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

Cathy Rivera, executive director of Educational Operations, and members of the Calendar Committee presented the Governing Board, parents, staff and community members with information for the development of a five-year calendar as requested by the Board on Oct. 7, 2003. Items for discussion included later start date, longer summer, fall, winter and spring breaks and high school finals scheduling. The committee stated that not all of these items may be able to be met. The committee also discussed the next steps in the process, which includes Board input, resolution of discussion items, creation of a two-year complete calendar and the framework for the third, fourth and fifth-year calendar to be completed as the Calendar Committee receives all the necessary dates.

The committee will bring the calendar back to the Governing Board as an action item at the Nov. 9 meeting.

In other action, the Board:

• Approved the Preventative Maintenance report and authorized President Sandra Zapien-Ferrero to sign the form. As required by Arizona Revised Statutes (A.R.S.), the Building Services Department developed and implemented a preventative maintenance program to comply with the new requirement. The Arizona School Facilities Board (SFB) requires that each school district prepare and submit an annual report on preventative maintenance performed.
   
  Despite the lack of state funding, the district performed as many of the tasks in the mandated preventative maintenance program as possible. Working within a budget similar to previous years, Building Services reallocated resources and revised work procedures to perform as many preventative maintenance tasks as practical, while still responding to work orders from the schools. The district’s preventative maintenance efforts focused on building elements, such as mechanical and electrical systems, where preventative maintenance has the most potential for benefit.
   
• Approved the issuance of an RFP for Health Education Workshops. The Heath Education Workshops at 20 elementary schools encourage a healthy lifestyle among students. Topics may include, but are not limited to, knowing the body, injury prevention, dental care, heart health and hygiene. Each lesson must be age-appropriate. The workshops also include the development of a Health Week Guide for schools to utilize to further support health educational efforts. Evaluation and analysis of data is required. Future programming may include work with middle schools, high schools and the alternative school.
   
• Accepted funds from the Scottsdale Charros Foundation in the amount of $25,000 for the Middle School Intramural Sports Program, which was matched with $25,000 from the City of Scottsdale.
   
• Accepted gifts valued at $79,062. The gifts were received from Desert Mountain Student Government, Mountain Middle School Yearbook staff, Saguaro High School’s Volleyball Boosters, Copper Ridge Middle School PTO, Desert Canyon Elementary School PTO, Sequoya APT, Yavapai PTA, AC Guys, Inc., Arcadia Pride, Arizona Public Services, Costco, Exxon Mobil, N.K. Manning, Marys Knights, N.A.I.F.A., Scottsdale Charros, Target, Wells Fargo Foundation and Western Growers Charitable Foundation.

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

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