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

In separate action Tuesday night, the Governing Board revised the 2004-2005 school calendar, moving the opening day of school back to Aug. 10, and, voted to have the issue of the last day of school for the 2003-2004 school year brought back to the next meeting.

By a 3-2 vote, the Board voted to move the start date of school for the 2004-2005 calendar back to Aug. 10, allowing for a full week of fall break and two full weeks of winter break. At its Oct. 7 meeting, the Board adopted a 2004-2005 calendar that was offered as a compromise recognizing that many in the community requested a later school year start date. The compromise shortened the proposed fall break by two days, and the proposed winter break by another two days. Board Members Joel Feldman, Shari Avianantos, and Karen Beckvar voted in favor of revising the calendar and accepting the one proposed last month by the calendar committee, while Members Sandy Zapien-Ferrero and Christine Schild voted against.

In other action, by a 3-2 vote, the Board directed the administration to meet and confer with the teachers association regarding the suggestion to make April 12, 2004, a school/work day, and end the year for students on May 24, which is the new graduation date for high schools. Board action taken Oct. 7, moved graduation day up one day to allow families to celebrate the Jewish holiday of Shavuot; and left May 25 as the last day of school.

Voting in favor of the motion were Board Members Christine Schild, Sandy Zapien-Ferrero, and Joel Feldman. Voting against were Members Shari Avianantos and Karen Beckvar. The Board requested that the item be brought back for action Dec. 9.

In other action, the Board:

• Requested a cost benefit analysis and a job description for an in-house attorney/risk manager. The item was on the agenda in response to recent suggestions from community members and others. Superintendent Barbara Erwin noted that the hiring of an in-house attorney or the use of the county attorney had been before the Board a few years back, but not acted upon. If the Board desires the District to hire an in-house attorney, there is funding capacity in the current budget under “purchased legal services,” which could be transferred to a payroll account.
   
• Was presented with an update of the High School Planning Guide 2003-2004. Among changes proposed for 2004-2005 by a 32-member committee were: To offer more courses as pass/fail rather than with traditional grades, as recommended by teachers and staff; to change aviation and human anatomy/physiology science courses to lab courses, to position the classes to be accepted by universities for college credit; and to offer sports medicine for academic credit. The High School Planning Guide will be brought back to the Board as an action item at the Dec. 9 meeting.
   
• Was presented with a proposed Multiyear Financial Program. Among items recommended by Chief Financial Officer Bob Flach was for the District to look into potential revenue enhancement by: Increasing rental costs, expanding community schools, accepting advertising, initiating a K-3 override, initiating a capital override, and increasing student fees.
   
  Additionally, in order to accomplish student achievement and Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) goals, Mr. Flach indicated that the District will have to look at a variety of support mechanisms, including: a K-3 override; the addition of paid annual staff training days; funding for up-to-date technology standards; the establishment of a cycle for capital overrides, bond issues, and maintenance and operation (M&O) overrides; the extension of the school day beyond the current state minimum standard by 12 minutes a day each year for a maximum of 60 additional minutes by 2008; and the continuation of seeking input for the budget process from staff, parents, and the community. A copy of the Multiyear Financial Program presentation is available on SUSD’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings03-04.htm
   
• Was presented with the second review of the Five-Year Technology Plan, which is required to be filed with the state by Dec. 31. This presentation took a look at funding for the plan.
   
  “Technology is constantly changing. The cost is going down in some areas and up in others,” said Ann Boyle, interim director of technology. “One example, it that there are new chips in computers, which are driving the costs of technology up,” she said.
   
  To further illustrate, Ms. Boyle asked board members to their costs at home for the purchase and use of technology, including: TVs, phone line costs, faxes, modems, cable TV hook-ups, high speed internet, computers, printers, scanners, digital cameras, cell phones, video cameras, and more. She suggested dividing that total cost by the number of persons at home to determine the yearly per-person cost.
   
  Here at SUSD, the estimated cost of the proposed Technology Plan will be $400 per student per year, which is a reasonable plan for the future, Ms. Boyle said.
   
  A copy of the Technology for the Future: Funding presentation is available on SUSD’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings03-04.htm
   
  The plan will be bought back to the Board as an action item at the Dec. 9 meeting.
   
• Adopted a Proclamation recognizing November 16-22, 2003, as American Education Week, which is the 83rd annual observance. This year’s theme is Great Public Schools for Every Child–America's Promise.
   
  The Proclamation reads in part: “Our vision of inspiring all students correlates with this year’s theme. . . . The purpose of American Education Week is to focus attention on the important role education plays in our country and its future.”
   
  In signing the Proclamation, Board President Shari Avianantos encourages all citizens to extend their commitment to public education and to the future of our children by supporting our community’s schools.
   
• Appointed Jay Rosenthal and Mary-Jeanne Fincher as the new trustees for the Self-Insurance Trust. Mr. Rosenthal is an attorney with Jones, Skelton & Hochuli. Mrs. Fincher is a SUSD parent and has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Illinois and Jurist Doctorate from Northwestern University. Trustees serve at no cost to the District.
   
• Approved the award of Request for Proposal (RFP) #4074 for online site license for teachers of ELL (English Language Learner) students to Tech First, Inc., for an amount not to exceed $30,000 for fiscal year 2003-2004.
   
• Approved the call for bid for the replacement of the heating ventilation air conditioner (HVAC) units at Chaparral High School. Building Services determined that six large air conditioners and three heating units located in the gymnasium require immediate replacement.
   
• Approved the issuance of a RFP for program providers of extended day kindergarten and after school care program providers. Extended day kindergarten complements regular District kindergarten by offering enrichment activities in areas, such as language, music, creative arts, and motor skill development. After school day care emphasis is on providing safe and educational care of students before and after school sessions.
   
• Accepted gifts valued at $47,035. The gifts were received from Saguaro Baseball Club, Saguaro Boy’s Basketball Boosters, Saguaro Football Foundation, Saguaro Touchdown Booster Club, Desert Mountain PTO, Friends of ANLC, Kiva PTO, Navajo PTA, Exxon Mobil, Mr. Tino Ferrilli, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, PAC-Portable Audio System, Scottsdale Health Care, Shade Foundation, Smoothie King, and Target.

The next Governing Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Education Center.
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