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REGULAR BOARD MEETING Peoria Unified School District No. 11 District Administration Center 6330 W. Thunderbird Road, Glendale, AZ 85306 October 14, 2014 Mr. Hal Borhauer, Board President, called the Regular Board Meeting to order at 5:31 Call to Order p.m. in the District Administration Center Board Room. Other Board members present were Mr. Matthew Bullock, Board Clerk; Mrs. Kathy Knecht, and Mr. James Kistner. Board Member Tracy Livingston was absent. Also present were Dr. Denton Santarelli, Superintendent; Dr. Heather Cruz, Deputy Superintendent; Mr. Kenneth Hicks, Chief Financial Officer; and Mrs. Dana McCarty, Secretary. There were approximately 50 people in the audience. Mr. Borhauer called for a moment of silence, which was followed by the pledge of Opening Exercises allegiance led by Miss Naomi Onaka, a 2009 graduate of Sunrise Mountain High School. There were no recommended changes to the order of the agenda. Agenda Reorder Each year the National Merit Scholarship Corporation honors the most academically Staff and Board talented students from high schools across the United States. This year two Peoria Recognitions Unified School District students have been identified as National Merit Semifinalists. Mrs. Erin Dunsey, Media Relations Specialist, introduced the two students, Jacky Hao of Liberty High School and Kenji Onaka of Sunrise Mountain High School. The students responded to questions and received congratulations from Board members and Dr. Santarelli. Family members of the students were also recognized. Other acknowledgements by the Board and Dr. Santarelli: Ironwood High School’s “Celebrate the Legacy” homecoming video of 125 alumni celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Peoria Unified School District Bike/Walk to School Day on October 8 and the many Peoria Unified School District schools who braved the weather to participate Liberty High School Lions Homecoming Parade, which included a stop at Sunset Heights Elementary School to welcome the newest group of future Lions Participation of West Valley youth, including a few Peoria Unified School District students, in Future Leaders Town Hall on Arizona’s Economy The Public Comment agenda item allows individuals the opportunity to address the Public Comment Governing Board on any issue within the jurisdiction of the Board. Comments are limited to three minutes per person. There were no requests to speak. Mrs. Linda Palles Thompson, Administrator for K-12 Academic Services, provided Update on Gifted some history of gifted services in PUSD, including the 2013 recommendation to Services Model restructure the services for kindergarten through eighth grade from a pull-out program (Project IDEAL) to a School-Wide Cluster Group Model (SCGM). Although the recommendation was initially precipitated by budget constraints, it presented the opportunity to design a more cost effective model, as well as one that is beneficial to all students. A School-Wide Cluster Grouping Model was defined as a method for providing full- time gifted education services with the potential to raise achievement for all students. In this type of model, students are purposely placed in classrooms based on their abilities, potential, or achievement. Minutes Page 2 of 6 10/14/14 Mrs. Palles Thompson gave a brief overview of the new staffing model and training that has been provided to teachers. A lot of positive feedback has been received from teachers related to the training and the new staffing model. Other positive results have been the alignment with curriculum and standards and increased teacher capacity with respect to gifted education. When asked about negative feedback, Mrs. Palles Thompson stated that parents have indicated that they miss what they are used to (Project Ideal) and that they want more trips and academic contests. There has been little instructional criticism, but it was acknowledged that the first year with change is always difficult. Also discussed was student academic growth and proficiency data were also reviewed which, overall, show moderate gains. Board members were supportive of the recommended next steps to increase nomination/identification of underserved gifted populations, continue professional development, expand outside-of-classroom enrichment experiences, survey students, and the implementation of E=MC2 (Excellence = Motivation x Commitment, Squared), a scholar project competition in April at Canyon Elementary School. Parent surveys and Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) were also noted by Board members as steps they would like to see the District pursue. Mrs. Connie Witte, Administrator for Curriculum and Instruction, introduced Step Up to Approval to Display K- Writing by Voyager Sopris Learning as a K-8 writing program recommended to provide 8 Writing Curriculum, additional resources for teachers to increase student achievement, and materials needed Step Up to Writing to meet the rigor of the Arizona College and Career Readiness Standards (AzCCRS). Mrs. Witte responded to questions from Board members related to curriculum replacement and measurements of student success. She recommended that the Board approve the display of Step Up to Writing curriculum and resources. It was moved by Mr. Bullock to approve the display of Step Up to Writing curriculum and resources for public review for the 60 day period prescribed by Board policy. The motion was seconded by Mrs. Knecht, and carried unanimously. Administration will make a recommendation for adoption based on feedback gathered during the display period. Notice of the review and samples of the curriculum and resources will be placed on the District’s website. The Annual Financial Report (AFR) represents the financial activity for the 2013-2014 Approval of the 2013- fiscal year as budgeted and as actually recorded by the District. A.R.S. 15-904 requires 2014 Annual Financial that the report be approved by the Governing Board and that the District provide the Reports Summary of the Annual Financial Report to the Superintendent of Public Instruction by October 15. The Summary of the AFR must be published on the District’s website by November 15. Budget allocations and actual expenditures in the Maintenance and Operations, Capital and Classroom Site Funds were presented, and the following carry forward balances that were applied to the current year’s budget were reported: Maintenance and Operations $2,312,781 Capital Funds $3,397,342 Classroom Site Funds $1,774,648 Total Carry Forward $7,484,771 Mr. Hicks explained that carry forward balances are larger this year than last in part due to utility savings as a result of the installation of solar panels and other energy management projects funded by the District’s bond programs. The District is in better financial shape than last year, which Mr. Hicks attributed to the support of the PUSD community on bond initiatives, as well as many difficult budget cuts to staffing and programming made over the last several years. Minutes Page 3 of 6 10/14/14 Capital, Medicaid in Public Schools (MIPS) and Indirect Cost Expenses were also reviewed. Mr. Hicks responded to questions from the Board related to enrollment and Average Daily Membership (ADM). It was moved by Mr. Kistner to approve the Annual Financial Reports for Fiscal Year 2013-2014. The motion was seconded by Mr. Bullock, and carried unanimously. This agenda item ensures compliance with A.R.S. 15-491.K, which requires school Annual Bond and districts that issues bonds to hold a public meeting annually between September 1 and Override Program October 31 at which time an update of the progress of capital improvement finances Update Including Tax through bonding is discussed. Rate Projections The 2013-2014 fiscal year began with three active bond programs: $93.5 million authorized in 2002 $120.5 million authorized in 2005 $180 million authorized in 2012 This report will constitute the final accounting and closing of the 2002 and 2005 bond programs as there are no unsold bonds remaining in either program. Mr. Hicks gave an overview of the projects authorized out of the 2002 bond. The fund balance on July 1, 2013 was $9,795,841. The final project was the construction of Sunset Heights Elementary School, leaving an ending fund balance of zero on June 30, 2014. Projects funded out of the 2005 bond program were presented. The fund balance on July 1, 2013 was $11,468,166. The final projects were the construction of Sunset Heights Elementary School and the renovation of Peoria High School Old Main, leaving an ending fund balance of zero on June 30, 2014. From the 2012 authorization, $35,560,917 has been expended on projects such as HVAC upgrades, projector cabling, computer replacement, fire alarm replacement/upgrades, flooring replacement/upgrades, playground replacement/repair, roofing renovations, athletic training renovations, and vehicle purchases. There is $144,439,083 in funds remaining. The District will hold a bond sale each year for the next four years. Bond tax rates as well as the District’s bonding capacity were reviewed. Mr. Hicks and Dr. Santarelli responded to questions regarding bonding capacity and its relationship to assessed property valuations, and when funds will be available to build the new high school that is needed in the northern part of the District. New construction of a high school was not part of the voter approved 2012 authorization. Growth will need to be carefully monitored and balanced with taxpayer impact for a new authorization. The District has experienced approximately $50,000,000 in capital cuts and the School Facilities Board has not funded new construction or building renewal, leaving the burden to taxpayers. The Board held a first reading of proposed changes to Policies BCB - Board Member First Reading of Conflict of Interest, ECB - Building and Grounds Maintenance, GDQA - Support Staff Proposed Changes to Reductions in Force, JLF - Reporting Child Abuse/Child Protection, JFAB - Policy Tuition/Admission of Non-resident Students, JQ - Student Fees, Fines, and Charges, and KF - Community Use of School Facilities on September 23, 2014.

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