MINUTES
OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE GOVERNING BOARD
SCOTTSDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 48
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March 16, 2004 A Regular
Meeting of the Governing Board of the Scottsdale Unified School District,
#48, Maricopa County, was called to order at 7:40 PM, at the Scottsdale
School District Education Center Board Room, 3811 North 44th
Street, Phoenix, Arizona. President
Zapien-Ferrero called upon Mrs. Schild to lead the audience in the Pledge of
Allegiance. Board Members
in attendance were Sandra Zapien-Ferrero, President; Karen Beckvar, Clerk;
Shari Avianantos; Joel S. Feldman; and Christine M. Schild. Superintendent Barbara F. Erwin, Associate
Superintendent Don Jefferies, and attorney for the Board, Tom Pickrell,
Miller, LaSota & Peters, were also present. A quorum was present.
Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero welcomed approximately 35 visitors. Mrs. Schild
moved to approve the Agenda with the following amendment: move Information/ Discussion Items
VIII. A. Freedom of Information (FOI) Public Record Copy Charges, and VIII.
B. Preventative Maintenance Program to be heard after Item IX. Consent
Agenda. Ms. Beckvar seconded the
motion, with the following amendment:
pull Consent Agenda Item IX. L. Approval to Increase Prior
Board Authorization for Speech Language Therapy Services, to be heard
separately. The motion, as
amended twice, was approved with a vote of 5 – 0. Public
Comment
Joan
Agostinelli encouraged the Board to put a Bond election on the November 2004
ballot. Scott Barker,
President of the Scottsdale Education Association (SEA), thanked the Board
for including all employee and parent groups in the process to select a new
superintendent. Sue Kaminskas,
spoke, as a member of the Meet & Confer committee, in opposition to a
reduction in the flexible spending account. Kevin
Gustafson, on behalf of the Grand Canyon Council of the Boy Scouts of
America, spoke in support of the distribution of flyers. Kris Picard
spoke in support of a Bond election on the November 2004 ballot. Wendy Thaden
spoke in support of the distribution of flyers. Marilyn Melton
spoke in support of the distribution of flyers. Molly Holzer
spoke in support of a Bond election on the November 2004 ballot. Sandy Kravetz
spoke in opposition to a personnel transfer and in regard to an incident at a
District high school. Governing
Board Reports
Mrs. Schild
reviewed her recent activities. Ms. Beckvar
reviewed her recent activities. Mr. Feldman, a
member of the subcommittee appointed to investigate the feasibility and costs
of hiring a legal audit firm, gave an update on his findings. Mr. Feldman asked for direction from the
Board. Mr. Pickrell, Board attorney,
interrupted stating that it would not be appropriate for the Board to comment
or give direction at this time, as this topic was not on the Board
Agenda. Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero requested
that this item be placed on the Agenda for a Special Meeting scheduled for
March 18, 2004. Mrs.
Zapien-Ferrero handed the Board Members information on the Superintendent
search. Information/Action
Items
Item VII. A.
High School Science Textbook Adoption.
Mr. Jefferies introduced Janey Kaufman, the chair of the high school
science adoption committee, who gave a report on the adoption, including
information regarding the costs for the textbooks and technical materials
necessary. Ms. Kaufman also
introduced the members of the committee who were also present at the meeting. Mrs. Schild
moved to approve the adoption. Ms.
Beckvar seconded the motion. The motion was
approved with a vote of 5 – 0. Item VII. B.
Board Discussion on Bond/Budget Override.
Mr. Feldman had asked this item be placed on the Agenda to get an
update on what is needed in order to get Board approval on a Bond/Budget
Override for the November 2004 ballot.
Dr. Bill
Johnson, Chief of Facilities and Operations presented an update on the Master
Facilities Plan, and spoke in regard to the estimated costs of each high
school building option. The Board
discussed whether or not there was favorable community feedback. Mr. Bob Flach, Chief Financial Officer, Gave
an update on tax rates, which continue to descend and which will not be increased
if the voters approve a bond or budget override. Discussion was held on the process and procedure to put a bond
or budget override on the ballot.
Further discussion ensued regarding details of the costs of the
buildings given to the public in “layman” terms. Ms. Beckvar stated that she would like the Administration to
proceed in the process to have a Bond election on the November 2004
ballot. President Zapien-Ferrero asked
if that was the general feeling of the Board. The Board agreed, but asked that as much information be made
available to the public as possible.
Ms. Beckvar noted that the Board did not discuss a Capital override at
this session and suggested that discussion be held at another meeting. Item VII. C.
Board Discussion on Release of Information.
Mr. Feldman had asked this item be placed on the Agenda to give
direction to the Superintendent and staff to release information to the Board
at the same time it is given to the media.
Discussion was had on the past usage of a voice mailbox system. President Zapien-Ferrero directed the
Superintendent to meet with Mr. Feldman, a representative from the Attorney
General’s office, and District council, to discuss the possibility of using a
voicemail system once again. Item VII. D.
FY2004-2005 Preliminary M&O Budget.
Mr. Bob Flach reviewed the recommendations made by the Board
subcommittee of Mrs. Schild and Ms. Beckvar.
The Board held a lengthy discussion on reducing the Flexible Spending
Account. Mr. Feldman
moved to adopt this budget, reducing the Flexible Spending Account from
$2,169 to $1,108 per individual employee.
Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero seconded the motion. Ms. Beckvar
asked Mr. Feldman if he would amend his motion by eliminating new employees,
hired after July 1st, from receiving the benefit of the Flexible
Spending Account in the amount of $1,108.
Mr. Feldman accepted Ms. Beckvar’s amendment. Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero seconded the motion to
amend. The motion
failed with a vote of 2 Yeas (Mr. Feldman and Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero) and 3 Nays. Ms. Beckvar
moved to eliminate the flexible spending account for new employees hired
after July 1, 2004. Mrs. Avianantos
seconded the motion. The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0. The Board
discussed the District’s open enrollment period and the possibility of a
change to the current policy. Mrs. Schild
moved that “the Governing Board approve the FY2004-2005 Preliminary M&O
Budget as recommended at the February 24, 2004 Board Meeting with the
following exceptions:” 1. “That we eliminate the recommendation
to reduce the payment of flexible account per the previous Board vote (see
above Motion #114).” 2. “That we include the use of Fund 505
to pay the 2004-2005-severance payment of $2,379,131.” Mr. Feldman
seconded the motion. Ms. Beckvar
made note that this is a preliminary direction that the District is heading
and that the Board could amend this motion if an alternative could be found
to using Fund 505. It was further
noted that the motion on the floor was not in respect to the flexible spending
account, or the health insurance policy.
Other changes that cannot be made after this vote, if approved, would
be any reductions to certified staff, other than through attrition, which
include all employees except classified, and additional payments on insurance
also could not be required. The motion was
approved with a vote of 4 – 1 (Sandra Zapien-Ferrero voted Nay). Item VII. E.
SUSD Literature Distribution Policy.
Tom Herrmann, Public Information Officer, reviewed the results of a
recent survey sent to all District parents on flyer distribution. Discussion was held on how the surveys
were distributed. Ms. Beckvar
expressed concerns about the risks associated with sending home all flyers,
stating “we need to be prepared someone is going to test the waters here in
Scottsdale.” Mrs. Schild
moved that the Board direct the Administration to develop a flyer policy
where all flyers from community organizations, not-for-profit organizations,
would be sent home with the exception of flyers that violate any legal
restrictions against political campaigning or legal restrictions on the
District, required by State or Federal law.
Discussion
ensued on the use of a disclaimer.
The Board directed Tom Pickrell, attorney for the District, to review
the existing policy to make sure it meets the Board’s direction. Mrs. Schild stated that it was her
understanding that the policy needed revision to eliminate the word
“religious.” Mrs. Avianantos
seconded the motion. The motion was
approved with a vote of 5 – 0. Dr. Erwin
reiterated that Administration would give the current policy to Mr. Pickrell
for revision and bring it back at the next Board Meeting of March 30, 2004,
as a Consent Agenda Item. Mrs.
Zapien-Ferrero concurred. Information/Discussion
Items
Mrs.
Zapien-Ferrero moved to table Item VIII. A. Freedom of Information (FOI)
Public Record Copy Charges, and Item VIII. B. Preventative Maintenance
Program, to the Board Meeting of April 20, 2004. Ms. Beckvar seconded the motion. The motion was
approved with a vote of 5 – 0. Item VIII. C.
SUSD Policy JFB Change Open Enrollment for Students from Unorganized
Territory. Dr. Bill Johnson discussed
the specificity of the Open Enrollment policy in regard to the students from
the unorganized territory and the creation of two new categories for Open
Enrollment for those students.
Another change discussed was in regard to transportation services for
students from the unorganized territory, proposing that transportation may
be provided based on the conditions at the time. The Board also discussed the schools the children would be
assigned to. The Board
requested this item, as proposed with the amendments the Board requested, be
on the March 30, 2004 Consent Agenda. Consent
Agenda
Item IX. A.
Acceptance of Gifts - $52,915.30 Item IX. B.
Accounts Payable Vouchers Item IX. C.
Payroll Vouchers Item IX. D.
Personnel Actions Item IX. E.
Student Activities Statement for January 31, 2004 Item IX. F.
Approval of Minutes of February 10, 2004 Special Board Meeting Item IX. G.
Approval of Minutes of February 10, 2004 Regular Board Meeting Item IX. H.
Approval of Minutes of February 24, 2004 Special Board Meeting Item IX. I.
Approval of Minutes of March 1, 2004 Special Board Meeting Item IX. J.
Approval of Hearing Officer’s Recommendations Consent
Agenda Continued
Item IX. K.
Approval to Amend Award of RFP #4048, Janitor Supplies and Equipment Item IX. L.
Approval to Increase Prior Board Authorization for Speech Language Therapy
Services Item Pulled to be Heard
Separately Item IX. M. Approval to Purchase Insurance Benefits Consultant Services through MOHAVE Contract Item IX. N.
Approval to Purchase Processing USDA Commodity Foods through State Contract Item IX. O.
Call for Bid for Kitchen Small Equipment Item IX. P.
Call for Bid for Pigeon and Bird Control Services Item IX. Q.
Call for Bid for short Yardage Concrete Item IX. R.
Call for Bid for Tree Trimming and Removal Services Item IX. S.
Cancellation of Approval to Lease Purchase Buses through MOHAVE Contract and
Approval to Purchase Buses through MOHAVE Contract Item IX. T.
Issuance of RFP for District Staff Law Firm Item IX. U.
Issuance of RFP for Foods, Pizza, Prepared and Individual Item IX. V.
Public Utility Easement to the Salt River Project for Electrical Supply Line
at Sierra Vista Academy Item IX. W.
Textbook Adoption – K-8 Computer Literacy, and Family and Consumer Science
and Business/Computer Technology for High School Mrs. Avianantos
moved to approve the Consent Agenda with the exception of Item IX. L.
Approval to Increase Prior Board Authorization for Speech Language Therapy
Services, to be heard separately. Ms.
Beckvar seconded the motion. The motion was
approved 4 – 0 with 1 abstention from Mrs. Schild. Ms. Beckvar
moved to approve Consent Agenda Item IX. L. Approval to Increase Prior
Board Authorization for Speech Language Therapy Services. Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero seconded for purposes
of discussion. Ms. Beckvar
stated the reason she had requested this item be heard separately was because
it has become an expensive issue and wanted the Administration to discuss
ways in which the open positions could be filled internally to reduce the
amounts expended. Ms. Cumby,
Executive Director of Human Resources, replied that Administration was
actually already making such a recommendation to be able to fill those open
positions. The motion was
approved with a vote of 4 – 0 with 1 abstention from Mrs. Schild. Dates
of Upcoming Board Meetings and District Events
Thursday, March
18, 2004, 6:30 PM - Special Meeting Tuesday, March
30, 2004, 7:00 PM - Work/Study Meeting – Student Code of Conduct Tuesday, April
20, 2004, 7:00 PM – Regular Board Meeting At 11:26 PM,
Mrs. Schild moved to adjourn. Mrs.
Avianantos seconded the motion. The motion was
approved with a vote of 5 – 0. Dated this 16th
day of March 2004. The Governing Board of the Scottsdale
Unified School District #48
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Motion #114Approval of
Agenda as Amended Public Comment Governing Board Reports Report on Legal Auditing
Firm placed on Agenda for Special Meeting of March 18, 2004 Information/Action
•High School Science Textbook Adoption Motion #115
Approval of
High School Science Textbook Adoption •Board
Discussion on Bond/Budget Override Board Direction
to Proceed with Process for a Bond Election on November 2004 Ballot •Board
Discussion on Release of Information Board Direction
to Investigate Usage of Voicemail System •FY2004-2005
Preliminary M&O Budget Motion #116Approval of
FY2004-2005 Preliminary M&O Budget Amendment Motion Fails Motion #117Eliminate
Flexible Spending Account for New Employees Hired After July 1, 2004 Motion #118Approve
FY2004-05 Preliminary M&O Budget With
Exceptions •SUSD
Literature Distribution Policy Motion
#119 Approval
to Revise Flyer Policy Information/Discussion Motion
#120 •Freedom
of Information (FOI) Copy Charges and •Preventative
Maintenance Program TABLED
to 4/20/04 •SUSD
Policy JFB Change Open Enrollment for Students from Unorganized Territory Bring
Back on 3/30/04 as a Consent Agenda Item Consent
Agenda Consent Agenda
Continued Motion #121 Approval of
Consent Agenda with Exception of Item IX. L Motion #122Approval to
Increase Prior Board Authorization for Speech Language Therapy Services Dates of
Upcoming Board Meetings and District Events Motion #123Adjournment |