Scottsdale Unified School District No Dream Too Big . . . No Challenge Too Great

Everyday Mathematics was adopted in a 4-1 vote Tuesday night as the new textbook series for grades kindergarten through five. Board member Christine Schild voted against the motion.

About 100 teachers have been piloting the textbooks and supplemental materials since August. The new adoption will apply to all elementary schools except Cheyenne Traditional School, which is expected to make a recommendation at a later date.

In other work, Governing Board members received training on Arizona’s open meeting law from attorneys with the law firm of Lewis and Roca. The presentation reviewed what entities and activities are covered under the law.

In a separate presentation, Chief Financial Officer Bob Flach reviewed the current financial picture of the District, including the consequences if the state does not fund Career Ladder.

In other work, the Board:

• Approved fee increases and revisions to the District’s Facility Rentals Policy Handbook. Bill Johnson, chief of facilities and operations explained the importance of updating rental fees to reflect the current cost of maintaining, operating, and owning school facilities. The proposed rental fee revisions are required to cover the cost of increased utility rates and current personnel costs, he noted. The proposed changes are scheduled to take effect July 1, 2003. The Rentals Policy Handbook is available online at: www.susd.org
   
• Approved an intergovernmental agreement (IGA) with Maricopa County for a school-based tobacco prevention program offered through the Department of Public Health. Of the $28,000 in funds, the District will allocate $2,000 to each of these elementary schools: Anasazi, Hohokam, Laguna, Pueblo, Tavan, Yavapai, and Zuni; and to these middle schools: Cocopah, Copper Ridge, Desert Canyon, Mohave, Mountainside, Supai, and Sierra Vista Academy. The funds will be used to fund tobacco prevention site coordinators, along with a tobacco prevention planning committee and materials.
   
• Approved the award of a bid from I-10 International for 10 special education buses at $77,622 each; and 12, 84-passenger buses at $93,675 each. The funds will come out of soft capital outlay and will be purchased in the 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 school years.
   
• Approved the award of a bid to Effective School Products for teacher training to provide school teams with the understanding, skills, and resources to allow for effective and continuous improvement in student achievement and school improvement.
   
• Accepted gifts valued at $65,373. Gifts were received from Desert Mountain Dance Council, Kiva PTO, Cherokee APT, Desert Mountain PTO, Arcadia Pride, Arcadia Little League Girl’s Softball Auxiliary, Chaparral Diamondbackers Baseball Booster Club, Theresa C. Oster, Lori Burgstahler, Greg Smith, Michael and Livia Steingart, Salt River Project, Scottsdale Railroad and Mechanical Society, City of Scottsdale, Pera Club/Salt River Project, Kroger, and an anonymous donor for the scoreboard at Chaparral High School’s baseball field. Board member Karen Beckvar abstained from voting due to a conflict of interest with one of the donors.

Additionally, Ms. Beckvar thanked the Scottsdale Charros for their gifts of $2,000 to each school parent group.

The next Governing Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 11, at the Education Center.
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