MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING

OF THE GOVERNING BOARD

SCOTTSDALE SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 48

                                                                                                               

May 11, 2004

 

A Regular Meeting of the Governing Board of the Scottsdale Unified School District, #48, Maricopa County, was called to order at 7:00 PM, at the Scottsdale School District Education Center Board Room, 3811 North 44th Street, Phoenix, Arizona.  President Zapien-Ferrero called upon Shari Avianantos 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.  Associate Superintendent Don Jefferies, and attorney for the District, Tom Pickrell, Miller LaSota & Peters, were also present.  A quorum was present.  Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero welcomed approximately 120 visitors.

 

President Zapien-Ferrero announced that there were two addendums to the Agenda:

 

1.       Information/Action Item VII. F. Legal Representation Guidelines

2.       Consent Item VIII. D1 Personnel Addendum to 5/11/04 Agenda

 

Also, two corrections were noted to the Agenda:

 

1.       Page 5, Information/Action Item VII. B. Bond Resolution, should read “…….in the amount of $117,000,000 $217,000,000 for purchase of ………..”

2.       Page 40, Consent Item VIII. W. Revision #2 of the FY2003-2004 Annual Expenditure Budget, under RECOMMENDATION, the following line should be added:

 

2003-2004                                          2003-2004

Revision #1                          Revision #2

                Increase Excess Utilities                                 $4,070,083                           $4,770,083

 

President Zapien-Ferrero also moved Information/Action Item VII. C. Club Fees for the Middle Schools and High Schools, to be heard after Public Comment.

 

Mrs. Schild moved to approve the Agenda as corrected and amended.  Mrs. Avianantos seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

Public Comment

Nolan Fisher spoke in opposition to the removal of certain food vendors at Saguaro HS and in opposition to the review of the school’s yearbook in compliance with the Student Code of Conduct.

 

President Zapien-Ferrero requested Mr. Jefferies to follow up on these concerns.

 

Zach Jaffe spoke in opposition to the proposed fee for student clubs of $25 per club.

 

Max Kanter spoke in opposition to the proposed fee for student clubs of $25 per club.

 

Amanda Pyper spoke in opposition to the proposed fee for student clubs of $25 per club.

 

Ariel Sim spoke in support of an exception in class sizes in the fine arts program at DMHS.

 

Juliet Tablerion spoke in support of an exception in class sizes in the fine arts program at DMHS.

 

Paul Sim spoke in support of the fine arts program at DMHS and the District.

 

Caryn Chappelear spoke in support of the fine arts program at DMHS.

 

Lisa Brouillette spoke in support of the District’s gifted program.

 

Pauline Bowie spoke in support of the District’s gifted and fine arts programs.

 

Members of the DMHS Band, Choir, and Jazz Ensemble displayed their winner’s trophies from the Anaheim (California)/ Heritage Festival and spoke in support of the fine arts program at DMHS.

 

Kimyana Lee spoke in support of the fine arts program at DMHS.

 

President Zapien-Ferrero stated that the Administration is reviewing the staffing and class size problem with the fine arts program at DMHS.

 

Information/Action Item VII. C. Club Fees for the Middle Schools and High Schools.  Board Member Christine Schild requested a review of the student fee structure for clubs at the middle schools and high schools.  Bob Flach, the District’s Chief Financial Officer, stated that if the Governing Board required a $25 fee for each club a student joined, there would be an insurmountable accounting problem in tracking those funds, thereby making the cost of the accounting probably more than the money received.  Mr. Flach recommended the requirement be tabled. 

 

Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero moved to table the requirement of club fees until further study was done.  Ms. Beckvar seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

Information/Discussion Item

Don Jefferies presented Item VI. A. Scottsdale Unified School District Policy Manual Review.  Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) suggests that the Governing Board review the changed areas indicated as substantive or new.  Most of the revisions were due to changes in federal and state statute; while some were recommended changes for consistency, compliance or clarity reasons.  The Board requested a Work/Study on section B of the Policy Manual, to be held at the June 8, 2004 Board Meeting.  All of the other policies will be on the June 8, 2004 Consent Agenda. 

 

Information/Action Items

Item VII. A. Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) Delegate Assembly.  Mrs. Schild moved to appoint Karen Beckvar as our delegate to the ASBA Delegate Assembly to be held June 26, 2004 in Mesa, AZ.  Mrs. Avianantos seconded the motion.

 

Mrs. Schild moved to amend her motion to include the appointment of Shari Avianantos as the alternative delegate to the June 26, 2004 ASBA Delegate Assembly.  Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero seconded the motion.

 

The amendment to the motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

The original motion, as amended, was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

Item VII. B. Bond Resolution.  Bill Johnson, Chief of Facilities and Operations, gave a PowerPoint presentation on the Master Facilities Plan.  Discussion was had on enrollment projections and equity in the District’s high school boundaries.  Bob Flach, Chief Financial Officer, outlined what the Bond will include.

 

Ms. Beckvar moved to direct the Administration to prepare a resolution to place a bond on the November 2, 2004 ballot for Board approval at the June 8, 2004 Governing Board Meeting.  Mrs. Avianantos seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

Item VII. D. Update on District Legal Representation.  Discussion ensued regarding the options that have been explored to reduce the cost of legal services:

 

1.                   Contract services as per current bid specifications with Governing Board approved legal services guidelines.

2.                   Award or reject the offers of Bid #4108, for one yearly price for all-inclusive legal services.

3.                   Employ an in-house attorney and an administrative assistant.

 

Mrs. Schild and Mr. Feldman, as a Governing Board subcommittee, did an analysis of the three options.  Mrs. Schild reviewed the findings of the subcommittee. 

 

Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero moved to direct the Administration to post a position for an in-house attorney and an administrative assistant.  Mrs. Schild seconded the motion.

 

Ms. Beckvar noted that there would be other legal fees incurred outside of an in-house attorney.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

Mrs. Schild moved to reject the offers of Bid #4108.  Ms. Beckvar seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

Item VII. E. Approval to Increase Prior Board Authorization for Legal Services.  Bob Flach, Chief Financial Officer, discussed with the Board the reasons that an increase is being requested.  Discussion was held on the procedures that have successfully been put in place to reduce legal fees.  Ms. Beckvar expressed a concern in the community of the District’s legal fees. 

 

Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero moved to approve the authorization of $100,000 increase until June 8, 2004 Governing Board Meeting, and to revisit this matter at that time.  Mrs. Avianantos seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 4 – 1 (Mrs. Schild voted Nay).

 

Item VII. F. Legal Representation Guidelines.  Bob Flach reviewed the Legal Representation Guidelines as recommended by Governing Board subcommittee, Joel Feldman and Christine Schild, which have been put in place. 

 

Mr. Feldman moved that the Governing Board adopt the Legal Representation Guidelines as recommended by the Governing Board subcommittee of Joel Feldman and Christine Schild.  Mrs. Avianantos seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

Consent Agenda

Item VIII. A. Acceptance of Gifts - $56,831.06

Item VIII. B. Accounts Payable Vouchers

Item VIII. C. Payroll Vouchers

Item VIII. D. Personnel Actions

Item VIII. D1 Personnel Addendum to 5/11/04 Agenda

Item VIII. E. Approval of Minutes of April 20, 2004 Regular Board Meeting

Item VIII. F. Approval of Minutes of April 22, 2004 Special Board Meeting

Item VIII. G. Approval of Literature Distribution Policy

Item VIII. H. Approval of 2004-2005 Student Code of Conduct

Item VIII. I. Approval of Annual Renewal of Intergovernmental Agreements

Item VIII. J. Approval of Renewal of Annual Food Program Service Agreement

Item VIII. K. Approval of Annual Renewal of Intergovernmental Agreement with Maricopa County Human Services Department

Item VIII. L. Approval of Renewal of Intergovernmental Agreement for Head Start Food Catering Services

Item VIII. M. Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with East Valley Institute of Technology, Satellite Program

Item VIII. N. Approval of Intergovernmental Agreement with East Valley Institute of Technology, Carl Perkins

Item VIII. O. Approval to Increase Prior Board Authorization for Purchase of Foods, Fresh Produce

Item VIII. P. Approval to Trade In Copiers

Item VIII. Q. Authorization to Exceed Subsections 200 and 400 in the Maintenance and Operations Budget

Item VIII. R. Call for Bid for Miscellaneous Civil Projects

Item VIII. S. Issuance of RFP for Alcohol and Substance Abuse Testing/Bus Driver Recertification

Item VIII. T. Issuance of RFP for Classroom and Office Furniture

Item VIII. U. Resolution Authorizing the Execution of Warrants Between Board Meetings

 

Consent Agenda Continued

Item VIII. V. Resolution to Appoint the Maricopa County Schools as the Chief Disbursing Officer

for Garnishments

Item VIII. W. Revision #2 of the FY2003-2004 Annual Expenditure Budget (Corrected)

 

Mr. Feldman moved to approve the Consent Agenda, as corrected.  Mrs. Avianantos seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 4 – 0 with 1 abstention from Mrs. Schild.

 

Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero thanked those employees listed in the Personnel Actions, who were retiring or leaving the District, for their services.

 

Governing Board Reports

Ms. Beckvar reviewed her activities since the last Governing Board Meeting.

 

Mrs. Schild reviewed her activities since the last Governing Board Meeting.  Mrs. Schild also announced the winner and honorable mention of a contest she was personally conducting for the children of the District.  Mrs. Schild read the winning entries.

 

Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero stated that, at the request of Board Member Karen Beckvar, she would like to go forward with an audit of the legal bills of the Booth matter.  President Zapien-Ferrero requested this item be placed on the Agenda for a Special Meeting scheduled for May 20, 2004.

 

Dates of Upcoming Board Meetings and District Events

Monday, May 24, 2004 All High School Graduation Exercises

Tuesday, June 8, 2004 – 7:00 PM – Regular Board Meeting

Tuesday, June 22, 2004 – 7:00 PM – Work/Study Meeting on FY2004-2005 M&O Budget

 

At 10:05 PM, Mrs. Schild moved to adjourn the meeting.  Ms. Beckvar seconded the motion.

 

The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0.

 

Dated this 11th day of May 2004.

 

The Governing Board of the Scottsdale Unified School District #48

 

 

__________________________________

Sandra Zapien-Ferrero,  President

 

 

____________________________________

Karen Beckvar, Clerk

 

 

 

__________________________________

Shari Avianantos

 

 

 

____________________________________

Joel S. Feldman

 

 

 

__________________________________

Christine M. Schild

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Addendums to Agenda

 

 

 

 

Corrections to Agenda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Move Information/Action

Item Club Fees to be Heard After Public Comment

 

Motion #163

Approval of Agenda as Corrected and Amended

 

 

Public Comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Club Fees for Middle Schools and High Schools

 

 

 

 

 

Motion #164

Club Fees for Middle Schools and High Schools Tabled for Further Study

 

 

Information/Discussion

SUSD Policy Manual Review

 

 

Work/Study 6/8/04 on Section B, Remainder of Policies on Consent Agenda 6/8/04

 

Information/Action

•ASBA Delegate Assembly 6/26/04

Motion #165

Appointment of Karen Beckvar as Delegate

Motion #166

Appointment of Shari Avianantos as Alternative Delegate

 

 

 

•Bond Resolution

 

 

 

 

Motion #167

Direction to Prepare Bond Resolution

 

 

 

•Update on District Legal Representation

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Motion #168

Approval of In-House Attorney and Administrative Assistant

 

 

 

 

Motion #169

Reject Offers of Bid #4108

 

•Approval to Increase Prior Board Authorization for Legal Services

 

 

Motion #170

Approval of $100,000 Increase for Legal Services

 

 

•Legal Representation Guidelines

 

 

Motion #171

Adoption of Legal Representation Guidelines

 

 

Consent Agenda

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Consent Agenda Continued

 

 

 

Motion #172

Approval of Consent Agenda as Corrected

 

 

 

 

 

 

Governing Board Reports

 

 

 

 

Move Forward with Legal Billing Audit of Booth Matter

 

Dates of Upcoming Board Meetings and District Events

 

 

Motion #173

Adjournment