REGULAR BOARD MEETING Peoria Unified School District No. 11 District Administration Center 6330 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ 85306 September 22, 2016
Mr. Matthew Bullock, Board President, called the Regular Board Meeting to order at 5:06 p.m. Call to Order in the District Administration Center Board Room. Other Board members present were Board Clerk Mrs. Kathy Knecht, Ms. Judy M. Doane and Mrs. Beverly Pingerelli. Board Member Mr. David Jonagan was absent. Dr. Darwin J. Stiffler, Superintendent, Mr. Kenneth Hicks, Chief Financial Officer and Mrs. Dana McCarty, Secretary, were also present.
There were approximately 35 people in the audience.
Mr. Bullock called for a moment of silence, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance Opening by Paityn Silva, a kindergartner at Sundance Elementary School. Exercises
A number of PUSD teachers served on the Arizona Standards Development Committee and Board and Staff worked diligently for nearly a year to help develop the latest draft of the English Language Recognitions Arts and Mathematics Standards. Mrs. Erin Dunsey, Media Relations Specialist, recognized teachers Jan Ogino, Erin Gonzales, Renee Estrella Chavez, Joyce Griggs, Debbie LeBlanc, Juli Wagner, Kristen Henninger and Teresa McElhaney for their service on the Arizona Standards Development Committee. Ms. Ogino shared information about the Committee’s work and responded to questions from the Board.
PUSD teachers Nicole Albrecht, Frances O’Leary, Nancy Guy, Colleen Ferreter and Geoff Fryer were also recognized as recipients of classroom mini-grants from Arizona Professional Educators (AZPE), which were presented by AZPE Director, Leah Esmont. The grant awards will be utilized to replace classroom equipment, create a classroom library and to fund student services and other innovative classroom programs for students.
Other acknowledgements by the Board and Dr. Stiffler: Raymond S. Kellis High School student Patrick Fernandez for winning the team title in the Nature Valley First Tee Open in Pebble Beach, California Football Coach Mark Smith, Liberty High School, for being selected by the Arizona Cardinals as the High School Coach of the Week Ribbon-cutting ceremony for the newly installed Peace Pole at Centennial High School and the Peoria Rotary Club for their donation of the pole Power of K event hosted by the Arizona Community Foundation regarding the impact of all-day kindergarten in fostering early literacy
The Public Comment agenda item allows individuals the opportunity to address the Governing Public Board on any issue within the jurisdiction of the Board. Comments are limited to three minutes Comment per person. There was one request to speak.
Elizabeth McClellan and Traci Bushamie, teachers from Zuni Hills Elementary School, invited members of the Board to the Veterans’ Day Assembly at their school on November 10, 2016 at 9:00 a.m.
There were no requests to reorder the agenda. Reorder of Agenda Items
Mr. Hicks presented a draft process for the development of the 2017-2018 budget that included Budget and input provided by the Board at their August 25, 2016 meeting. The proposed changes to the Staff process include earlier and increased communication to the Board of budget projections. Compensation Process
Minutes Page 2 of 4 9/22/16 Mr. Hicks addressed the projected funding increase for the 2017-2018 budget. At this time, the only information the District has from the Legislature is the funding of inflation, which is estimated at 1% or approximately $1,700,000. It is currently unknown how Average Daily Membership (ADM) and current year funding will impact the 2017-2018 projections. The point was made that this is significantly lower than the $14,555,000 increase the District realized in fiscal year 2016-2017.
Also discussed was the member composition of the Budget Team and Compensation Committees and the structure for determining the division of available dollars among the three employee groups. Suggested options were by percentage of total salaries or by percentage of Full-Time Equivalents (FTE) that each employee group represents.
There was a lengthy discussion regarding staff concerns about compression. The District did take some action a couple of years ago to mitigate some of the concerns, but there are still some perceived inequities and not enough projected revenue to fix them all. There was some agreement among the Board and Administration that there is no one-size-fits-all with regard to compression, that the issues are not confined to a single employee group, and that the definition of compression may not be the same for each employee group or even for individuals within the same employee group.
The Board asked Administration to conduct a District-wide survey of employees in order to gauge their priorities. As a result of the need for additional time to conduct the survey, Dr. Stiffler suggested moving the Board’s vote on the process to the meeting on October 27, 2016.
Mr. Michael Sivertson, Coordinator of Athletics and Business Operations, gave an overview Student of athletic safety processes and procedures. The presentation included components such as, Athletic Safety the District’s philosophy regarding athletic participation, the structures that support athletic Processes and safety, and acquisition, inspection and certified reconditioning as it relates to equipment and Procedures uniforms.
Dr. Stiffler reported on the draft Math and English Language Arts Standards and the work Local, State toward the implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). and Federal Legislative In November, the Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) will review a sampling of school Report district performance audits and PUSD was selected as one of the audits that will be presented. Dr. Stiffler and Mr. Hicks have been invited to be present to address House/Senate staff and respond to questions.
Governor Ducey has launched the Achieve 60 campaign promoting the goal that by 2030, 60% of Arizonans will earn a degree or certification in their chosen field.
Dr. Stiffler said he was encouraged to recently hear some conservative legislators speaking in support of all-day kindergarten as a means to successful, early literacy for Arizona’s children. Mrs. Knecht seized this opportunity to thank the PUSD community for supporting the District’s Maintenance and Operations Override, which is currently providing the funding for all-day kindergarten.
Ms. Doane asked for information on alternatives to out-of-school suspensions. Mrs. Knecht Requests for supported her request. Future Agenda Items, Written Reports and Information
It was moved by Mr. Bullock to approve the items on the Consent Agenda with the exception Consent of the Donations Report. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Knecht, and carried unanimously. Agenda The following items were approved: Approved
The minutes of the September 8, 2016 Regular Board Meeting. Minutes
Minutes Page 3 of 4 9/22/16 The ratification of the Human Resource Report containing the hiring of new employees, Human requests for leaves of absence, resignations, retirements and terminations. Resource Report
The following Travel Requests were approved: Travel Requests
Edward Rusnac, teacher/Ironwood High School to attend the International Baccalaureate Theory of Knowledge Training in Saint Pete Beach, Florida on November 29-December 3, 2016.
Peoria High School National Honor Society students and Arlene Bruce, secretary/PHS; Shane Sullivan, teacher/PHS; Curtis Aylward, teacher/PHS; Amanda Jenkins, teacher/PHS to attend an academic field trip in Nevada, Utah, Colorado and New Mexico on October 6-9, 2016.
Centennial High School Spiritline Pom team and Carlos Gonzales, head spiritline coach/CeHS; James Marinaro, assistant spiritline coach/CeHS to attend the National Dance Team Championships in Orlando, Florida on February 3-6, 2017.
Liberty High School Performance Dance students and Devney Smith, teacher/LHS; Jennifer Wood, teacher/Coyote Hills Elementary; Michele Culligan, teacher/Sky View Elementary to attend an academic field trip in Los Angeles, California on February 20-23, 2017.
The ratification of the Voucher Reports for the months of July and August 2016. Voucher Report
The ratification of the 2017-2018 School Calendar as presented (copy attached). 2017-2018 School Calendar
Mr. Bullock pulled the Donations Report from the Consent Agenda in order to call attention Donations to several generous donations. He then moved the ratification of the Donations Report Report containing donations in support of the District from students, parents, staff and community members. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Knecht, and carried unanimously.
The following informational reports were included in the meeting packet: Informational Budget, Facilities Planning and Construction Report Reports District Enrollment Report for the month of August 2016 showing a total of 36,628 students Report on Upcoming Meetings and Events (as listed below) October 10, 2016 Columbus Day Holiday (All schools and District offices closed) October 13, 2016 5:00 p.m. Regular Board Meeting, District Administration Center Boardroom October 13-14, 2016 Elementary Parent/Teacher Conferences and Report Card Distribution October 14, 2016 High School Report Card Distribution October 21, 2016 8:30 a.m. District Patron Tour of Centennial High School and Oasis Elementary School (Tour begins at Centennial High School) October 24, 2016 Professional Development Day – Late Start (all schools) October 26, 2016 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. PUSD Healthy Harvest Employee Wellness Fair, Centennial High School October 27, 2016 5:00 p.m. Regular Board Meeting, District Administration Center Boardroom November 5, 2016 9:00 a.m. Career Exploration Day, Peoria High School November 7, 2016 Professional Development Day – Late Start (all schools) Minutes Page 4 of 4 9/22/16 November 8, 2016 General Election Day November 10, 2016 5:00 p.m. Regular Board Meeting, District Administration Center Boardroom November 11, 2016 Veterans Day Holiday (All schools and District offices closed) November 17, 2016 Early Release/My Life Day for Area 2 Elementary and Area 1 High Schools November 17, 2016 Elementary Progress Report Distribution November 18, 2016 High School Progress Report Distribution November 21-25, 2016 Fall/Thanksgiving Break Draft agenda for the October 13, 2016 Regular Board Meeting
There was no readdress of earlier agenda items. Further Discussion of Agenda Items
It was moved by Mrs. Knecht, seconded by Ms. Doane, to adjourn the meeting. The motion Adjournment carried unanimously and the meeting adjourned at 7:17 p.m.
Clerk