500.
CONSIDER APPROVING A
60-DAY PREVIEW OF TEXTBOOKS AND MATERIALS FOR SCIENCE K-12
Ms. Linda Ryan reported
that she did not have the list of books and materials for the Board
tonight, but would present the list to the Board at the voting session.
She noted that Diane Ryan, Department Chair of Science at the high school,
had done a great job. She added that the total expense for the science
materials would be $375,000 from soft capital.
CONSIDER APPROVING THE
SUBMISSION OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION PROPOSALS FOR THE ARIZONA SCHOOL BOARD
ASSOCIATION FOR THE 2006 LEGISLATIVE SESSION
Dr. Fleming distributed a
legislative proposal that she had come up with and encouraged the other
board members to do the same. She also noted that the Board would have to
appoint delegates in May.
CONSIDER THE APPROVAL
OF THE FOLLOWING STAFF MEMBERS REQUEST FOR A FULL OR PARTIAL LEAVE OF
ABSENCE FOR THE 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR
Dr. Chris Reynolds noted
that the names of Kelli Bradstreet and Roberta Schamber would have to be
deleted from the list since they both elected not to take the leave of
absence.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE
CONSENT AGENDA:
CONSIDER THE APPROVAL OF
CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL ACTIONS AS REQUESTED
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 FEBRUARY 2005
CONSIDER THE REVIEW AND
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD STUDY SESSION OF
MARCH 1, 2005, THE EXECUTIVE SESSION OF MARCH 9, 2005, AND THE VOTING
SESSION OF MARCH 8, 2005
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection,
President Newton adjourned the meeting at 8:47 p.m.
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