Scottsdale Unified School District Arizona’s Most Excelling Schools!

Katy Cavanagh, executive director of middle schools and excelling teaching & learning, presented the Governing Board with an Update on Continuous Improvement of Middle Schools. The Governing Board directed the administration to make full resources available to complete the Middle School Improvement Plan. The presentation is available on the district’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings.htm.

Additionally, Dr. Michael Wolf, administrator on assignment; Janey Kaufmann, science and social studies curriculum specialist; and Maureen O’Leary, executive director of communications and marketing, updated the Board on the proposed High School/Specialized Program for the Developing Area, community input and plan for implementation in August 2006. The presentation included information regarding Copper Ridge Math and Science Academy, including proposed curriculum, a sample four-year high school plan, ASU CRESMET Program, teacher recruitment, professional development, athletic plan timeline, staffing costs for first year with 60 students enrolled, instructional material and equipment, facility utilization, facility requirements/restraints, feeder pattern alignment recommendation and enrollment projections.

Jim Haynes, CEO Behavior Research Center, also updated the Governing Board with the results of the phone survey regarding the proposed high school/specialized program. Both presentations are available on the district’s Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/govboard/meetings.htm. The item will brought back at the March 28th meeting.

Kim Clark, general counsel, discussed changes to Governing Board Policy GBP – Prohibited Personnel Practices. The administration is recommending changes to the policy in order to clarify the procedures that the district will follow when an employee raises a complaint pursuant to this policy. The item will be brought back as a Consent Agenda Item at the March 28th Board meeting.

Additionally, Ms. Clark, discussed revisions to Governing Board Policy JLF – Child Abuse Reporting to bring the policy into alignment with the changes to the statue that were made in 2003. The item will be brought back as a Consent Agenda Item at the March 28th Board meeting.

In other action, the Board:

• Tabled the internal auditor update.
   
• Approved Governing Board Policy DIEA – Evaluation of the Internal Auditor.
   
• Awarded an RFP for Sign Language and Interpreting Services to Hands Above the Rest Interpreting Services, Arizona Freelance Interpreting Services and Arizona Interpreting Service, Inc. for an amount not to exceed $100,000 for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
   
• Awarded an RFP for Medicaid in Schools (MIPS) to Southwest Educational Billing Services for an amount not to exceed $150,000 for the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
   
• Accepted gifts valued at $130,784. The gifts were received from Arcadia Baseball Boosters, Chaparral Science Boosters Club, Desert Mountain High School’s International Baccalaureate, Yavapai Student Council, Arcadia PTO, Aztec Community Team, Cochise APT, Hopi PTA, Mohave PTO, Pima PTO, Tavan PTA, Zuni Community Association, Mrs. Rebecca Francis, Minneapolis Jewish Federation, Mountain Telecommunications Inc, Mary Platner, Scottsdale Charros, Scottsdale Railroad & Mechanical Society and Wells Fargo.

A Work/Study Board Meeting on the 2006-2007 Fiscal Year Budget is scheduled for Thursday, March 16, immediately following the student appeal hearing schedule to begin at 9:30 a.m., at the Education Center. The next regular Governing Board meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 28, at the Education Center.

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