PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1

146 South Granite Street

Prescott, Arizona 86303

 

October 18, 2005

 

Minutes of the Governing Board Voting Session of Tuesday, October 18, 2005, beginning at 5:30 p.m. held in the District Office Board Room.

 

Governing Board Members Present:

President Andy Newton

Dr. Joan Fleming

Mrs. Dee Navarro

Mr. Tom Staley

Mr. Steve Campbell

 

Also Present:

Mr. Kevin Kapp, Superintendent

Mrs. Renee Raskin, Director of Business Services

Mr. Spencer Johnson, Student Representative

Mrs. Andrea Mayer, Assistant to the Governing Board

 

Others Present:

          Paul Manz                      Bruce Taylor                  Bill Monroe

          Joe Dombrowski            Hilary Dartt                    David Martin

          Dorrean Walker             Larry Ridennoure          Mitsue Ridennoure

          Jim Grundy                             Sharon Fischer             

                                              

CALL TO ORDER

President Andy Newton called the meeting to order at 5:34 p.m.

 

OPENING CEREMONY AND WELCOME

Mr. Spencer Johnson led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and President Newton welcomed everyone and thanked them for attending.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

President Newton asked Mr. Kapp if the agenda was in order.  Mr. Kapp responded that it was and directed the Board’s attention to a revised Personnel Report. 

 

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

 

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

 

PRESENTATIONS

President Andy Newton and Mr. Kevin Kapp thanked members of the Fair Association for their support for the children and schools in the area.  Mr. Kapp introduced Mr. Paul Manz who presented the Fair Association members with a plaque of appreciation and noted that this organization has done countless things for all the districts in the area and that his students always look forward to performing at the fair.  Mr. Larry Ridennoure thanked the Board for arranging the presentation and stated that they like to help the schools in the Tri-City area.

 

Mr. Kapp noted that the Fair Association had also honored Paul Manz the week before the fair and that the Board wanted to recognize Paul’s role in coordinating the performances for the fair and presented him with a certificate of appreciation.

 

President Andy Newton presented a certificate of appreciation to Mr. Joe Dombrowski and Mrs. Dee Navarro, board members of the Employee Benefit Trust, for all their work for the staff of the district.  Recognition was also given, in absentia, to Jane Orr, Jayne Krumbholz, and Jeff Coughlin, the other members of the EBT Board.

 

Mr. Steve Campbell requested a report on EBT at a future Board meeting.

 

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Mr. Kapp noted that last week had been Fall Break and that Kids & Co. had held childcare during this time with 86 children attending, which is up by about 20 students from last year.

 

He reported that our film person, Joseph, had his surgery and was doing well with his recovery.

 

He also reported that the district had received the school labels, which consist of excelling, highly performing, performing plus, performing, or under performing.  He noted that the Prescott schools did very well again with Abia Judd receiving an excelling label for the third year in a row, which is very difficult to do.  Taylor Hicks, Washington, Lincoln and both middle schools all received highly performing labels.  Miller Valley received a performing label and Prescott High School went from highly performing to excelling.  He distributed a report and noted that percentage wise, our district is the sixth highest in the state, but could be as high as third, since four of the schools above us have pending labels.

 

Mr. Steve Campbell noted that he remembered from a conference that the ADE always compare with the year before and that he still saw problems with the process, because eventually you will have to drop back down from excelling to highly performing.

 

 

VOTING SESSION:

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE 2004-2005 ANNUAL FINANCIAL REPORT

This item was voted on at the Study Session due to a timeline.

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE HIRING OF TWO 4-HOUR, TWO 5-HOUR AND ONE 6-HOUR INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS TO ASSIST IN KINDERGARTEN CLASSES FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE 2005-2006 SCHOOL YEAR, UTILIZING 2005-06 GROWTH MONIES

 

          Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve the hiring of two 4-hour, two 5-hour, and one 6-hour instructional assistants to assist in kindergarten classes for the remainder of the 2005-06 school year, utilizing 2005-06 growth monies.  Dr. Joan   Fleming seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Tom Staley noted that last week it had been reported that the hours were all evenly distributed.  Mr. Kapp noted that it was based on the number of sections at each school and gives every school the same number of hours.

 

          Mr. Tom Staley amended the motion to read that the Governing Board approve the hiring of two 5-hour, two 6-hour, and one 7-hour instructional assistants to assist in kindergarten classes for the    remainder of the 2005-06 school year, utilizing 2005-06 growth monies.  Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the motion.

 

Dr. Joan Fleming stated that she believed kindergarten was still two and a half hours and that the original motion would provide one and a half hours of instructional assistant time.  She also noted that the amended motion would cost more money.  She noted that the Board has already approved over $218,000 in additional personnel and that these expenditures would eventually have to be picked up by M & O.  She stated that she was concerned about spending too much of the sudden growth monies and felt the proposed number of hours was sufficient.

 

Mr. Steve Campbell noted that when this proposal was made, it was made by the principals based on their needs.

 

Mr. Kapp noted that the five elementary principals had come up with this proposal based on them talking with their kindergarten teachers and they felt comfortable adding an hour and a half to each section. 

 

Dr. Fleming stated that she would very much like to give consideration for hiring fulltime aides for each section of kindergarten next year. 

 

President Newton noted that next year we may add another class.

 

Dr. Fleming stated that any kindergarten class that she knew of in most districts almost always has a fulltime aide.

 

President Newton stated that the principals made the proposal and should be happy if the Board gives them what they asked for in their proposal.

 

Mr. Staley stated that the reason this is even on the agenda is because we’ve had sudden growth and we get extra money for that and felt that we should have as much help as early as possible for the students.  He noted that’s why we have the preschools and we’re getting money for the very thing I’m proposing.

 

Dr. Fleming noted that if these aides were utilized during the academic part of the day the original proposal should be sufficient.

 

Mr. Staley stated that we don’t know that we’ll need these folks next year and so it might not need to be moved to M & O.  He noted that we’ve tried to take care of the high school level and now we need to take care of this level. 

 

Mr. Kapp noted that whatever the Board approves, the positions would be posted tomorrow and that the district would not wait until second semester, but would hire the instructional assistants right away and that the costs were based on them starting in mid-November.  He noted that Mr. Staley’s proposal would cost about $6,000 more.

 

Mrs. Dee Navarro called for the question.

 

President Newton called for the vote on the amended motion.

 

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

 

President Newton called for the vote on the original motion (as amended).

 

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

 

Dr. Fleming stated that she had voted nay due to the added expense.

         

CONSIDER APPROVING A CHANGE IN POSITION TITLE FROM BUSINESS MANAGER TO CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND LACEMENT OF THE POSITION ON AN APPROPRIATE SALARY SCHEDULE

 

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board approve a change in position title from Business Manager to Chief Financial Officer and placement on a new salary schedule with two columns,   three by three, beginning at $55,600 with 12 steps, and that the current Business Manager would slide onto the schedule at step four and would begin second semester of this school year.  Mrs. Dee Navarro seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Staley stated that he did not feel the Board should increase one director without looking at all eight of them.  He noted that on a fundamental basis the Board should look at all of the directors at once, or none of them.

 

Mr. Staley proposed to postpone the vote on this item until we can look at the other directors.

 

Dr. Fleming stated that she was in favor of the motion because the job description has been revised with more supervisory responsibilities being added.  She stated that she believed the other directors should be looked at also, but that is separate from this issue.

 

Mr. Staley stated that we have a list of eight directors and asked how can we pull out one and not the others?  He noted that the new job description has all money matters being directed to the business manager, which is already happening, and that the only additional responsibility would be supervisory.

 

President Newton asked, who are the other directors?  Mr. Kapp responded, Grants Manager, Food Service, Purchasing, Transportation, Kids & Co., Maintenance and Technology.

 

Mr. Staley noted that the Director of Transportation reports to the Assistant Superintendent, but if it’s a money matter, they go to the Business Manager, and if they are already doing that, what’s the additional responsibility?

 

Mr. Kapp responded that this position would now be able to make the decision, rather than having the Superintendent or Assistant Superintendent make the decision.  He noted that the Business Manager currently sits on the Cabinet in an advisory capacity, but with the new job description it would become more decision-making.

 

Mrs. Navarro called for the question.

 

President Newton called for the vote.

 

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

 

CONSIDER APPROVING REVIEWING AND ADOPTING POLICY SERVICES ADVISORY, VOLUME 18, NUMBER 4, FOR SEPTEMBER 2005, REGARDING POLICY ADVISORY NUMBER 260

 

          Mr. Steve Campbell moved that the Governing Board adopt Policy Services Advisory, Volume 18, Number 4, for September 2005, regarding Policy Advisory Number 260.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

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

 

APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT AGENDA

Mr. Kapp reminded the Board of the revised Personnel Report that will be included in the minutes.

 

Dr. Fleming asked if Carol Westfall was a music person.  Mr. Kapp responded that he did not know.  Mr. Staley stated that he’d like to know also.  Mrs. Raskin stated that she would find out and let the Board know.

 

          Mrs. Dee Navarro moved that the Governing Board approve the Consent Agenda as amended with the revised Personnel Report.  Dr. Joan Fleming seconded the motion.

 

Mr. Staley noted that there were 15 replacements in the Personnel Report this month, which seemed like a significant number to him.  He added that he had suggested to Dr. Reynolds to have an exit interview with employees.

 

Mr. Kapp responded that he would find out if Dr. Reynolds was developing an exit interview and remarked that it was probably a good idea.

 

Dr. Fleming asked what’s a Gold Mine instructor?  Mr. Kapp responded, an after-school instructor.

 

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

 

CONSIDER APPROVING THE CERTIFIED AND CLASSIFIED PERSONNEL ACTIONS AS PRESENTED

 

Certified Staff Employments:  Rhette Blakey, Carolyn Ernst, Michelle Stenmoe, and Carol Westfall.

 

Certified Staff Resignations:  None.

 

New Substitute Teachers: (Total of 111)

 

Classified Staff Employments: Andrew Alexander, Carol Diedrich, Michelle Helmken, Lorri Hernandez, Jeremy Hust, Jill Jones, Jessie Keaunui, Jean Maissen, JoAnn Mattson, Brad Royse, Catherine Schnistzius, and Carly Wright.

 

Classified Staff Resignations:  Nan Cooper, Duane Halsey, Albert Heath, Helen Kuenstler, Jackie Smith, and Gary Welsh.

 

New Volunteers:  Alanna Larson, Kathy Speck, and Antoinette Verhayden.

 

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

 

The acceptance of donations as presented:

 

Many gallons of paint and offer to tint in the colors of choice from Tom and Andy Toth, Prescott True Value Hardware, to Miller Valley Elementary School.

 

A computer valued at $50, from Art and Joy Colwell.

 

An HP printer/scanner valued at $150, from Mr. Drew Alexander, to Lincoln Elementary School.

 

A set of Britannica Encyclopedias from Mr. Robert Hood, to Abia Judd Elementary School.

 

Two computers and related accessories valued at $350, from Mr. Ronald Byrne Jr.

 

A Temporal Scanner Infrared Thermometer and Accucheck Glucometers and test stripes to each school valued at $4,248.89, from the Prescott Sunrise Lions Club.

 

Miscellaneous computer equipment from Miss Kitty’s Cat House, Carolyn Taylor, Director.

 

Four IBM Selectric II typewriters valued at $180 from Footeworks Auto License & Title Service.

 

An electronic keyboard from Sally and Bud Schleicher to Miller Valley Elementary School.

 

The ratification of vouchers as presented:

 

Voucher #                                                              Amount

Payroll Voucher #5                                              $887,238.41        

Payroll Voucher #6                                              $902,035.02

Expenditure Voucher #6016                                $126,328.74

Expenditure Voucher #6017                                  $23,455.68

Expenditure Voucher #6018                                $141,229.48        

Expenditure Voucher #6019                                  $40,955.27

Expenditure Voucher #6020                                  $24,333.37

Expenditure Voucher #6021                                $314,960.03        

Expenditure Voucher #6022                                  $77,188.64

Expenditure Voucher #6023                                  $60,606.60

Expenditure Voucher #6024                                $257,450.35

Expenditure Voucher #6025                                  $23,089.68

Expenditure Voucher #6026                                $108,665.19

 

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

 

Consider the review and approval of previous minutes from the

Governing Board Executive and Study Session of September 6, 2005, the Voting Session of  September 13, 2005, and the Executive Session of September 21, 2005.

 

ADJOURNMENT

 

Hearing no objection, President Andy Newton adjourned the meeting at 6:20 p.m.

 

___________________________________

Governing Board Member