PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

146 South Granite Street

Prescott, Arizona 86303

 

August 8, 2000

 

Minutes of the Study and Voting Session of the Governing Board, Tuesday, August 8, 2000, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Board Room.

 

          Governing Board members present:

 

President Vaughn Delp

Dr. Joan Fleming

Mrs. Dana Womack

Mr. Dennis Colgan

Mr. Gordon Maddux

 

          Absent:                

None

 

          Also Present:

Dr. Roger Short, Superintendent

Kevin Kapp, Assistant Superintendent

Kimberly Steward, Student Representative

Andrea Mayer, Assistant to the Governing Board

 

          Others Present:

                                      Tim Carter                      Dee Navarro

                                      Jim Williams                  Linda Ryan

                                      Bill King                         Steve Campbell

                                      Nancy Garzone              May Mallory

                                      Worth Mallory

 

                                                                                     

CALL TO ORDER

President Delp called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. noting that this was to be both a study and voting session.  President Delp welcomed the members of the audience and the media.  Mr. Denny Colgan led the members of the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

President Delp asked Dr. Short if the agenda was in order. Dr. Short replied that it was with the exception of a revision in the number of kindergarten students seeking early entrance in Item #2 and that Item #6 was to be deleted from the agenda as the request was rescinded.

 

Mr. Denny Colgan moved that the Governing Board accept the agenda with the noted amendments.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

PRESENTATIONS

Mr. Tim Carter requested that Ms. Linda Ryan make her presentation first since one of his people had not arrived yet.

 

Ms. Linda Ryan made a presentation to the Board regarding the Stanford 9 Test Scores.  She noted that this is the fourth year that this test has been given to students.  Our student scores in Reading were above county, state and national scores for all grade levels.  In Language the student scores were somewhat lower at some grade levels, but still above the county, state and national scores.  Students scored the highest overall in Math and were above the county, state, and national scores.  Ms. Ryan reviewed a four-year comparison of test scores and showed how certain class scores can now be tracked.  She stated that one of the goals is to raise the percentile scores at the high school in reading and language.  She stated that she was very pleased with how well students in our district scored on this test.

 

Mr. Tim Carter noted that he wanted to update the Board on the award-winning Nursing Program at Prescott High School that was established in 1984.  He noted that the program had won a 5-Star Award last year through the partnership with Samaritan Village.  He stated that he frequently receives calls from other districts asking about this program.  Mr. Carter introduced Mr. Bill King, the instructor for the program.

 

Mr. King stated that he has had an exceptional career over the last 17 years and is probably the only teacher that gets to take students off-campus to measure what they have learned. He stated that the success of the program is due to the cooperative partnership with Samaritan Village and their excellent staff.  Mr. King informed the Board how the program has grown over the years and reviewed each class that is offered through the program.  He shared the positive impact it has had on students participating in the program, as well as on the residents at Samaritan Village.  Mr. King introduced and publicly thanked Mrs. Paula Kneisl, Director of Samaritan Village; Mrs. Nancy Garzone, Director of Nursing; and Mrs. Amy Seagull for their cooperation and partnership in making this program the success that it has become.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Short reviewed important dates regarding registration, the opening of school, and the orientation schedule for staff.  He noted that elementary school principals and their secretaries reported back to work on August 7th.  Elementary registration is currently on going.  Middle school students may pick up their schedules according to the following schedule:  6th Grade – August 15th; 7th Grade – August 16th; and 8th Grade – August 17th from 9:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at Granite Mountain Middle School and 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. at Prescott Mile High Middle School.  Registration for new students at the middle schools will take place on August 18th at Prescott Mile High Middle School and is on-going at Granite Mountain Middle School.  New student registration at the high school will take place August 10 & 11, with returning students being able to pick up their schedules according to the following schedule:  12th Grade – August 14th; 11th Grade – August 15th; 10th Grade – August 16th; 9th Grade – August 17th; and Clean-up on August 18th.  New Teachers will report to their schools on August 16th.  On August 18th new teachers will report for Orientation at the District Office.  Convocation for all staff will take place at 8:30 a.m. on August 21st at the Ruth Street Theater at Prescott High School.  There will also be an Optional Benefits Fair for employees that same day from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE 2000-2001 BIDS FOR FOOD, PAPER SUPPLIES, MILK, PIZZA AND BREAD FOR FOOD SERVICE

         

Mr. Gordon Maddux moved that the Governing Board approve the 2000-2001 recommended bids for food, paper supplies, milk, pizza, and bread for Food Services.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING STUDENT ID #0001 THROUGH #0018, BE GRANTED OR DENIED FOR EARLY ENTRANCE INTO KINDERGARTEN

 

As a point of order, Dr. Roger Short noted that the recommendation had been revised to fourteen children with ID #0001 through #00018, rather than eighteen children.

 

Mr. Denny Colgan moved that the Governing Board approve the revised recommendation for 14 students to be granted early entrance into kindergarten.  Mr. Gordon Maddux seconded the motion.

 

Ms. Linda Ryan noted that all students and their parents know that the early entrance is temporary, and that after 45 days, students will be re-evaluated.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING A REQUEST FOR OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL FOR DR. ROGER SHORT

 

Dr. Joan Fleming moved that the Governing Board approve the out-of-state travel request for Dr. Roger Short to attend the Eleventh Annual Superintendent’s Leadership Academy to be held September 27-30, 2000, in Lake Tahoe, Nevada.  Mr. Denny Colgan seconded the motion.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE PAY TO PLAY FEE STRUCTURE TO REMAIN THE SAME

 

Mr. Dennis Colgan moved that the Governing Board approve the pay to play fee structure to remain the same.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Colgan asked if Mrs. Dee Navarro could give the Board more information regarding this item.

 

Mrs. Navarro addressed the Board and stated that the Financial Oversight Committee had been working on this item for one and a half years and are continuing to monitor pay to play fees.  She noted that the FOC is monitoring all auxiliary budgets over $1500 and that they must submit budgets to the FOC.  The main concern of this committee was that all students deserve the chance to play.  There are about ten sports at the high school and middle schools that do not fund themselves (about $22,000).  These sports are funded through pay to play, tax credits, and gate receipts from other sports.  She stated that the FOC is concerned about what will happen if the tax credit is not continued by the state because $250,000 of this money is used to fund sports.  The FOC had put this item on hold in order to look at the IRAT reorganization models in order to meet the timeline required by the Board.  The FOC will continue to monitor the pay to play fee structure.  The FOC did not have the needed information to make a recommendation to the Board earlier because fees were not tracked by sport. 

 

Mr. Tim Carter noted that there are less than 25 students on scholarship each year.  Mrs. Navarro stated that parents have complained about paying the same amount for each sport when tennis is not as expensive to fund as football.  Mr. Carter noted that of the seventeen sports offered at the high school, only six are self-funded.

 

Mr. Colgan stated that he would like to encourage publicity regarding the scholarship fund for pay to play, noting that some kids are too proud to ask for a scholarship.

 

Mrs. Womack inquired whether there was a form that was filled out regarding the scholarship fund.  Mr. Carter responded that there are a number of businesses, individuals, and tax credit monies that contribute to the pay to play scholarship fund.  The athletic director fills out the form.  Once a student or parent makes the high school aware of the need, the form is filled out and the athletic director takes care of the need.  All requests are handled confidentially.  Mrs. Womack asked Mr. Carter if he could provide the form for the Board.  Mr. Carter responded yes.  President Delp asked Dr. Short to include the form in the next Board packet.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted nay, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 4-1.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE REQUEST FROM MRS. HELEN COTTER FOR A MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE

 

Dr. Joan Fleming moved that the Governing Board approve the request from Mrs. Helen Cotter for a medical leave of absence during the first semester of the 2000-2001 school year, beginning August 24, 2000, until approximately January 12, 2001.  Mr. Gordon Maddux seconded the motion.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE REQUEST FROM MS. COLLEEN FORD FOR A WAIVER OF BOARD POLICY

 

This agenda item was deleted because Ms. Colleen Ford rescinded her request.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE REQUEST FROM MS. DEANNA DAVIS FOR A MEDICAL LEAVE OF ABSENCE

 

Mr. Gordon Maddux moved that the Governing Board approve the request from Ms. Deanna Davis for a medical leave of absence for the 2000-2001 school year.  Mr. Denny Colgan seconded the motion.

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING A REQUEST FROM MRS. BETTY ANN CAMPBELL FOR “TEACHER ON ASSIGNMENT" STATUS

 

Mr. Denny Colgan moved that the Governing Board approve the request from Mrs. Betty Ann Campbell for “Teacher on Assignment” status for the 2000-2001 school year, for the purpose of facilitating, establishing and operating a district-sponsored charter school as approved at the Governing Board meeting on June 6, 2000.  Mr. Gordon Maddux seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Kevin Kapp informed the Board that this is a new type of request.  He noted that Mrs. Campbell’s salary and benefits would be paid for by an educational trust and that Mrs. Campbell would be reporting to the Board on a regular basis.  Our school district would still pay for Mrs. Campbell’s medical benefits.

 

Mr. Maddux asked if the charter school would be done this year.  Mr. Kapp responded that it is planned for the 2001-2002 school year.

 

Mrs. Womack asked how much the medical benefits would cost the district.  Mr. Kapp responded approximately $2,300.  Mrs. Womack stated that she had a problem with paying someone to develop an alternative educational choice for PUSD on the taxpayer’s dime.  She noted that the district is losing students at the elementary level rather than the middle school level and questioned the need for an alternative school for the middle school/high school age group.

 

Mr. Tim Carter addressed the Board and informed them that three site councils from the two middle schools and the high school had met jointly to look at the option of developing a transition school because we currently have students come to the high school from the middle schools that are not really ready to succeed at the high school level.  He noted that Mrs. Campbell had included that need in her proposal for a grade 6-10 alternative school.

 

Mrs. Womack stated that she had not seen a large “at risk” group of students for those age groups and wasn’t sure there was a need.  She suggested that the Board should discuss this issue further and that she would like to see some type of documentation.

 

President Delp asked Dr. Short to compile statistics regarding Excel students, dropouts, etc. for the middle school and high school levels.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted nay, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 4-1.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED

 

Dr. Joan Fleming moved that the Governing Board approve the consent agenda as presented.  Mr. Denny Colgan seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Kevin Kapp stated that he would like to address Item #9 and Item #11.  Under certified personnel, Mr. Kapp informed the Board that Mrs. Patricia Short had been hired as a Physical Education teacher at Prescott High School.  He noted that the district is still trying to fill a couple of positions.

 

Mr. Kapp distributed paper copies to the Board from Ms. Renee Raskin that outlined what the major expense vouchers paid for.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

       Dr. Joan Fleming moved that the Governing Board adjourn.  Mr. Dennis Colgan seconded the motion. 

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mrs. Dana Womack voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 5-0.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.