Scottsdale Unified School District Arizona’s Most Excelling Schools!

The Governing Board voted 4-0 to award contracts for architectural and engineering services to DLR Group, HDA Architects, LLC and Orcutt/Winslow Partnership. DLR Group will design Coronado and Saguaro high schools, and make design improvements to Desert Mountain High School; HDA Architects, LLC will complete Phase II of Sierra Vista Academy; and Orcutt/Winslow Partnershio will design Arcadia and Chaparral high schools.

Dr. Bill Johnson, Chief Facilities and Operations officer, met with incoming Governing Board members Molly Holzer, Eric Meyer and Jennifer Petersen to keep them informed on the process and procedures of selecting architects and engineers for the 2004 Bond projects.

Design work will begin immediately and construction at Arcadia and Coronado will begin in summer 2005. All construction will be completed by 2009.

Dr. Baracy also announced the appointment of a 12-member Bond Oversight Committee that will report on how the district is spending bond funds.

In other action, the Board:

• Voted 3-1 to approve the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 school calendars.
   
• Approved the Bus Advertisement policy. The policy states that SUSD may sell space on the exterior of its school buses for commercial advertisements that are age appropriate, do not promote any substance that is illegal for minors such as tobacco and drugs or gambling and comply with the state sex education policy of abstinence.
   
• Awarded an RPF for Bus Advertising to Media Advertising in Motion for the 2004-2005 fiscal year.
   
• Approved the Open Enrollment policy. This new policy is broken down into two categories: students currently enrolled in a Scottsdale school, their siblings and children of school district employees; and students who are not currently enrolled in a Scottsdale school. Once accepted for Open Enrollment, it is not necessary to reapply. Open Enrollment packets will be made available to the community before Dec. 1 of each year and are to be returned to the schools by Jan. 15 of each year. Parents will be notified by Feb. 15 of each year as to acceptance status.
   
• Approved the Science Textbook Adoption for grades 6-8.
   
• Approved the 2005-2006 High School Planning Guide.
   
• Approved the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) cost reimbursable between Scottsdale Unified School District and the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of Arizona State University (ASU). Under the terms of the IGA between SUSD and ASU, ASU has agreed to facilitate a series of community dialogues to understand each concern, solicit feedback and work toward solutions that will benefit our entire community. In exchange SUSD will pay ASU $8,064.
   
• Accepted gifts valued at $62,789. The gifts were received from Anasazi PTO, Arcadia PTO, Desert Canyon PTO, Ingleside PTO, Laguna PTO, Pima PTO, Arcadia Pride, Mountainside Band Boosters, Mr. Alfaro, Jim Baker, MaryPat Butler, Jan Cacheris, City of Scottsdale, Coronado Foundation for the Future, Institute of International Ed., Intel Corp., Thornwood Furniture, USDA Forest Service and Wells Fargo Bank.

The next Governing Board meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 14, at the Education Center.

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