PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1
146 South Granite Street
Prescott, Arizona 86303
November 1, 2005
Minutes of the Governing
Board Study Session of Tuesday, November 1, 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
Mrs. Renee Raskin,
Director of Business Services
Mr. Spencer Johnson,
Student Representative
Mrs. Andi Mayer, Assistant
to the Governing Board
Others Present:
Totsy
McCraley Frank Lawhead Susan Clark
Gerry
Janssen Arn Lavington Jay Collier
Ed
Yeager Mike Harlan Bill Munson
Joe
Howard Susan Howe David Martin
Donna
Norris Shean Hilton Dorrean Walker
Hilary Dartt
Bill Monroe Marianne Brooks
Linda
Ryan Brian Moore
CALL TO ORDER
President Andy Newton
called the meeting to order at 5:37 p.m.
OPENING CEREMONY AND
WELCOME
President Newton welcomed
everyone and thanked those present for attending. Mr. Spencer Johnson led
the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
President Newton asked Mr.
Kapp if the agenda was in order and Mr. Kapp responded that it was.
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, Mrs. Dee Navarro
voted aye, Mr. Tom Staley voted aye, and President Newton voted aye. The
motion carried 5-0.
PRESENTATIONS
None.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Mr. Kevin Kapp distributed
copies of the November Calendar of Events and noted that there were many
activities taking place this month. He highlighted the PHS Drama
Production, “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe” and encouraged Board
members to attend as many events as they could.
He announced that Dr.
Chris Reynolds, the President-Elect of ASPAA, was also the conference
chairperson and was attending that conference with 125 participants. He
distributed the program from that conference. He also noted that on
Friday morning he would be one of the presenters for an hour and fifteen
minutes and that he would be doing a presentation on “No Brag, Just Fact”
regarding our district’s marketing efforts and sharing the good stuff.
Mr. Kapp reported that
Lincoln School had been identified as a “best in class” and highly
achieving school based on three years of data and their continually
climbing test score results by ASU and the ADOE through a benchmarking
study. He noted that as a result, Lincoln will become a test school in a
study as to why they do so well, which will bring some well-deserved
recognition to the school.
He distributed copies of
the 40th Day numbers as of October 3, 2005, and explained that
these numbers represent membership averages of students enrolled over the
first 40 day period of the school year. He noted that the 100th
Day report is the numbers that generate revenue and takes place in
January. He reported that our goal every year has been to grow by about
2%, which we have done. He noted that the 40 Day count reflects that the
district is up by about 124 students, or 2.2%, which are good numbers.
STUDY SESSION:
CONSIDER APPROVING A
LEASE BETWEEN PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND BILL AND SHARY
FELDMEIER FOR THE LEASING OF THE FELDMEIER’S PROPERTY AT 937 RUTH STREET
TO HOST PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT’S NEW EXPEDITIONARY LEARNING
OUTWARD BOUND HIGH SCHOOL
Dr. Joan Fleming stated
that she did not believe that the district would be in any position to
approve a lease by next week and recommended that the Board ask the
superintendent to put a voting item on next week for the hiring of a third
party negotiator.
Mr. Tom Staley suggested
putting a cost limit of $2,500 for that service. He added that uses for
the building would not be limited to just ELOB, but could house other PHS
classes and PEAK and that it was well worth looking into.
President Newton stated
that hiring a third party negotiator made sense.
Mr. Kapp informed the
Board that PHS has expanded by a 4-5% growth rate for the last 4-5 years,
but still does not qualify for assistance from SFB and probably won’t
until 2009-09. He added that this building does have some great
potential.
CONSIDER APPROVING AN
OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL REQUEST FOR THE PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ SOCCER TEAM
TO TRAVEL TO LAKE CHARLES, LOUISIANA, ON DECEMBER 14-18, 2005, FOR THE
LOUISIANA SHOWCASE OF SOCCER
Mr. Shean Hilton, Boys’
Varsity Soccer Coach was present to answer any questions the Board had
regarding this request. Mr. Hilton noted that the Board had allowed the
varsity team to attend this tournament last year and that they had played
some really tough competition. He added that last year the tournament was
during the week of finals and that this year it is scheduled the week
before finals.
Mr. Staley asked, what is
the expected cost? Mr. Hilton responded, the trip will cost around
$9,000, but at no cost to the district.
Mr. Staley asked, could
tax credit funds be used? Mr. Hilton responded, we would welcome any
money and we plan on doing two fundraisers: the Gold Dining Card, which
usually brings in about $2,500-$3,000, and a partnership with the City of
Prescott Parks and Recreation Department doing the Prescott Showcase of
soccer, which is for adult leagues.
Mrs. Dee Navarro asked, do
you have any idea what’s in your tax credit donations? Mr. Hilton
responded, tax credit donations usually start out pretty slow until soccer
season starts.
Mrs. Totsy McCraley
reported that parents usually earmark where they want their tax credit
donations to go and noted that Bill White might have some additional
funding. She stated that it was very rare to get tax credit money that
has not been earmarked.
Mr. Staley asked, what
about the athletic POP money? Mrs. McCraley responded, that’s used for
referees, tournaments, field restoration, etc.
CONSIDER APPROVING A
WAIVER TO THE GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AT PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL FOR STUDENT
#001 WITH REGARD TO THE ONE-YEAR PHYSICAL EDUCATION GRADUATION REQUIREMENT
DUE TO THE STUDENT’S RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Mr. Kapp reported that
there is a student at the high school whose parents are requesting that
the one year P.E. requirement for graduation be waived due to religious
reasons. He noted that the state does not require P.E. as a graduation
requirement, but the district does.
Mrs. McCraley noted that
Judy Martinez is the student’s advisor and the parents were offered the
option of non-dress for P.E., the opportunity of dual credit through
Yavapai College; obtaining the credit through correspondence course work,
or challenge exams. She noted that the parent was adamant about no
physical activity and that they were considering the challenge exam or
correspondence course through Phoenix Special Programs, which we accept
credit for their coursework. She reported that the parents were reluctant
for the student to do any physical activity, and since it’s a Board
requirement, it would be up to the Board to waive the requirement.
Mr. Kapp asked if there
were a cost involved for the student. Mrs. McCraley responded, yes – as
there would be for any other student who would choose to do a challenge
exam or take a correspondence course – they must pay the charge since we
offer the course for free.
Mr. Campbell noted that if
the parents were to choose one of the four options it would not put the
Board in the position of waiving a requirement. He then asked, is there a
policy that allows the Board to do this? Mr. Kapp responded that he was
not sure but would check on it.
Dr. Fleming suggested that
the parents be given a deadline since we’re getting pretty far into the
first semester.
Mrs. McCraley reported
that the parent had written a letter at the end of the summer and that she
asked Judy Martinez to contact the parent and let them know this was a
Board action.
President Newton noted
that the letter does not say if the religious objection is to the dress,
or partaking in physical activity. Dr. Fleming stated that the letter
also mentions an international manual of which the Board does not have a
copy. Mr. Staley stated that it bothered him that the letter was from the
pastor and not the parent. Mr. McCraley noted that the parent had written
a letter to the school and then had brought this letter in from their
pastor. She stated that she felt it would set a bad precedent. Mr.
Staley stated that he felt P.E. is critically important and that he would
like to hear from the parents and that the parents needed to respond
regarding the four options that have been offered as a solution.
Mr. Kapp asked the Board
if they wanted to remove this item from the agenda. Mrs. McCraley pointed
out that the student is a senior and would need the credit to graduate.
Mr. Spencer Johnson noted
that if the objection is due to wearing immodest apparel, the student
could wear something for P.E. that would meet her beliefs, but if the
objection is due to being exposed to immodest apparel, it’s not anything
the student hasn’t already been exposed to everyday in the hallways. He
stated that he also feels that P.E. is extremely important and thought it
was strange that this has been brought to the Board in the student’s
senior year.
Mrs. McCraley stated that
she was hearing that the Board wanted her to present the options to the
parents and set a deadline for a response.
Mr. Staley stated that
this request should have been brought up before the student’s senior year.
Mr. Campbell stated that
the Board wishes to be respectful of their religious beliefs and that he
felt they had been offered acceptable options without the Board having to
waive a policy.
Mr. Kapp stated that Mrs.
McCraley needs to share the feelings of the Board with the parents and if
this is an important issue to them, the parents need to come before the
Board themselves, or if they choose to take one of the options being
offered to them, this item should come off the agenda.
CONSIDER APPROVING THE
EXPENDITURE OF APPROXIMATELY $15,000 OF 2005-2006 SUDDEN GROWTH MONEY TO
PAY 20% OF AN ART TEACHER AND 20% OF A MUSIC TEACHER AT ABIA JUDD
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Mr.
Campbell stated that as much as the Board appreciates the intent behind
the request, he felt that the spending time was past. Mr. Kapp stated
that the administration would like to remove this item from the agenda and
that in discussing this with DLT it was discovered that Abia Judd was not
the only school in this position.
CONSIDER APPROVING A
30-HOUR PER WEEK SCHOOL NURSE FOR DEXTER FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER AND
DISCOVERY GARDENS FROM 2005-06 SUDDEN GROWTH MONEY
Mr. Kapp noted that Gerry
Janssen and Susan Howe were in attendance to speak regarding this
proposal.
Mr. Campbell stated that
of the various spending requests, this request and the textbook request
were ones that he felt he could support.
President Newton pointed
out that next year we may have Skyview students at Dexter and asked if
this nurse would be providing services to those students as well. Mrs.
Janssen responded, yes and that at that time the position may need to be
increased to 40 hours per week.
President Newton noted
that the growth at Discovery Gardens has been considerable over the last
several years and that with the 160 preschool students and the expectation
of another 100 or so, there should be a nurse at that site.
Mrs. Dee Navarro asked,
how many other 30 hour nurses do we have in the district? Mr. Kapp
responded that Lincoln’s nurse has a contract for 35 hours per week and
that the figure of $17,360 is the cost for the balance of this school
year.
Mr. Campbell asked, and
how much would it cost next year? Mr. Kapp responded, between
$25,000-$30,000.
Mr. Staley asked, is there
a nurse there now? Mrs. Janssen responded, Susan Howe is there 4 hours
per week.
Dr. Fleming asked, if we
approve this request, when would the position begin? Mr. Kapp responded
that it would be posted the next day, that it would be a week or so to
hire someone, and then it would depend if they had their fingerprint card,
but that the position could start prior to the winter break.
CONSIDER APPROVING A
FULLTIME TEACHER AND TWO INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS (20 HOURS PER WEEK EACH)
AND INCREASING THE PREVIOUSLY APPROVED INSTRUCTIONAL ASSISTANTS TO 20
HOURS PER WEEK FROM THE CURRENT 18 HOURS PER WEEK AT DISCOVERY GARDENS
PRESCHOOL FROM 2005-06 SUDDEN GROWTH MONEY
Mr. Kapp noted that there
was a math inaccuracy in the Board Briefing and that it would cost right
at $10,000 and not $43,190.
President Newton clarified
that the total cost would be approximately $39,150.
Mr. Campbell noted that
when he looks at the preschool account it reflects a negative balance and
he wondered how that could be with the growing enrollment numbers. Mrs.
Raskin responded that currently the expenditures were outweighing the
tuition revenue.
Mr. Campbell asked, do we
get money for the preschool? Mrs. Raskin responded, yes.
Mr. Staley asked, would we
get $39,153 from the state. Mrs. Raskin responded, no, that we get money
for the special education kids.
Mrs. Janssen noted that
the program currently has 62 special education children and that they
would be placing 18 more before the end of the school year for a total of
80 special education students.
Mr. Staley asked, how much
does the district receive for each of those students? Mrs. Janssen
responded, it depends on the student’s special need. Mr. Staley noted
that if you took the average of $3,750 for each student times 80, the
district should receive about $300,000. Mr. Kapp corrected that figure by
noting that not all of the children were present on the first day and the
figure would be closer to $150,000.
Mr. Staley asked, would we
get enough money from the state to cover this request?
Mrs. Janssen responded, we
are bound by the law to provide a special education program for these
students and we continue to screen and identify at least one special
education student each time we screen.
Mrs. Raskin noted that
regarding preschool, speech – she didn’t know if the money is there to
justify the expense.
Mr. Staley noted that an
average of $3,750 x 9 = $33,750 and requested a better revenue
representation on this item regarding increases, projections, money from
the state, etc.
Mrs. Raskin responded that
she was not sure she could get the special education numbers by Monday.
Mrs. Janssen noted that she had the classifications. Mr. Staley suggested
that Mrs. Raskin would just have to get the amount from the state and that
the Board needed a better handle on that revenue.
Mrs. Janssen noted that
they wanted to have a real picture of what is coming in from our special
education students, but we also need to look at class size. She stated
that it was 120, and now is 131.
Mrs. Navarro asked, if
we’re looking at revenue, shouldn’t we be looking at expenses also? She
stated that she thought she remembered that revenue was not enough to
cover expenses for special education students.
Mr. Staley noted that
there were 21 new students.
Mrs. Janssen pointed out
that not all have been screened and that the paperwork needed to be
completed on those students.
Mr. Kapp asked why there
were ranges for class size. Mrs. Janssen responded that class size varies
because parents have a choice to bring their students one, two or three
days a week, so it fluctuates.
Mr. Kapp asked, what’s the
ideal class size? Mrs. Janssen responded, no higher than 15 students for
Polly and Stacie due to students with more severe handicaps, no higher
than 16 for Judy and Christie, and the rest could be as high as 18
students.
Mr. Staley asked, are
there state mandates regarding class size based on handicap? Mrs. Janssen
responded, no.
Mr. Kapp asked, you have a
little bit of capital left? Mrs. Janssen responded, yes.
President Newton noted we
have 21, 12, and 7 students. Dr. Fleming added, 40 kids.
Mrs. Janssen noted that it
could be because of our ads and because our parents are becoming more
aware of the good programs, certified teachers, screenings, meeting
individual needs, word of mouth.
President Newton reminded
everyone that the district wanted this program to grow and if those are
the right numbers, we need to help this program out.
Mr. Staley pointed out
that if we’re getting $150,000, he didn’t understand why the Board thought
we couldn’t afford this.
President Newton stated
that teachers need to be there when kids show up.
Mr. Campbell asked, if
part of those are tuition students – why is that account in the hole?
Mrs. Janssen responded, it depends on how much is owed and how much comes
in and that at the end of last year it had a zero balance. She stated
that she was hoping that as the program grows it will be reflected in the
ADM account.
Mr. Kapp noted that this
year we have the highest kindergarten enrollment we’ve had in a long time
and felt it was because of the population of the preschool and that this
program is feeding the system. Mr. Kapp stated that the district
administration would do some revenue projections for the Board.
CONSIDER APPROVING
APPROXIMATELY $5,000 IN SET-UP MONEY IN ORDER TO PURCHASE CLASSROOM
EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES FOR THE NEW CLASSROOM AT DISCOVERY GARDENS FROM
2005-06 SUDDEN GROWTH MONEY
Mr. Kapp noted that this
request was directly tied to the last agenda item.
Mr. Staley noted, if we do
number 6, we must do number 7 – so it would be a total of $44,000.
CONSIDER APPROVING AN
ALLOCATION OF $10,000 FROM 2005-06 SUDDEN GROWTH MONEY TO PROVIDE
ADDITIONAL TEXTBOOKS FOR STUDENTS AT PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Kapp noted that this
was another request for materials at Prescott High School and that their
enrollment was up by about 4.7%.
Mrs. Totsy McCraley
reported that over the last couple of years when Renee Raskin gives us our
budget accounts, she has been putting in larger amounts each year to
offset the textbook costs. She stated that she had asked Mary Robinson,
the Bookstore Manager, to identify the books she has had to pay additional
costs for over the last two years. She noted that if used books can be
found, those are purchased first because they are less expensive, and if
used books are not available, we must then pay the publisher’s price. She
noted that some books are not available. She noted that part of the
reason for overages are due to students finding they have to repeat a
class, providing books for PEAK, and special education students sometimes
require two sets of books. She added that textbooks are also getting more
expensive and that one chemistry books costs $70 plus.
Mr. Staley noted that the
cost of purchasing 416 books was $15,500 for what already ordered, so
would that not leave a surplus? Mrs. McCraley responded that you must pay
for tax and shipping costs also. She noted that she still had about
$2,500 left in her account, but pointed out that we haven’t even finished
the first semester year.
President Newton stated,
you under budgeted by almost 50%.
Mr. Staley noted that the
lost book account should be a complete wash. He then asked if the high
school gets a lot of new students in the second semester? Mr. Kapp
responded that new student enrollment generally slows down during the
second semester.
Mrs. McCraley stated that
she did not have the number of students that will have to repeat a class
during second semester and that it depends on how many students actually
pay for lost books.
Mr. Kapp reminded everyone
that this is what we want to have to deal with – growth.
CONSIDER APPROVING THE
RESIGNATION AND RELEASE OF MR. MARK BENEITONE OF PRESCOTT HIGH SCHOOL FROM
HIS 2005-06 TEACHING CONRACT WITH PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT UPON
THE HIRING OF A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT
Dr. Fleming pointed out
that on two of these requests it says the district is supportive of staff
members desiring to leave the school district to pursue other professional
goals.
Mr. Kapp noted that the
philosophy has been, if they no longer want to be doing what they’re
doing, let them go as long as we find a suitable replacement.
CONSIDER APPROVING THE
RESIGNATION AND RELEASE OF MS. CHERIE ARNOLD OF MILLER VALLEY SCHOOL FROM
HER 2005-06 TEACHING CONTRACT WITH PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT FOR
THE SECOND SEMESTER UPON THE HIRING OF A SUITABLE REPLACEMENT IN ORDER TO
PARTICIPATE IN THE BUY-OUT PROGRAM BEING OFFERED TO QUALIFIED STAFF
Mr. Kapp noted that this
one was due to retirement and a 50% pro-rated participation in the
buy-out.
Mr. Staley asked, we have
the option of offering the buy-out? Mr. Kapp responded, she is following
the parameters.
Mr. Staley asked, do we
know if she’s planning on coming back? Mrs. Susan Clark responded, that’s
not settled yet.
Mr. Staley stated that by
letting someone out of their contract mid-year, he thought it would be
unconscionable if the district allowed her to come back next September and
that he’d like to know whether she was planning on coming back or not.
Mr. Kapp noted that when
an employee asks to leave at mid-year, there is usually a compelling
reason.
CONSIDER APPROVING AN
UNPAID MATERNITY LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR MRS. AMY MANEELY FOR THE SECOND
SEMESTER OF THE 2005-06 SCHOOL YEAR
Mr. Kapp noted that about
one-half of the employees who take maternity leave come back and that
there is no guarantee. He noted that a Board approved leave of absence
gives that employee a guaranteed position to come back to.
CONSIDER APPROVING AN
UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE FOR MRS. ALYSON ANDERSON FOR THE SECOND SEMESTER
OF THE 2005-06 SCHOOL YEAR
Dr. Fleming noted that
this employee was asking for the leave in order to do her student
teaching.
Mr. Kapp added that she is
currently an instructional assistant taking classes at NAU to become a
teacher.
CONSIDER APPROVING A
DELEGATE AND ALTERNATE DELEGATE TO REPRESENT THE GOVERNING BOARD FOR THE
2005 ASBA ANNUAL CONFERENCE IN DECEMBER
Dr. Fleming suggested that
Dr. Newton be the delegate this year. Dr. Newton stated that he was
willing to that.
CONSIDER APPROVAL OF THE
CONSENT AGENDA:
Mr.
Staley noted that there was another 12 replacements and that he’d still
like to reiterate his suggestion of having an exit survey.
Mr.
Kapp responded that the district administration had discussed ways to get
honest information back from employees leaving the district and were
looking at a form that is mailed to the employee after they leave with a
self-addressed stamped return envelope.
Mr.
Kapp pointed out the letter from Governor Napolitano regarding Dr. Joan
Fleming in the information section.
Mr.
Campbell pointed out that there was an account for Lincoln and Miller
Valley that were totally in the hole. Mrs. Raskin responded that they
would come out of the hole soon because of tax credits.
Mr.
Kapp noted that the elementary and middle schools were doing a mass
mailing of 30,000 tax credit brochures and that every envelope would also
have the Westcor tax brochure that could net each school $1,000 more.
Mr.
Staley noted that the district still needed to educate parents and that he
still runs across parents who aren’t aware of the tax credit program.
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 SEPTEMBER 2005
CONSIDER THE REVIEW AND
APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES FROM THE GOVERNING BOARD EXECUTIVE AND STUDY
SESSION OF
OCTOBER 4, 2005; THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION AND VOTING SESSION OF OCTOBER 18, 2005; AND THE
EXECUTIVE SESSION OF OCTOBER 24, 2005
ADJOURNMENT
Hearing no objection,
President Newton adjourned the meeting at 7:13 p.m.
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