Scottsdale Unified School District Arizona’s Most Excelling Schools!

Cathy Rivera, executive director of elementary schools and excelling teaching & learning, and Lois Healey, special education services administrator, presented the Governing Board with information regarding special education self-contained programs. Currently, there are self-contained special education programs at 13 elementary schools. Ten elementary sites have two or more self-contained special education programs. Placement of a self-contained special education program on a campus is determined by student need – location closest to home school, space availability on the campus and in the case of preschool, site design to meet State licensure requirements. The Board requested by January an administrative and teacher update taking into consideration schools that have special education programs. The presentation is available on the district’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings.htm.

Also, David Peterson, chief of facilities management for learners, presented the Board with an overview of campus perimeter fencing. The status of the current fencing, recommendations and estimated costs for new fencing was discussed. A formal plan will be drafted and presented at a later date for Governing Board approval. The presentation is available on the district’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings.htm.

Katy Cavanagh, executive director for middle schools and excelling teaching & learning, updated the Governing Board on middle schools’ parent conferences and team planning. Additionally, she presented on the continuous improvements of middle schools as indicated in the 2005-2009 District Goals. Information regarding team planning time and parent conferences was shared for each site. The presentation is available on the district’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings.htm.

Also, Kevin Price, internal auditor, presented the Board with modifications to policies and procedures that establish the Audit Department and its functions (Policy and Regulation DIE and DIE-R). Recommended changes to Policy DIE, directs the superintendent to implement procedures that assure district compliance with all state and federal requirements, financial records must be audited by an independent auditor and create the internal Audit Department. Recommended changes to Policy DIE-R, empowers the internal auditor to examine and evaluate district activities and internal controls, assist district administration and promote effective controls where the benefits out weigh the costs. The regulation also outlines reporting responsibilities, coordination of activities and access to district records, personnel and physical properties. The presentation is available on the district’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings.htm. The item will be brought back as an Action Item at the November 1 Board meeting.

Dr. Ildi Laczko-Kerr, director of student information management and accountability reporting, and Kim Clark, general counsel, presented the Board with revisions to the Open Enrollment Policy JFB. The revision to the policy included all siblings of students who were open enrolled in a school before the 2006-07 academic year and continuously thereafter, may enroll at the same school, provided that a sibling will still be enrolled there when they arrive. Such siblings will be enrolled regardless of whether the relevant school or grade level is determined closed due to capacity. The item will be brought back as an Action Item at the November 1 Board meeting.

In other action, the Board:

• Approved the revision to Goal 4, Objective 2 of the District Goals 2005-2009.
   
• Approved the purchase of activity buses through Mohave Educational Services Cooperative for an amount not to exceed $456,000 for the 2005-2006 fiscal year.
   
• Approved the purchase of Science Supplies through the Greater Phoenix Purchasing Consortium from Benz Microscope, Bio-Rad, Bone Clones, Inc., Carolina Biological, Daigger, Delta Biological, Delta Educations, ETA/Cuisenaire, Fisher Science Education, Flinn Scientific, Frey Scientific, Fisher Science Education, Sargent-Welch, Science Kit & Boreal, Vernier and Wards Natural Science for the amount not exceed $100,000 for the 2005-06 fiscal year.
   
• Accepted gifts valued at $89,219. The gifts were received from Arcadia High School Yearbook Club, Chaparral Yearbook Club, Cocopah Middle School Yearbook Club, Cocopah Middle School Strings, Ingleside Student Council, Saguaro High School Yearbook Club, Arcadia PTO, Cheyenne PTO, Cochise APT, Copper Ridge Middle School PTO, Friends of ANLC, Hopi PTA, Sequoya APT, Zuni ACT, Zuni Community Association, Exxon Mobil, Jay Luber, John and Catherine Mangels, Maricopa County Medical Society Alliance, Craig Pearson, Mary Platner, Mark Steig and John Wachtel and Target.

The next Governing Board meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., Tuesday, November 1, at the Education Center.

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