PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

146 South Granite Street

Prescott, Arizona 86303

 

October 3, 2000

 

Minutes of the Study Session of the Governing Board, Tuesday, October 3, 2000, beginning at 6:00 p.m. in the District Office Board Room.

 

          Governing Board members present:

 

President Vaughn Delp

Dr. Joan Fleming

Mr. Dennis Colgan

Mr. Gordon Maddux (arrived at 6:05 p.m.)

 

          Absent:                

Mrs. Dana Womack

 

          Also Present:

Dr. Roger Short, Superintendent

Kevin Kapp, Assistant Superintendent

Kimberly Steward, Student Representative

Andrea Mayer, Assistant to the Governing Board

 

          Others Present:

                                      Dee Navarro                   Worth Mallory

                                      May Mallory                   Jim Williams

                                      Ruth Willson                  Steve Campbell

                                      Tim Carter                      Renee Raskin

                                      Karin Ward                    Mary Anne Kapp

                                      Ed Yeager                       Tracie Yeager

                                      Michael Owens, Jr.       

                                      Mr. & Mrs. Michael Owens, Sr.

 

CALL TO ORDER

President Delp called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. President Delp welcomed the members of the audience and the media.  Dr. Joan Fleming 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 in order and noted that regarding Item No. 1, review and approval of the 1999-2000 Annual Financial Report, that all information had not been received from the state department.  He noted that Ms. Raskin would make the presentation for this item at the October 10th meeting.

 

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

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 3-0.

 

PRESENTATIONS

Mr. Jay Collier introduced Michael Owens, one of his students from Prescott Mile High Middle School, along with Michael’s parents.

 

Mr. Michael Owens explained that he was a 7th grader at Prescott Mile High Middle School where he felt he was receiving a great education.  He noted that he had attended a U.S. Space Camp in Silicon Valley, California, where he learned about aerospace technology and space exploration.  He was a Mission Specialist 1 and was responsible for fixing problems on the orbiter.  The Space Camp had several simulators and a zero gravity wall that he was able to experience.  He plans on attending more camps and the space academy in the future.  He noted that he hopes to work for NASA one day and dreams of being one of the first astronauts on Mars.  Mr. Owens thanked his teachers and principal for their encouragement.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Roger Short distributed the district’s October calendar and highlighted events at the different sites for the Board.

 

He noted that the district was receiving AIMS testing information back from the state and that there would be a presentation to the Board on October 10th.  Mrs. Betty Ann Campbell will also be updating the Board regarding her progress on the district sponsored charter school proposal.

 

As requested at the last Board meeting, Dr. Short had Ms. Renee Raskin give an update on bus advertising.  She reported that last year was the district’s first year using bus advertising.  There were three advertisers, but the district also had to pay money to the vendor who solicited the advertisements, so we basically broke even for last fiscal year.  Last year, through the Arizona Department of Health Services, we had a grant that paid for anti-tobacco ads on four of our buses.  This year we have a new advertiser, Prescott Newspapers, that signed a contract for two years, four buses, at $5,000 each year.  Ponderosa Tire, one of the advertisers from last year renewed their contract for this year.  There is a new person from Total Performance Partners that will be soliciting ads for the district, so hopefully the district will do better this year. 

 

CONSIDER THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF THE 1999-2000 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

Dr. Roger Short reported that the Annual Financial Report is, by statute, a report that districts have to compile and have reviewed by the Governing Board by October 15th every year.  Once our district receives all of the needed information from the Arizona Department of Education, we will present the completed forms to the Board along with a presentation on October 10, 2000.  Dr. Short noted that as soon as Ms. Raskin receives the needed information, she will hand-deliver the reports to Board members prior to the next meeting.

 

CONSIDER THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF NOMINATIONS FOR AWARDS FOR RECOGNITION OF SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS AND/OR PROGRAMS

Dr. Roger Short reviewed the six different award categories with the Board.

 

1.       The ASBA 2000 All Arizona School Board Award is for individual

          Board members.

 

2.       The Media Award is awarded to journalists who have demonstrated concern for education through accurate reporting of news about schools and education.

 

3.       The Lou Ella Kleinz “Award of Excellence” is given to an entire Board.

 

4.       The Golden Bell Award is for outstanding programs.

 

5.       The Jack Peterson Scholarship Award is for students.

 

6.       The Honor Roll Award is presented to outstanding school board members with eight or more years of service who are planning to retire.

 

President Delp asked that nominations be given to her prior to the next

Board meeting.  She suggested that the Board nominate the Samaritan Village Nursing Program at Prescott High School for the Golden Bell Award.

 

Mr. Denny Colgan suggested nominating Dr. Joan Fleming for the All Arizona School Board Award.

 

CONSIDER THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF ISSUANCE OF SECOND CONTRACTS AND AGREEMENTS REFLECTING A 1% INCREASE TO ALL PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF FOR THE 2000-2001 YEAR

Mr. Kevin Kapp reviewed a packet of information he had prepared and distributed to Board members.  He reviewed the minutes from last May in which the Board had stated their commitment to second contracts.  He informed the Board that he had received confirmation from the Arizona Department of Education regarding the approval of second trigger money.  He reviewed the budget and personnel cuts and other steps that had been taken to find the money for a step and a 1% increase for staff and the adjustments made to cuts regarding the Sex Education Program and New Horizons.

 

After summarizing all of this information, he informed the Board that he felt there was enough money in the budget to offer 1% second contracts to all staff.  The Board members commended Mr. Kapp for his work with the employee associations and administration to be able to offer salary increases, despite the budget constraints of a district with declining enrollment.

 

CONSIDER CONDUCTING THE FIRST READING OF THE POLICY SERVICES ADVISORY, VOLUME 12, NUMBER 5, FOR AUGUST 2000, WITH A SECOND READING AND REQUEST FOR ADOPTION AT THE OCTOBER 10, 2000, BOARD MEETING

Dr. Roger Short informed the Board that for each of the five policies being considered for adoption, the policy advisory was placed in the notebook first, followed by the present policy, and then the proposed policy and reviewed each proposed policy with the Board.  The proposed policies relate to Staff Conduct, Student Conduct, Student Discipline, Student Suspension, and Expulsion of Students.

 

Discussion followed regarding the use of a hearing officer and also the notification of the Board regarding suspensions.

 

CONSIDER THE REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF A REQUEST FROM MRS. CAROLYN PETERS FOR A MATERNITY LEAVE OF ABSENCE

There was no discussion regarding this item.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED

Mr. Kevin Kapp pointed out to the Board that the high number of classified employees noted in the personnel report were hired through the CASA Project.  New substitute teachers are still approved by the Board.  He noted that there are currently 89 substitute teachers on the list.  Mr. Kapp noted that Ms. Raskin had provided the Board with supplemental information regarding the approval of vouchers.

 

Mr. Gordon Maddux raised a question regarding a principal who had reservations regarding a new hire.  Dr. Short responded that a grievance had been filed regarding that matter and recommended that the Board allow the grievance to run its course since the Board may hear the grievance on an appeal.

 

ADJOURNMENT

Mr. Denny Colgan moved that the Governing Board adjourn.  Mr. Gordon Maddux seconded the motion. 

 

Dr. Joan Fleming voted aye, Mr. Dennis Colgan voted aye, Mr. Gordon Maddux voted aye, and President Delp voted aye.  The motion carried 4-0.

 

The meeting adjourned at 7:10 p.m.