PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 1
146 South Granite Street
Prescott, Arizona 86303
December
5, 2000
Minutes
of the Study Session of the Governing Board, Tuesday, December 5,
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:
Dee Navarro
Greg Campbell
Worth Mallory
May Mallory
Andrea Klein
Scott O’Neal
Ruth Willson
Carolyn Peters
Barbara Harber
Jeannene Henry
Paula Scheiden
Jim Williams
Tom Marshall
Charleen Marshall
Robert Stearns
Ed Yeager
Tracey Yeager
Jean V. Krueger
Debbie Mortimer
Sarah Pederson
Linda Ryan
Louise Koniarski
Renee Raskin
Karin Ward
Bill Munroe
Cindy Brown
John Rust
CALL
TO ORDER
President
Delp called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m. President Delp welcomed
the members of the audience and the media.
Miss Kimberly Steward 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.
Mr.
Gordon Maddux moved that the Governing Board accept the agenda as
presented. 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.
PRESENTATIONS
Ms. Linda Ryan reviewed the K-8 Computer
Literacy Curriculum with the Board.
She noted that the curriculum started out to encompass K-12,
but as the committee began working and realized how many classes were
offered at the high school, they decided to limit this particular
portion of the curriculum to K-8.
Another committee will be formed at a later date to work with
just 9-12 computer curriculum.
She
noted that computers are important tools for learning and that
students need to be computer literate. The six basic topics covered in the curriculum are basic
operations and concepts, application and interaction, communication
tool, research tool, problem-solving and decision-making tools, and
productivity tool.
The
committee felt that by 3rd grade students should be
knowledgeable about the basic keyboard and that by the end of 5th
grade, students should have keyboard efficiency and accuracy and know
some basic word processing functions as well as computer terminology.
She
noted that the curriculum book has different projects and creative
application uses for the computer to serve as guidelines for teachers
and for integration into the various content areas.
Mr.
Tim Carter introduced Miss Jennifer Klein, the high school’s newest
State Cross Country Champion. In
the history of PHS, Girl’s Cross Country has been the most
successful athletic program with three State Championships, three
State Runner-Up Championships, and dozens of Regional Championships. Mr. Carter noted that Jennifer is only a junior and will be
back competing again next year. Mr.
Carter introduced Mrs. Carolyn Peters, the Girl’s Cross Country
Coach. Mrs. Peters
introduced Jennifer’s parents, Andrea and Michael Klein.
She noted that Jennifer is not only a fine athlete, but carries
a 4.00 grade point average and is a member of the National Honor
Society. This was
Jennifer’s first year in Cross Country and she won every school meet
she competed in with the exception of one.
SUPERINTENDENT’S
REPORT
Dr.
Short briefly reviewed the December calendar highlighting the many
outstanding musical performances.
He noted that Christmas Break would begin December 16th.
The district office will be open for business on December 18th
and 19th and December 28th and 29th. The last day to bring in tax credit donations is December 29th.
School district employees will return from break on January 2nd.
The
Governing Board will have a Voting Session on December 12th.
Our new Board members, Dee Navarro and Steve Campbell, will be
attending an orientation conference sponsored by the Arizona School
Board Association on December 13th in Scottsdale.
The conference will continue through December 14-15.
On December 18th at 10:00 a.m. the new Board
members, along with our returning Board member, will fill out
paperwork and pledge their oath of office.
Formal oaths will be administered at our January 2nd
Board meeting. Dr. Short
noted that sometime between January 3rd-8th
he’d like to schedule a work session with the new Board prior to the
Voting Session on January 9th.
Dr.
Short asked those present to please consider supporting the school
district through participation in the tax credit donation program.
Tax credit donations must be postmarked no later than December
31, 2000.
Dr.
Short noted that many staff members have attended workshops regarding
Proposition 301 and performance pay options. The district will be
watching for any legislative changes to this proposition.
Dr.
Short reported that he had been dealing with several traffic issues
within the district. One
area of concern is the traffic situation in the Abia Judd area.
The city is currently studying that area and intersection and
developing a plan for more safety and less congestion.
The other area of concern is the speed limit on Copper Basin
Road between Hemlock and 89 where there are many bus stops.
The district would like to see the city maintain the 25-mile
per hour speed limit for the safety of our school children.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF A REVISED EXPENDITURE BUDGET FOR 2000-2001
Ms. Renee Raskin noted that in
accordance with A.R.S. 15-905, a district is allowed or required to
revise its budget limits. Because
our fiscal year 1998-99 audit expenditures were underestimated by
$679, we can now increase our M & O budget by that amount.
Our soft capital in 1999-2000 was $9,274 more than estimated.
We also had $2,242 more interest than projected in soft
capital. Therefore, we
are required to revise our budget down by $7,032.
Ms. Raskin reviewed the forms
and lines of the budget being revised with the Board.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF THE DELEGATION OF AUTHORITY TO MR. ARN LAVINGTON,
DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING, TO USE THE MOHAVE EDUCATIONAL SERVICES
COOPERATIVE CONTRACTS FOR PROCUREMENT OF GOODS AND SERVICES
Dr. Short noted that this
proposal is based on a recommendation from our auditors as a result of
our most recent audit. Mohave
has already obtained bids for items we need and our district has used
them in the past.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF DR. SHORT- SUPERINTENDENT, MR. KEVIN KAPP –
ASSISTANT SUPERINTENDENT, MS. RENEE RASKIN – DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS
SERVICES, AND MR. ARN LAVINGTON – DIRECTOR OF PURCHASING AS
DESIGNATED PERSONS BY THE GOVERNING BOARD AUTHORIZED TO USE
“EMERGENCY PROCUREMENT” FOR GOODS AND SERVICES WHEN AN EMERGENCY
CONDITION EXISTS
Dr. Short reported that from
time to time the district may have emergency situations and
procurement of goods or services has to take place very quickly.
He noted that this proposal was also based on the
recommendation from our auditors.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF A “SEALED REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL #070100C” FOR
MISCELLANEOUS BUS AND AUTO PARTS
Dr. Short noted that this
proposal was similar to the RFP’s approved last month.
The names of vendors with their bids are noted in the Board
Briefing.
CONSIDER
THE REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF SPONSORSHIP BY PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT NO. 1 OF A MIDDLE SCHOOL CHARTER SCHOOL OPERATION
Dr. Short reported that the
Board has had many conversations over the last six months regarding
the district sponsorship of a charter school.
He noted that it was also a long-term goal of the Board to
develop such a program to become more competitive within the market.
Mrs. Betty Ann Campbell is currently on leave from our school
district to research and develop such a plan, which she has completed
and has submitted to the Board for consideration.
Mrs. Campbell introduced the
charter school team and corporate Board:
Mr. Robert Stearns, the Accountant and Corporation Board
Member; Mr. Michael Martin, Application Consultant; and Mr. John
Jetter, School Board Policy Consultant.
At this time, Mrs. Campbell asked the Board if they had any
questions regarding her proposal.
Dr. Short asked Mrs. Campbell
to briefly outline the concept, grade levels, and what the school
hopes to accomplish. Mrs.
Campbell responded that the charter school would be for 7th,
8th, and 9th grade students who are at risk of
dropping out of school and who are struggling within the traditional
school setting. The
charter school is looking at a smaller teacher/student ratio (10:1)
that would use the Compass curriculum, which is computer assisted,
supplemented with textbooks and aligned with AIMS. This proposal would
address the needs of the targeted student population within a more
flexible curriculum.
Dr. Fleming asked what our
district would get financially by sponsoring the proposed charter
school. Mrs. Campbell
responded that the district would receive purchase service monies and
rent from Dexter.
Mr. Gordon Maddux commented
that he liked the concept but was concerned with the loss of student
enrollment for our district and the financial impact that loss of
revenue would have on our district.
Dr. Short noted that the targeted student population is
students that would probably be looking at alternative schools anyway,
and that the proposed charter school has the goal of getting students
back into our system at a later time.
Mrs. Campbell fielded other
questions from the Board regarding the insurance budget, possible use
of EBT, how counseling services would be provided, family and
community involvement, court appointed students, and budget
shortfalls.
Mrs. Campbell introduced two
more of her Board members: Mr.
Greg Campbell and Mrs. Mary Clare McShane.
Mrs. Womack asked why Mrs.
Campbell had decided to ask our district to sponsor the charter
school. Mrs. Campbell
responded, loyalty and looking at agency collaboration.
Mrs. Womack asked how it would
make our district more competitive with charter schools.
Dr. Short responded that it would not only be competitive, but
in a cooperative spirit, and doing what’s best for students by
working cooperatively with our sponsored charter school with the goal
of getting students back into our system at a later time.
He noted that it was better to be cooperative rather than
adversarial
Mrs. Womack asked how our
district personnel would monitor the school and if there were any
liability issues. Dr. Short responded that the district would have a
lessee/leaser relationship very similar to the relationship that PEAK
has with Yavapai College. Mrs.
Campbell stated that she was looking at preparing these students to
return to the system for four years at the high school level and that
she had no intention of expanding the academy to include upper grade
levels.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF A RECLASSIFICATION OF THE PRESCOTT UNIFIED SCHOOL
DISTRICT NO. 1 BUS DRIVERS FROM THE CURRENT GRADE 8 TO GRADE 9 ON THE
CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE SALARY SCHEDULE
Mr. Kapp noted that during the
spring of 2000, reclassification of the bus drivers from their current
Grade 8 to Grade 9 was an administrative goal.
Funds for this reclassification were not available at that time
due to the administration’s and Governing Board’s desire to give
all staff members the same level of salary increase for the 2000-2001
school year. Funds for
this reclassification are now available within the Transportation
budget due to expenditures being less than the budget limit in this
area of the school district’s budget.
He noted that the bus drivers have taken on additional
responsibilities, do more work, and additional paperwork than in the
past. Their job functions
have changed over the last few years with more training and the
requirement of obtaining a commercial driver’s license.
Paula Scheiden addressed the
Board stating that she was starting her fifth year as a bus driver.
Bus drivers are the only employee group that deal with children
that are required to be randomly drug tested.
Additionally, they are required to complete first aid training,
CPR training, and mandatory physicals.
She stated that she felt the bus drivers really deserved the
upgrade.
Ruth Willson addressed the
Board stating that she was starting her fourth year as a bus driver
and that she had driven a bus in Connecticut for 20 years.
She noted that the bus drivers have not received a
reclassification in 15 years. Bus
drivers are required to have a C.D.L. with passenger endorsement,
advanced training, physicals and drug testing.
She noted that the increase in population in Prescott has
increased the amount of traffic and pedestrians and that open
enrollment has led to more routes being covered. She noted that bus drivers also have to transport special
needs students.
Scott O’Neal addressed the
Board stating that he was in his second full year as a bus driver in
this district and had also driven a bus in Michigan.
He read the “Bus Driver’s Prayer” to the Board.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF A 20% BUY-OUT PROGRAM FOR PARTICIPANTS DURING THIS
2000-2001 SCHOOL YEAR
Mr. Kapp noted that this
district has done buy-outs for many years and that the 20% buy-out
with no obligation to come back and work for the district was the most
popular program. In the
past the district has done buy-outs in the spring.
By doing it now, it would give the district openings to work
with and possibly avoid RIF’s in the spring.
Enrollment is better this year, with the exception of the high
school. Buy-outs help the
district from a financial perspective and 98% of the time we save
money. The district
stands to gain $5,000-$10,000 with new hires, although Personnel
always tell the principals to hire the best qualified candidate.
He noted that the teacher
experience index is based on average age as compared to the state.
Our district is still heavy at the top without greatly affecting our TEI funding.
Mr. Maddux asked if Mr. Kapp
could anticipate how many would participate in the program.
Mr. Kapp responded possibly 7-10 teachers and 2-4 classified
personnel.
Mr. Colgan noted that the Board
has talked about the splitting of job functions by retired teachers
who come back and asked if the district was doing anything about those
employees doing job sharing. Mr.
Kapp stated that he could bring those back for approval each year if
the Board so desired. Mr. Colgan stated that the district really needed to look at
the budget savings. Mr.
Kapp stated that he would research the budget implications before the
next meeting.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF A LIST OF QUALIFIED EVALUATORS FOR THE 2000-2001
SCHOOL YEAR
Mr. Kapp noted that the
approval of this list is an annual event requiring Governing Board
approval and that there were two additional evaluators from the high
school to be added.
President Delp stated that she
still had some concerns about evaluations and asked if there were
teachers in our district who have never been evaluated by an
administrator. Mr. Carter
responded that a teacher is assigned an evaluator by his office on a
rotating basis so that at least every third year at the very most an
administrator would conduct that evaluation. He stated that an administrator evaluates probationary
teachers probably at least once a year.
Dr. Fleming stated that she
felt evaluations should be for improvement purposes and not to “get
you.” She asked how long it has been since the evaluators have
received training. Mr.
Kapp stated that evaluators were only required to receive the initial
training. Dr. Fleming
stated that she felt evaluators should be updated and that there were
other programs available as “refresher” courses. Mr.
Kapp stated that things could change with Proposition 301. Dr. Fleming
stated that she had asked about this before and nothing has been done.
Dr. Short stated that maybe the district could include some
type of refresher training at the February in-service.
Mr. Colgan asked if evaluators
had been trained for the new evaluation program.
Mr. Kapp responded that the principals had been trained and
that they had trained the evaluators at their sites.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF AN OUT-OF-STATE TRAVEL REQUEST FOR DR. JOAN FLEMING TO
ATTEND THE FEDERAL RELATIONS NETWORK CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON, D.C.,
FEBRUARY 4-6, 2001
Dr. Short noted that this was
the second year of Dr. Fleming’s two-year term representing Prescott
Unified School District. Dr.
Fleming attended this conference last year.
ASA will pay the registration expenses and the district will
pay for her travel expenses out of budgeted monies.
CONSIDER
THE APPROVAL OF AN OFFER FOR THE SALE OF THE DISTRICT OFFICE PROPERTY,
146 SOUTH GRANITE STREET
Dr. Short noted that the
interested party never submitted the offer to the district.
He noted that the new Board needed to discuss this issue and
develop direction as to whether the district is still interested in
selling the property since there is an increased usage of the Dexter
facility.
CONSIDER
APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS PRESENTED
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Denny Colgan moved that the Governing Board adjourn.
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.
The
meeting adjourned at 7:42 p.m.