MINUTES
OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE GOVERNING BOARD
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A Regular Meeting of the Governing Board of the Board Members in attendance were Shari Avianantos,
President; Sandra Zapien-Ferrero, Clerk; Karen Beckvar; Joel S. Feldman; and
Christine M. Schild. Associate
Superintendent Don Jefferies, and attorney for the District, Lynne Adams,
Lewis & Roca, were also present. A
quorum was present. Mrs. Avianantos
welcomed approximately 30 visitors. Mr. Feldman moved to approve the Agenda. Ms. Beckvar seconded the motion. The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0. Public Comment
Patrick Hallinan spoke in regard to certain “malcontents” residing in our District. Scott Barker, President of the Scottsdale Education
Association (SEA), gave an update on the discussions that have been occurring
during the reopening of Meet & Confer sessions with the District. Mr. Barker also spoke in regard to upcoming
sessions scheduled with SEA groups to brainstorm ideas for Pay for
Performance. Kris Picard, a member of the
SEA Executive Board, reported the positive results of the recent survey taken
among SEA members in regard to exchanging Darcy McCulloch spoke critically in regard to the
Five-Year Technology Plan. Christine Cook spoke in regard to the situation at Rhea Maceris spoke in regard
to the District moratorium on flyers. Jody Stachel spoke in regard
to the scheduled hearing for Maureen Booth, and in support of Mrs. Booth. Sandy Kravetz spoke in
regard to the scheduled hearing for Maureen Booth, in support of Mrs. Booth,
and in opposition to the elimination of remedial classes in high school. Information/Action Items
Information/Action Item VI. A. Change of
Graduation Date to Mrs. Schild moved to approve the Change of Graduation
Date to Mrs. Schild moved to amend her motion to include the
request by the SEA Executive Board, that the teachers be allowed to use a
general leave day on April 12, 2004, if they had made prior vacation plans,
or purchased airline tickets for that day, or to be docked in pay if they do
not have general leave days, if they take April 12, 2004 as a day off. This would also apply to 10-month
Administrators. Ms. Beckvar seconded
Mrs. Schild’s amendment. The amendment was approved with a vote of 5 – 0. The original motion, as amended was approved with a
vote of 5 – 0. Mr. Flach, CFO, presented Information/Action
Item VI. B. Approval of SUSD Monthly Financial Report. Mr. Flach stated his belief that this
eighth version of the Monthly Financial Report met all the criteria as
requested by Board Members. Ms. Beckvar moved to accept the Monthly Financial
Report as presented. Mrs. Schild
seconded the motion. The motion was approved with a vote of 5 – 0. Mrs. Schild and Ms. Beckvar thanked Mr. Flach and his
staff for all of their hard work in putting this document together. Information/Action Item VI. C. Approval of High School Planning Guide 2004-2005. Mr. Jefferies reviewed and summarized the list of major changes to the Planning Guide. Mr. Jefferies stated that there was a correction to the draft of the Fee Schedule; the Athletic Fee (for participants) should be $75 per activity. A lengthy discussion was held on the Fee Schedule. Suanne Rudley, President of the Scottsdale Parent Council, and a member of the Parent Budget Committee, was asked to comment on the recommended fee increases from the Parent Budget Committee. The committee recommended an increase from $50 to $75 for participation in any sport activity, and an increase from $0 to $25 across the board for any other after-school activity. Ms. Beckvar requested comments from those High School Principals present at the meeting. The principals, Anne Marie Woolsey, Mary Lou Muccino, Brian Corte, and Tyrus Timbrooks, all concurred that they would not recommend the Board approve charging a fee for all clubs, as a fee would deter some students from participating even if a scholarship or waiver would be offered. Further discussion was
held on the proposed elimination of C Track English from Ms. Beckvar moved to
approve the High School Planning Guide 2004-2005, with the following
modification: that the Athletic Fee
(for participants) be increased to $75 per activity,
and that additional fees may be charged for extra curricular activities. Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero seconded the motion. The motion was approved
with a vote of 4 – 1 (Mrs. Schild voted nay). Information/Action Item VI. D. Approval of
Five-Year Technology Plan. Ann Boyle,
Interim Director of Information Services, discussed the proposed plan with
Board Members. Ms. Boyle stated that
the submission of this plan is required by the State of Mrs. Schild moved to
approve the Five-Year Technology Plan, so that it could be filed with the
State. Mrs. Beckvar seconded the
motion. The motion was approved
with a vote of 5 – 0. Information/Action Item VI. E. Board
Discussion on Hiring In-House Attorney.
Kim Cumby, Executive Director of Human Resources, stated it was the
Board’s direction to the Administration to provide a cost analysis for an
In-House Attorney and called upon Bob Flach, Chief Financial Officer, to
review the cost analysis. Discussion
was held on the aspects of the job description and the cost to the District
for an In-House Attorney. Alternatives
were discussed, such as bidding out for other legal firms who might offer a
fixed fee for legal services rendered, as well as sharing an In-House
Attorney with other local districts.
After a lengthy discussion, the Board directed the Administration to
look at the options of sharing an attorney with other districts, to issue an
RFP for services, refine the proposed job description, review the expenses
involved and whether it would be considered Purchased Services or an
Administrative cost and coming back to the Board at a later date with a
report on its findings. Mr. Flach will
share the specifications as they are developed and received with the
Board. No action was taken on this
item. Information/Action Item VI. F. Early
Admission to Kindergarten or First Grade.
Birgit Lurie, a lead psychologist for the
District, discussed with the Board an assessment of children who apply for
early admission. The Board asked the
Elementary School principals present in the audience to comment on their
opinions regarding early admission.
Discussion then ensued on the research presented and the need for
consistent procedure and criteria at all schools. Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero
moved that the Governing Board adopt a universal policy that sets September 1st
as the deadline and that it is absolute, so that no requests for early
admissions will be considered. Mrs.
Avianantos seconded the motion. The motion failed with a
vote of 2 Yeas (Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero and Mrs. Avianantos) and 2 Nays (Ms.
Beckvar and Mrs. Schild) and 1 abstention (Mr. Feldman). The Board will continue
to do Appeal Hearings as they have been doing with the Board making that
final decision. Information/Action Item VI. G. Approval of
Joel Feldman as Delegate to the Federal Relations Network (FRN). Mrs. Schild moved to approve Mr. Feldman as
the delegate to the Arizona School Boards Association Federal Relations
Network Conference (FRN). Ms. Beckvar
seconded the motion. The motion was approved
with a vote of 5 – 0. Consent Agenda Item VII. A. Acceptance of Gifts - $173,479.39 Item VII. B. Accounts Payable Vouchers Item VII. C. Approval for Redelegation
of Procurement Authority Item VII. D. Approval of Annual Renewal of
Intergovernmental Agreements Item VII. E. Approval of IGA with Item VII. F. Approval of Hearing Officer’s Recommendation Item VII. G. Approval of Readmission Item VII. H. Approval of Minutes of Item VII. I. Approval of Minutes of Item VII. J. Approval of No Child Left Behind Final LEA
Consolidated Plan Item VII. K. Approval of Renewal of Contract Item VII. L. Approval of Revision #2 of the 2002-2003
Annual Expenditure Budget Item VII. M. Approval of Revision #1 of the 2003-2004
Annual Budget Item VII. N. Approval of Supplemental Textbook Adoption
for English Immersion Instruction Item VII. O. Approval to Purchase Multipurpose White Copy
Paper Through GPPCS Consent Agenda Continued Item VII. V. Issuance of
RFP for Student Assistance and Prevention Programs Item VII. W. Payroll
Vouchers Item VII. X. Personnel
Actions Ms. Beckvar moved to
approve the Consent Agenda in its entirety. Mrs. Avianantos seconded the motion. The motion was approved
with a vote of 4 – 1 (Mrs. Schild was opposed to Item VII. E. Approval of IGA
with Governing Board Reports Mrs. Zapien-Ferrero
requested Administration place a discussion on the District’s Gift Policy on
the Mrs. Schild reviewed her
activities since the last board meeting. At The motion was approved
with a vote of 5 – 0. Dated this 9th day of December 2003. The
Governing Board of the
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Motion #58Approval of Agenda Information/Action•Change of Graduation Date to Motion #59Approval of Change of Graduation Date to Motion #60Amendment •Monthly Financial Report Motion #61Acceptance of Monthly Financial Report •High School Planning Guide 2004-2005 Correction to Draft Visitor Motion #62Approval of High School Planning Guide 2004-05 as Modified •Five-Year Technology Plan Motion #63 Approval of Five-Year Technology Plan •Board Discussion on Hiring In-House Attorney Board Direction – No Action Taken •Early Admission to Kindergarten or First Grade Motion #64Approval of a Deadline for Early Admission Motion Fails Motion #65Approval of Joel Feldman as Delegate to the FRN Consent Agenda Consent Agenda Continued Motion #66 Approval of Consent Agenda Governing Board Reports Motion #67 Adjournment |