Minutes 8-24-05

PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

146 South Granite Street

Prescott, Arizona 86303

Wednesday, August 24, 2005

Minutes of the Governing Board Joint Study Session with the Skyview Charter School Governing Board and other personnel on Wednesday, August 24, 2005, in Conference Room A at the District Office.

Board Members Present:

Dr. Andy Newton

Dr. Joan Fleming

Mr. Steve Campbell

Absent:

Mrs. Dee Navarro

Mr. Tom Staley

Others 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

Kim Belli Pam Robbins Gerry Janssen

Steve McGovney Carole Jolly Deborah Henry

Lauren Millette John Hurley Anne Jacobson

Matt Frankel Sally Heard Laurie Bragdon

Ed Yeager

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

President Newton called the meeting to order at 8:09 a.m. He welcomed everyone asked them to introduce themselves.

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board approve the agenda as presented. Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, and President Andy Newton voted aye. The motion carried 3-0.

Mr. Kapp reported that he had put everything on the agenda that everyone had requested. He also noted that Scott Gill, the representative from ELOB, was currently in Prescott to work with the PHS teachers and coordinator.

LEGAL

Scott McGovney reported that he had spoken to Mr. Tim Carter, County Superintendent, and that he had suggested talking to the Charter School Board or a joint meeting with an attorney. He noted that there would be a different set of guidelines to transfer money from the state and a separate federal mandate. He reported that it was suggested that both entities meet with Kristen Jordison, Head of the State Charter Board.

Kevin Kapp stated that since we are a frugal district, we don’t have an attorney unless we have to, and that we use the County Attorney’s Office. He suggested that ASBA might be of some help in answering these questions.

Joan Fleming volunteered to call the ASBA attorney.

Steve McGovney noted that since it hasn’t been done, we are going to need some input and need to cover ourselves.

Matt Frankel noted that if the equity for their school building is what they think it is, we’ll be coming with a lump sum of cash and requested that some of that money be dedicated back to Skyview School.

Kevin Kapp asked, who is interested in meeting with Kristen Jordison? Steve McGovney noted that a telephone conference could be arranged. Joan Fleming suggested that she might be willing to come here to meet.

Andy Newton pointed out that someone will need to prepare a document for this.

Steve McGovney noted that perhaps there is already an established process from charter schools that have closed.

Joan Fleming stated that a lot would be cleared up when we talk to that person in Phoenix.

Kevin Kapp noted that the other thing that we want to make sure of is that if the merger occurs, we’ve talked about setting up the same process that WTS followed to continue your mission and integrity.

Kim Belli added that Kent Evans is willing to help us.

Carole Jolly stated that we need to make a decision internally a little bit sooner than we thought because thee are things we’d have to do to get ready for next school year. Matt Frankel added that the February approval by PUSD is a little late for Skyview.

Steve McGovney noted that there were two tracks – stay the same or go ahead with the merger. Kim Belli added that Skyview has already made a decision to refinance for their building in case the merger doesn’t happen.

Kevin Kapp stated that his concern rose when the interest in Dexter became evident, because the district would need to let NAU know much sooner to give them plenty of time to look for another site, so we should talk about adjusting the timeline.

BUDGET

Renee Raskin reported that last spring we looked at Skyview’s budget and we’re still $90,000 apart. She noted that we haven’t put their teachers on the salary schedule yet.

Matt Frankel asked, our teachers have more experience than you thought? Renee Raskin responded, once we get a list of your teachers and staff and know where to put them on the salary schedules, whether you would be moving to Dexter, how we will handle the mortgage payment, whether you come with money from the sale, and how much sudden growth money (estimated to be about $500,000), we’ll know more.

John Hurley asked, will our teachers come in as new hires? Chris Reynolds responded, I don’t know whether we should absorb them as if they were working for us, whether to start them with five years of teaching experience, or where to place them on our salary schedule. He added that because we have a new salary schedule in place, our district has been using a formula in order to slide people on to that new schedule.

John Hurley asked, how would that question be determined? Steve Campbell responded, the Board would have to make that decision and would need to know how much it would cost and make sure no one “leap frogs” over some of our teachers.

John Hurley asked, what’s the time frame for the Board to make that decision – once you get the experience of our teachers returning? Chris Reynolds responded, probably at the October Governing Board meeting. He asked, are all your teachers certified? Pam Robbins responded, two teachers are not certified. Chris Reynolds noted that once he receives their experience, it can be determined whether to place them as new hires, with five years of experience, or to use the formula that is in place for our personnel. Steve Campbell added, we would have to have some idea of the preliminary overall budget before making that decision.

Matt Frankel noted that their teachers would want to know.

Kevin Kapp suggested that personnel use the December deadline, meet again in a month and have that information ready to discuss. Chris Reynolds noted that he could do that prior to the meeting.

Kim Belli stated that they had a vague idea of who would come back – about 80%.

Steve Campbell asked Renee Raskin, what does $90,000 apart mean? Renee Raskin responded, I ran the numbers based on their 100^th day and ran it with our budget to see how it compared. If we sell Skyview we can only use that money for capital – not salaries or personnel.

Kim Belli stated that they would like to sell it and help the district decide how to spend it.

John Hurley noted that if they deeded the property over the district would have to get voter approval in order to sell it. Renee Raskin agreed, noting that it would take some time.

Matt Frankel suggested finding out if they can list it before.

Steve Campbell clarified, so $90,000 more? Renee Raskin responded, yes. Steve Campbell asked, you didn’t factor in teachers? Renee Raskin responded that she needed a list of what they were paying their teachers now and take out the expenses that they wouldn’t need to pay.

Kevin Kapp suggested that John Hurley and Chris Reynolds meet before September and then come back and report to us and Renee could do some budget numbers.

Steve McGovney noted that they needed to get the current budget and student numbers to Renee.

Steve Campbell suggested meeting before the Board meeting. Joan Fleming suggested having it at the Mountain Club.

Kevin Kapp asked, when you say sell of property money can only be used for capital – can it be used for leasing other buildings? Renee Raskin responded, it would be a capital lease.

Matt Frankel stated he had wondered about the ELOB capital.

Kevin Kapp reported that the district is working very hard to get ELOB going and looking at the old Potter’s House as a possible site. He noted that one brainstorm of his was to use some of that money and then sudden growth could be used for professional development. He stated that he would eventually like to see ELOB Preschool-12. He noted that the Gates Foundation money will cover professional development.

It was asked, how many students would that building hold? Kevin Kapp responded, about 400.

Carole Jolly asked, what about having Skyview there? Kevin Kapp responded, mixing elementary students and high school students is not good.

Pam Robbins asked, as far as per student allocation, we don’t use textbooks – would we get that money that would have gone towards textbooks? Would that money be given to us to use in the classroom?

Kevin Kapp responded, soft capital is done school by school.

John Hurley asked, does the district fund the textbooks? Kevin Kapp responded, yes. John Hurley asked, if we don’t use textbooks, can we use that money elsewhere?

Steve McGovney added, this will come up with ELOB at PHS and PMHMS.

Kevin Kapp responded, soft capital is school by school and the big textbook adoption is a different thing and we’ll be talking to someone about computers vs. textbooks.

PERSONNEL

John Hurley noted that he did not think the issue was him, but that Skyview would like to have the prerogative to have a significant say in hiring a principal for their program who has some experience with multi-intelligences, ELOB, and other things that characterize Skyview.

Chris Reynolds noted that our district’s hiring process is through a committee that includes parents, teachers, PTA members and that the job description can be customized. He noted that the committee paper screens the applicants down to those to be interviewed and then recommends 2-3 names to the Superintendent, who makes a recommendation to the Governing Board.

Steve Campbell suggested that it needs to be decided what we need for that particular school.

Steve McGovney asked, once we’re in the district – July 1^st – our Board would hire for next year – would that be something we’d do this year – as long as faculty are qualified to teach, as well as director. Could we hire the director for next year?

Joan Fleming noted that if it does happen, some responsibility of directors would be taken care of by our district. She asked, would a head teacher be something that could be considered, rather than a full-fledged principal?

Matt Frankel asked, do your schools all have principals? Joan Fleming responded, we don’t have to, but we do.

Kim Belli noted, we thought about that, until we started looking at Dexter – with our kids and preschool kids, we thought it would require a principal.

Kevin Kapp noted that there were several options, that for 06-07 our preschool could be handled differently and Skyview continue the same, or if all are at one place and there are 300+ kids at the school, then call it a principal. He noted that the timeline would have to be moved up.

Steve Campbell stated, as a Board member, I don’t have a problem with them having selected someone already.

Chris Reynolds added, we would just have to determine where that person would fit into our salary schedule, would they be a director or a principal, look at the number of days to be worked, responsibilities, and maybe we need to develop a new category.

John Hurley asked, so Skyview stakeholders would have significant say in the process in getting the right kind of person, is that right?

Andy Newton responded, right.

Kevin Kapp noted that when hiring for the ELOB Coordinator, it was himself, Steve McGovney, Kim Belli, and Totsy McCraley, and it worked real well.

Chris Reynolds noted that the school would pick who they want to represent them.

Steve McGovney asked, is it the same for teachers? Chris Reynolds responded, no, that’s site specific and done by the administrator.

Kim Belli asked, what about a nurse? Andy Newton asked, you don’t have one? Kim Belli responded, no.

Gerry Janssen added, we really want one for the preschools and hope we move in that direction. She noted that they only have four hours per week with a nurse and have 44 special education kids, along with other health problems. She added, we need to look at that and hope to come to the Board about the possibility of using sudden growth money for 24 hours per week. She noted that they are also doing Partners for Healthy Students at Dexter every Thursday, which is in the discussion also.

Kevin Kapp reported that the preschool numbers blossomed last year and went from 50 to 150 students. He noted that if Skyview were at the same facility, that would add to the argument for the need for a nurse. He stated that the district needed to do something this year, possibly part-time, but in 2006-07, it would need to be expanded.

Renee Raskin explained about the Partners for Healthy Students program, which is sponsored by the hospital and is a free program for students without insurance and who do not qualify for ACHCESS.

Steve McGovney noted that they have two front office people at Skyview. John Hurley suggested that he and Chris Reynolds could talk about that. Chris Reynolds stated that we could look at how that would fit. Carole Jolly noted that one of them is the operations manager, which is two positions combined. Chris Reynolds noted that he would have to compare salaries, benefits, length of contract, etc.

Steve McGovney asked, and that’s scheduled for next month? Chris Reynolds responded, yes.

Lauren Millette noted that the people in the office are very important from a parent perspective and important for the kids to keep those same people.

Chris Reynolds noted that it was not the district’s intent to disenfranchise them, but it can’t be out of kilter with our people regarding salary schedules. He noted that our elementary secretaries make about $28,000 a year and your operations manager makes $34,000. He noted that it wouldn’t be fair to our people – especially those who have worked for us for twenty years.

Carole Jolly noted that the operations manager has district and financial responsibilities. Chris Reynolds noted that when they work for us, they would not have those responsibilities and that we’d just have to compare, discuss the possibility of grandfathering those people and starting new with new people. He added, we need to be sensitive to our current staff.

Pam Robbins added, we talked about this – our front office staff knows that also and we’re all open to it.

Andy Newton asked, do your teachers have retirement? Carole Jolly responded, yes. Kevin Kapp noted that charter schools don’t have to do that.

Chris Reynolds asked, what is the number of days worked? Pam Robbins responded, 150 days. Chris Reynolds noted that our elementary principals work 208 days for a 101/2 month contract.

Steve McGovney noted that John Hurley came in after our first meeting and his qualifications are unusual. He asked John to talk about his background.

John Hurley reported that he retired in 2005 from Illinois as a superintendent by taking the early retirement option, was looking for something to do and opened an art gallery in Rockford, IL. He stated that he did that for a couple of years, but it was not financially feasible, so he started looking for opportunities in education – for things he always wanted to do, found Skyview who was doing all the best practices, multi-intelligences, year round school, etc., so we connected. He noted that he was a high school social studies teacher, a middle school principal for 17 years at three different schools, and a superintendent in a district with 7,050 students, and had opened a kindergarten center and had magnet schools at that district.

Steve McGovney noted that he has a lot of experience and has helped us a lot this year.

Carole Jolly noted that their student/teacher ratio is pretty low and we may want to discuss that more as to how we will mesh that with the way you do things. John Hurley noted that their primary unit for 2^nd and 3^rd grade has 45+ students with two teachers and an aide. Pam Robbins noted that it was actually 55 students with two teachers and an aide. Kevin Kapp stated that we’re not that far apart and that we could use instructional aides at both Skyview and the preschool. He reported that most of our kindergarten classes have 24 with one teacher and some are at 25, which is the first time that’s ever happed. He noted that 1^st grade has 24 students and 2^nd grade has 26 students. Gerry Janssen mentioned that when she did kindergarten they shared instructional assistants. Pam Robbins noted that their instructional assistants were shared between classes and had other duties as well.

FACILITIES

Andy Newton noted that there were two choices: stay where you are or move.

Steve McGovney stated that they had a great location where they can walk to many resources. Carole Jolly noted that there were emotional attachments to parts of the buildings that parents helped to build. Steve McGovney added, at the same time the Dexter facility is very attractive also and it would be great to have a preschool there that may feed into the Skyview program, which is a big advantage. He noted that the larger size with a head teacher or principal because of the preschool and Skyview would have more leverage.

Matt Frankel asked, what’s the availability of buses for field trips? Pam Robbins noted that they use parents and their vehicles for field trips. Matt Frankel added, on a day to day basis. Pam Robbins noted that they used to rent buses from PUSD and it got too expensive and that their parents have special insurance coverage. She noted that they could also still walk to Granite Creek or downtown.

Andy Newton stated that the decision needed to be made.

Kevin Kapp stated that from the bus aspect, we don’t like parents driving for field trips and that Skyview would have the same access to buses as the other schools and that tax credits pay for most of our field trips. He noted that the district was getting an all new bus fleet and new vans that teachers can drive after being trained.

Lauren Millette noted that Skyview takes a lot more field trips.

Kevin Kapp asked, what is your tax credits for this year? He noted that tax credits would be going up by 20% and that the district brought in about $300,000 in tax credits. Matt Frankel noted that the assumption is that they will go up. Kevin Kapp mentioned that the district has a beautiful tax credit brochure that is mailed out and Skyview would be added to the brochure.

John Hurley noted that whatever arrangements we use for field trips, PHS and PMHMS will have the same need with their ELOB programs (whether or not Skyview comes into the district) and we must have a solution for that.

Chris Reynolds reported that we don’t have enough drivers necessarily, he was not sure about parents driving our buses or their own vehicles, and availability will always be a problem.

Matt Frankel asked, could we buy a couple more vans with some of the money we may bring with us? Kevin Kapp responded, sure.

Andy Newton asked, how do you pay for your field trips.

Lauren Millette responded that it comes out of tax credits and that parents put up extra money for their students required field trips through tax credits also.

Kim Belli noted that they assessed art fees this year and that most ELOB schools charge between $300-$400 and parents know that up front, but no one is ever denied. Matt Frankel added that other parents donate other money.

Kevin Kapp noted that it’s all about scheduling in our district and that if you schedule early, that’s the key – to schedule all your field trips in August. Steve McGovney stated that he felt that could be worked out.

Carole Jolly asked, would Dexter become a neighborhood school or a magnet?

Ed Yeager responded that at WTS 70% of the students want to be there, but we are also a neighborhood school.

Joan Fleming stated that it appeared to her that they would have to want to go there.

Andy Newton noted that if we’re leaning towards Dexter, people from the neighborhood would want to go there.

Matt Frankel asked, how does PUSD feel about Dexter vs. Skyview?

Steve Campbell responded, for me it’s all about money - if you leave Skyview, we’re not paying that mortgage and if you come to Dexter, we’re losing the NAU lease monies.

Joan Fleming commented, don’t forget in our schools we close grades. She stated that she didn’t see neighborhood students as being a problem.

John Hurley stated that he would have no problem taking neighborhood students, but just need to know if your policies and practice is that we have to keep slots available for neighborhood kids.

Kevin Kapp noted that Arizona law only says the district can establish their own priorities for enrollment. He reported that WTS has a waiting list for neighborhood kids and that you can set up your own priorities for that school by serving the magnet kids first and then the neighborhood kids.

Pam Robbins stated that they would not be Dexter, that they are Skyview School.

Matt Frankel asked, would the name change? John Hurley noted that they would be a program at Dexter.

Andy Newton noted that they must be prepared for ELL students.

Matt Frankel asked, is it fair to say Skyview was impressed with Dexter? Yes.

Gerry Janssen asked, what about the playground? Is that adequate? What’s your thoughts? She added, you’re probably going to need a little bigger space. Matt Frankel responded, the space in the back could be developed.

Pam Robbins noted that we need to look at schedules and develop that piece.

Matt Frankel asked, can Skyview modulars be moved over there or should we sell them? He added that Skyview has lots of storage needs with ELOB.

John Hurley noted that with some of the dowry that Skyview will be bringing, they’d like the district to consider putting doors between some of the classrooms because of their team teaching, etc.

Carole Jolly added, we maintain a community feeling with the doors open between classrooms.

John Hurley noted that the modulars would give them more flexibility.

Gerry Janssen asked, how many rooms would Skyview be using? Kim Belli responded, about eight.

BREAK

Kim Belli suggested that NAU could look at renting part of the Potter’s House or even the Skyview facility. Kevin Kapp responded, there’s a lot of building out there to lease by NAU and noted that the district receives about $70,000 a year in lease money from NAU.

John Hurley stated that there was some concern about mold in the Dexter facility. Kevin Kapp responded, we would have Western Technologies come in and check that out. He noted that Dexter now has a new roof, which should prevent any future mold concerns.

Gerry Janssen noted that it was the air conditioning that was causing some of the problem.

John Hurley stated that he’d like to be able to tell their parents that we got a commitment to assess for mold and do an environmental check. Carole Jolly noted that would be huge for their parents.

Steve McGovney asked, what about the modulars at Dexter? Kevin Kapp responded, I have concerns about them fitting in the back area. He noted that they might fit if they could be dismantled and brought in. He stated that he would have our Director of Facilities check that out. Kevin Kapp asked, how would you feel about other uses for your modulars? John Hurley responded, sure – especially if you can’t fit them in back of Dexter. Kevin Kapp asked, how old are they? Pam Robbins responded, that they were doublewide with two bathrooms and were about 6-7 years old.

Steve McGovney asked, is there room to grow at Dexter? Kevin Kapp responded that Dexter had around 400-450 and that we’d have to create some more capacity, possibly by moving LEA, NCAMSC and Professional Development, which would all be negotiable. He noted that the district office also rents the upstairs of that facility and added that Dexter’s capacity was probably around 400.

Chris Reynolds noted that with Skyview’s 142 students and the preschool’s 100 students, there would be about 242 students, so there would be room to grow.

Pam Robbins asked, have you considered Dexter being a pre-K site to help handle overcrowding? She noted that they have half-day kindergarten and that we need to look at that configuration. She added that Dexter could be a pre-K – Kindergarten site, which would be a mutual arrangement. Kevin Kapp reminded them that our preschool is three and four year-olds.

Kevin Kapp asked, are your kindergartens stand alones? Pam Robbins responded, yes.

Gerry Janssen noted that we screen all of our children and our screenings are full up through September. She added that the preschool would continue to grow throughout the whole year and that there are students that transition in all year long, as soon as they turn three.

Andy Newton noted that there seems like there is room to grow for both programs and that down the road the older kids may have to be moved.

Kevin Kapp stated that his question about the process of making the decision on whether Skyview goes to Dexter – Skyview’s Board must vote on that move, our Board must vote on that to approve, and then both to give NAU notice. He stated he was wondering again about the timeline.

Matt Frankel responded, we have talked about the timing and my impression is that it’s a little fast, but not too fast.

Steve McGovney suggested that Skyview stay at Rush Street and move to Dexter the following year, after joining the district.

Joan Fleming noted that she had talked to the ASBA attorney during the break and that he had said that probably no attorneys would know about this and would also have to talk to the charter school board. She noted that he had also suggested that the district stay away from selling the Skyview property and that we must talk to the charter school board first.

Steve McGovney noted that if we move to Dexter first, it gets rid of the mortgage payment and gives you money from the sale.

Kevin Kapp stated that his number one concern is the timing of Skyview saying they want to come to the district. He added that he would go and visit with Karen Churchill from NAU today to give her a “heads up” and that we may have to take a lot of things to our Board in October. He noted that notice to NAU must be early in order to give them sufficient time to find another location.

Steve Campbell stated that it’s important to know that if we are going to give NAU notice, we must know that Skyview will merge.

Kim Belli suggested that NAU might look at their current building, since it’s within walking distance of Yavapai College.

Kevin Kapp stated that it sounds like October is the month when things must happen.

Matt Frankel added, we need to know whether we’re selling our facility with the modulars or not.

Joan Fleming stated that as soon as Jay Collier got back, he could look at the modulars.

Kevin Kapp noted that it would be easier for NAU to lease buildings than to buy them.

Steve McGovney noted that they would be meeting with their faculty next Tuesday and the Board tomorrow to develop a time table, put together an informational handout and questionnaire for their parent community just before or after Labor Day. He stated that there would also be a follow-up discussion by the Board with parents and that they were scheduling a community meeting for September 22^nd with Kevin Kapp and Board members.

Kim Belli asked, could we have that meeting at Dexter? Andy Newton responded, that’s a good idea.

Kevin Kapp noted that our Board will meeting on October 4^th and 18^th due to the Fall Break.

CONFIGURATION

Andy Newton asked, how many middle school students do you have? John Hurley responded, 36 students in 7^th and 8^th grade, with two teachers.

John Hurley asked, will the ELOB program be in place at PMHMS next year? Kevin Kapp responded, we hope a piece of it will be in place, along with PHS next year.

Andy Newton asked, how many 6^th grade students do you have? Pam Robbins responded, 20.

Steve Campbell noted that another issue may be that someone else is starting a charter middle school with ELOB that is due to open in 2006-07 in Prescott. Steve McGovney added, they already have $450,000 in federal funding.

Steve Campbell stated that if our district doesn’t have ELOB in place at the middle school that we should just keep it intact with Skyview.

Carole Jolly commented, that’s probably what we need to do – just keep the K-8 configuration and look at it down the road regarding dropping the middle school.

Matt Frankel stated that it would be a plus for the district to do it that way to have ELOB K-8. He asked, is it true we are leaning towards keeping at least K-6? John Hurley responded, yes. Kevin Kapp commented that WTS is K-6.

John Hurley suggested letting the program drive this – you could house the Skyview middle school at PMHMS.

Kim Belli noted that they want a guarantee that there will be a K-8 to move to the high school ELOB program.

Kevin Kapp noted that the only area in our district that is not growing is our middle school. Matt Frankel noted that a lot of people home school at that level. Kevin Kapp stated that he would love to see an ELOB track at PMHMS and that they have the capacity for another 150 students.

Joan Fleming stated that she felt that would help attract middle school students.

Steve McGovney commented that K-8 is becoming more important with a lot of charter schools, Christian Academy, Sacred Heart and having teachers that really know the students makes a big difference.

Deborah Henry asked, inter-disciplinary? Kevin Kapp responded, I don’t know if it’s going to be 6-7-8.

John Hurley suggested going and visiting an ELOB middle school.

Kevin Kapp stated PMHMS having an ELOB track and transition – keeping K-8.

Matt Frankel asked, when will you start marketing Skyview as part of the district? Kevin Kapp responded, that’s my thing and we’d start marketing prior to the School Fair.

Joan Fleming stated that she was the chair for the Communication Committee for the district and that the next meeting is scheduled for September 15^th at 9:00 a.m. at the district Office and that she would love for some of the Skyview people to attend.

Andy Newton asked, are we thinking of having 7^th & 8^th grade eventually at PMHMS and starting at Dexter? John Hurley responded, start it at Dexter and see how it goes, see how the other charter school impacts enrollment.

Kevin Kapp stated, there are plenty of middle school students. He added that our district runs a bus to PV and they are fine with it. He noted that HUSD’s enrollment is currently at 6,200 and PUSD is at 5,500. He noted that for 2006-07 Skyview would be at Dexter as K-8.

Steve McGovney added, until PMHMS can add the track and that we need it K-8 and then to the high school.

Carole Jolly noted that the other option is to stay K-8 forever and see how it plays out.

Matt Frankel noted that lots of kids have trouble changing schools.

Steve McGovney asked, could Skyview students begin doing sports, etc., so the transition becomes more natural? Kevin Kapp responded, we want to attract kids to that high school program.

Andy Newton asked, is there an interest in having a cafeteria? Kim Belli responded, yes. Carole Jolly asked, your food service program is self-supporting? Kevin Kapp responded, yes, and that the food for elementary is made at the Food Service and transported to the sites.

Kim Belli noted that they would not want anything disposable and would want dishes.

Andy Newton asked, what about high school capacity? Kevin Kapp responded, 400.

CALENDAR AND SCHOOL YEAR

John Hurley stated that if Skyview is going to continue to do what we’re doing, we need to keep the character of our school intact and we really find the Friday time for staff interaction to be an essential part of what the school does and we realize that’s going to be a challenge.

Kevin Kapp clarified, Monday through Thursday. He asked, what’s your school time? The response was 8:00-3:00 for 1-6 and 7:45-3:00 for middle school. Kevin Kapp asked, do you make the minimum? Pam Robbins responded, yes. She noted that the middle school has to make up four days, so they either start four days earlier or stay four days later. She added that K-6 is way over the required minutes.

Andy Newton noted that the question will come up with how it compares to what we’re doing. Kevin Kapp stated that he thought it would be close and that elementary goes 45 minutes more each day. Pam Robbins noted that they have to meet just the minimum minutes, not so much the number of days.

Carole Jolly stated that they’d like the option of having Friday programs through Parks and Recreation, or something similar. Kevin Kapp asked, would they be willing to pay? Kim Belli responded, yes. Kevin Kapp discussed the Parks and Rec program at the middle schools for adjusted dismissal on Wednesdays for about 300 kids. Kim Belli noted that they have been struggling with Friday programs and that they lose kids because of that and they’d like a Friday program.

Chris Reynolds suggested having clubs on Friday. Pam Robbins explained the Pod Program, which is similar to clubs. John Hurley noted that lots of year-round schools to that during the breaks. Chris Reynolds noted that you could still run buses on Friday for the kids.

Kevin Kapp explained that Joe Howard at PMHMS had surveyed the parents and students as to what they really wanted to do and then Parks and Rec had built the program around those responses. He also added that there could be a problem with buses and that our district was very driven by bus schedules and bell schedules. He explained that we have an elementary run and we don’t mix middle school and elementary students and that we’d have to discuss this with our Director of Transportation.

Steve McGovney stated that he did not think it was a huge issue and that they have two weeks in October and March and that they could be flexible, but that the 4-day week is who we are. John Hurley added that the 4-day week was actually more critical than the year-round. Carole Jolly agreed that they were flexible on all other parts.

Andy Newton asked, what do your teachers do on Fridays? John Hurley responded, they integrate plans, do staff development, meet with parents, work on curriculum, and have meetings with both vertical and horizontal articulation. Andy Newton responded, I don’t think that’s a big deal. Pam Robbins added, we felt very strongly about that item because it’s a family connected thing and we use the time for planning, meeting with parents, pod specialties, professional development, etc. John Hurley noted that since they don’t use textbooks, there’s more to our planning. Steve Campbell commented that he did not see a problem since it’s a magnet school.

Matt Frankel stated that it needed to be marketed as such, with something to do on Fridays.

Kevin Kapp stated that this would give parents more choice.

Andy Newton asked, are the number of minutes in a 4-day program the same as for a 5-day? Kevin Kapp responded, we’ll find out – they are an excelling school, so it must work!

Kevin Kapp asked, regarding the calendar, do our breaks overlap? Carole Jolly responded, yes.

Andy Newton asked, it’s a 9-2 calendar? Carole Jolly responded, yes. Kim Belli added, we start July 25^th. Pam Robbins clarified, we begin two weeks before and end one week after your schedule.

Steve McGovney noted that we could make they part fit.

Chris Reynolds noted that some bus drivers would have to have longer schedules with those extra weeks.

Carole Jolly stated, think about what will work for you – we are flexible with that piece – more so than the 4-day week.

Steve Campbell stated that he didn’t have a problem with the calendar – it’s a magnet school and it’s a choice, which will give parents another school.

Kevin Kapp noted that since we would share art, music, and P.E. teachers, we’ll have to figure that out.

Chris Reynolds added, as well as the cafeteria staff, bus drivers, and custodians.

Kevin Kapp stated, it’s easy to maintain for a magnet school and harder to allow for an existing school.

Chris Reynolds asked, does Skyview offer intersession classes during the breaks? Pam Robbins responded, we should look at doing that.

AUTONOMY ISSUES AND SHADOWING

Kevin Kapp noted that Joan Fleming would be going to shadow at Skyview next week and that Linda Ryan should also do that. He added that both he and Renee Raskin would be scheduling some time to do so in the very near future.

Kevin Kapp asked, how were your AIMS scores? Kim Belli responded, good.

Carole Jolly noted that regarding the autonomy, she suggested not doing that next week but the week after. She also added that they all felt grateful and appreciative interacting with the district staff.

Joan Fleming stated that it was exciting for us to be able to offer more choices to our parents.

Gerry Janssen asked, if they are coming to Dexter, we’ll have 250 students and they’ll be using 8-9 classes to start – where will they grow to? Carole Jolly responded, we could look at modulars. Kevin Kapp added that some are half-day programs and the children could be moved to modulars. He stated that he knew the school had 400 all day comfortably and that he thought there was enough room. He noted that Skyview would use the south end of the building and hallways. Matt Frankel clarified, basically from the library south. Kevin Kapp stated that he didn’t think that Dexter would be hard to set up for Skyview regarding technology. He noted that the district does textbook adoption every six years with the seventh year dedicated to technology, with about $300,000. He noted that might help Skyview, as well as other money on the table.

Matt Frankel asked, what about doors between the classrooms – will that be an issue? Kevin Kapp responded, no, as long as they are not weight-bearing walls.

Gerry Janssen noted that Building B was designed for Grades 1-2-3 and all the classrooms have doors between several classrooms already. She stated that it’s not that the preschool wants to move again, but we have some students that are handicapped and they would be closer to the playground. She added that she was just throwing that out as an idea.

Carole Jolly noted that the center room in that building is very conducive to what we do. Gerry Janssen added that the cafeteria was downstairs and closer to the larger playground.

Kevin Kapp noted that he would schedule Skyview’s community meeting to take place at Dexter at 5:30 p.m. on September 22^nd in the Library, that the district would provide cookies and punch, that key district personnel would be in attendance at that meeting, and that it would be a great time for parents to tour the facility.

Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board meeting be adjourned. Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

Mr. Steve Campbell voted aye, Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, and President Andy Newton voted aye. The motion carried 3-0.

The meeting adjourned at 11:35 a.m.

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Governing Board Member

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